Author Archive

As a trained Mental Health First Aider, you know that mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent. And that’s true for young people, too: one in five youth aged 13-18 will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. That...

With an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States experiencing at least one major depressive episode in a given year, understanding depression – what it is, who it affects and where you can find help – is increasingly important....

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults each year. Yet only 36.9 percent of people living with anxiety disorders receive treatment. The good news? In addition to seeking professional...

Summer is a great time to focus in on your self-care routine. Getting outside, shopping for fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market and listening to upbeat summer tunes are all wonderful ways to take care of yourself during...

Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone. —    Crisis Text Line user Americans tap, swipe or click their cell phones at an astonishing average of 2,617 times each day. So, it’s probably no surprise that the Crisis Text...

The holiday season can be a time filled with joy, love and family. But financial stress, busy social calendars and high expectations during this time of year can make the season less than merry and bright for many. Taking time...

Your close friend has been talking lately about feeling depressed. She’s spending more and more time alone at home, she’s always tired and that she has admitted that a series of scars on her arms and legs are from self-inflicted...

Talking to your teenager (or a teenager you know) about, well, anything, can be difficult. When it comes to sensitive issues like mental health, getting a conversation started can be even harder. But the reality is that more than 22...

“How are you?” No, “How are you, really?” For many of us, our fathers are symbols of unwavering strength. When times get tough, our dads are there to lift us up and help us heal. But the endless pressure to...

Sadness is a normal part of the human emotional spectrum—we all experience it from time to time. When we lose a loved one, go through a breakup or watch one of those heartbreaking ASPCA commercials, sadness is a typical reaction...

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 29, 2016) – The Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. trained the 10,000th Mental Health First Aid instructor in Albany, N.Y., on July 29, 2016. Mental Health First Aid, a groundbreaking 8-hour course, gives people...

More than 100 Mental Health First Aid Instructors meet to celebrate milestones On Monday, May 18, North Carolina held its first Statewide Mental Health First Aid Instructors Summit. More than 130 Instructors from across the state gathered to hear from Mental...