Until four days ago, Cpl. Omar Delgado was lauded as a hero for being one of the first police officers to respond to the Pulse nightclub shooting in June 2016. Earlier this week, however, he was fired with no explanation as to why. He had only months to go before he would be entitled to … Read more
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 for self-care can make a huge difference when it comes to staying happy and healthy … Read more
When you think of the holiday season, what comes to mind? Is it symbols of jolliness and cheer, or depression and stress? Either way, we must remember that everyone experiences the holiday season differently – especially those living with mental health challenges. In a recent issue of TIME Magazine, American singer and songwriter, Kesha, provides … Read more
For many, December marks the start of the holiday season. But the holidays don’t represent a season of joy for everyone. According to a report from the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people report that their stress increases around the holidays. And the high volume of parties around the holidays can make this a … Read more
Millions of people every year take a CPR or first aid class to learn how to recognize and care for a variety of medical emergencies. But what about someone experiencing a mental health emergency? That’s where Mental Health First Aid comes in, educating our community on how to reach out and help those around us … Read more
No one said this job was going to be easy. But if you asked me five years into my career, I’d tell you it was the best thing allowing me to live a full life, and protect and serve with strength and honor. I quickly learned that resilience was key – to expose my heart … Read more
Think that rural communities don’t face mental health challenges? Nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe it’s because we are small, unseen and misunderstood that people are unaware of the issues we face, or needs we have. But they’re similar to – or even the same as – those faced by every other community in America. … Read more
It was about 8:45 p.m. on a slow weeknight in early 2011. We were ready to close the pharmacy down as soon as 9 p.m. hit. A patient came to the counter looking anxious and exhausted; she passed me – a young pharmacy intern at the time – a crumpled, handwritten prescription for oxycodone 30 … Read more
The idea that military-connected individuals and civilians cannot understand one another, often referred to as the civilian-military divide, is one of the most prominent barriers to care for veterans and military members seeking mental health and addiction treatment. So how can I, a civilian psychologist, help and connect with someone who has devoted so much … Read more
Addiction is a brain disorder. That finding is still relatively new within the scientific community, having only really emerged during the last two decades of research—but it should be a source of consolation for anyone living with a substance use challenge. Why? Because a brain disorder is medically treatable. And with ongoing advances in addiction … Read more
I am a veteran. When I returned home to Amarillo, Texas after being deployed to Afghanistan with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, I was ready for a fresh start. Instead, I struggled with unemployment as symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder set in. Prior to deployment, service men and women are trained in … Read more
November 11 is Veterans Day, so we’re focusing on veteran and military mental health for the entire month of November. 20 veterans die by suicide each day. 30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health problem requiring treatment, yet only half of those people in … Read more
Approximately one in 10 police calls involves a person with mental illness, making police the nation’s de facto first responders to mental health crises. Although police are on the front lines, they often do not have the training to recognize and appropriately respond when an emergency involves a mental health crisis. When police officers in … Read more
Maj. Jim Cleek, commander of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Training Bureau, found out his son was living with bipolar disorder just before he took his first Youth Mental Health First Aid training class. The 5-step action plan he learned gave him confidence to assess, support and provide support to people affected by mental … Read more
At any coffee house in the country, you can get a solid cup of coffee, do some work, catch up on your email or just chat with a friendly barista. But Sip of Hope will offer more than just a hit of caffeine. When it opens this spring, Chicago will be home to a new … Read more
Click here to read Part I of Sgt. Eric Weaver’s inspirational story. In 2002, a fellow officer and close friend of mine completed suicide. Rather than continuing to work through my recovery in silence, I decided something needed to change. While his death was a tragedy, it was also a motivating force that inspired me … Read more
“If I don’t tell you something, I’m going to kill myself.” I said these words to my then-wife in the fall of 1995. I had been working for my police department for nine years and had been a police sergeant for the last three. I was the training coordinator for our SWAT team, as well … Read more
“We are in community each time we find a place where we belong.” — Peter Block Our young people are hurting. Members of the generation born between 1995 and 2012 – which psychologist Jean Twenge calls iGen –– are increasingly lonely and depressed. They go out less often, get less sleep and are more likely … Read more
The fact that running is good for cardiovascular health is now conventional wisdom. That running is good for the brain, on the other hand? Not as much. Yet increasingly, there’s a case to be made for running purely on the grounds that it is good for your mental health. Multiple studies have concluded that running: … Read more
On a warm fall afternoon in Kansas Public School District #500, Officer Orlando Singleton takes a breather after helping another teenager through a mental health crisis. “We just got him calmed down,” Singleton shares before transporting the student to professional care. “We’re letting him de-escalate and breathe. He’ll ride with us to the care facility … Read more
In March 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) launched the One Mind Campaign in response to the growing number and frequency of interactions between police and individuals with mental illness and substance use disorder, putting both officers and the community at risk. This campaign seeks to empower officers with training, model policies … Read more
“The health of business depends on the health of workers.” –– Maria P. Neira, Director, WHO Department of Public Health and Environment Today is World Mental Health Day, and there is good reason why this year’s theme is “mental health in the workplace.” Employment is good for our overall well-being, and healthy, productive workers are … Read more
Nearly half of students across college campuses report having a diagnosable psychiatric disorder every year, while one-third have seriously considered suicide. In recognition of World Mental Health Day, GirlTrek, the largest public health movement and nonprofit for Black women and girls in the country, is hosting Mental Health First Aid trainings on college campuses across … Read more
The deadliest mass shooting in modern American history took place on the night of October 1, 2017, the most recent incident in an epidemic of violence across the nation. Whether you lived through the trauma yourself, are a relative of someone who did or witnessed the aftermath on the news or social media, it is … Read more
Charleena Lyles. Alfred Olango. James Hall. These are only three out of the countless people with mental illness who have died as a result of a confrontation with law enforcement. We are only aware of their names and stories because they were picked up by the media. But hundreds of other stories of people with … Read more
Last October, the International Association of Chiefs of Police launched the One Mind Campaign, which focuses on improving relationships between police and the mental health community and includes a commitment to train 100 percent of their agency’s sworn officers in Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the One Mind Campaign, and … Read more
Hilda Marie’s worst nightmare was unfolding right before her eyes. Teetering at the edge of the platform was a woman poised to jump in front of an oncoming train. What would you do? For Hilda, there was no question. She turned to the skills she learned during the Mental Health First Aid training she had … Read more
I immediately saw the need when I heard about Mental Health First Aid from a church member. As a pastor, I encounter various individuals who are touched by mental health crises, directly or indirectly. I’ve now taken both regular first aid and Mental Health First Aid. I’ve used both, but certainly see the opportunity to … Read more
I never expected to put the things I learned from Mental Health First Aid to use so soon. As a psychology student at Brigham Young University, the training seemed like a great opportunity for me to supplement my classwork with some real-world knowledge. So, I signed up and took the course. The day after I … Read more
Teachers today are called upon to do much more than just teach their area of expertise, whether its math or English, art or football. Teachers often play a critical role in the lives of children beyond the classroom. They can be an outlet, a source of support and help when kids really need it. This … Read more
When natural disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma strike, the number one priority is physical safety. But after the initial emergency passes, media coverage fades and public attention shifts, the process of recovery really begins to take shape. For those affected, that can take months – more often, years. Mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder … Read more
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 wounds. Your friend is engaging in self-injury—but does that mean she’s suicidal? There is a … Read more
On her good days, Michelle was a ray of sunshine. On her not-so-good days, she was withdrawn, agitated and erratic. No matter what her mood, the glimmer in her eye was always radiating. She was an avid reader, writer and brilliant poet. I know these things about Michelle because I was her 10th grade English … Read more
Visualize this: a college student athlete lies on a soccer field with a broken leg. Of course, she gets immediate attention from her teammates, trainers and coaches. A specific protocol is in place for how to deal with this type of injury, and a care plan is created for the following months of recovery. Compare … Read more
All aboard! Even in transit, a commuter train is on track to break down social stigma related to mental health. (“Themed train aims to get family and friends to help those with mental health conditions,” The Straits Times, July 17, 2017). Mental health awareness is a universal issue – and mental illness is more common … Read more
This article originally appeared in Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation’s Born Brave Blog. “Thank you for being part of a community capacity-building program that empowers laypeople to show concern and kindness so that any challenge a child may be struggling with doesn’t have to turn into a crisis.” That’s how I begin and welcome … Read more
I knew the birth of my children would change me as a person, but I had no idea it would completely turn my world upside down. It was terrifying and overwhelming, and I can confidently say it was the most difficult year-and-a-half of my life; 15 months after I gave birth to my beautiful twins, … Read more
Chad Farley picked up one last fare. A pretty normal night in the life of an Uber driver. But his GPS told him this fare’s destination was the top of Skyway Bridge. And Farley did an amazing thing – something many of us might hesitate to do. He talked to the young man. That’s when … Read more
“You can’t always stop a bully, but you can reach out to someone being bullied so they don’t feel so alone.” —From Dianne Grossman’s Facebook page Mallory Grossman was a 12-year-old cheerleader and gymnast whose smile lit up a room. Her parents called her an “old soul” and a “free spirit.” She spent her free … Read more
Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. –Neil Postman “The most vulnerable of the vulnerable” is what many have called children in foster care. Often these children come from homes marked by mental illness, substance use and violence, all of which exact a toll. Children in foster care … Read more
Many of us forget that we all possess one of the most effective tools to aid someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Listening. We hear a lot about active listening – listening and responding to another person to improve mutual understanding. For people in roles like a nurse or doctor, engaging and responding while listening … Read more
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD This article originally appeared in Linda’s Corner Office blog. Read the original post here. The National Council has been honored with a prestigious Power of A Summit Award from ASAE, the Center for Association Leadership, for our Be 1 in a Million campaign. We are one of only six … Read more
“A Dickensian nightmare” is how the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania described the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ treatment of mentally ill inmates back in 2013. The advocacy nonprofit’s complaint stated that mentally ill inmate’s symptoms were exacerbated, then they were punished with still more jail time – often in solitary confinement. Following such scathing criticism, … Read more
When you put on a first responder uniform, you’re expected to be ”brave, strong and courageous – giving help and not asking for help,” said Jeff Dill, a retired firefighter. Corrections officers, police and firefighters are trained to recognize and deal with people with mental health and addiction disorders, but are ill prepared to respond … Read more
“It’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.” That’s the mantra of David Yarborough, a full-time peer specialist working at Metrocare, a nonprofit serving people with mental illness in North Texas. Yarborough sees a host of people every day – people who sometimes say their visits with him are better than seeing … Read more
My workplace is understanding about mental health challenges. My recent viral Tweet showing my CEO’s amazing response to my request to take time off for my mental health is just one example of how my workplace supports its employees’ mental health. But it took a lot of time for me to get to that place. … Read more
Sales of prescription opioids in the U.S. nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2014, with more than half prescribed to adults with mental health disorders. Adults living with depression, anxiety and mood disorders receive 51 percent of all opioid prescriptions, despite representing only 16 percent of the nation’s overall population. To combat the growing national opioid … Read more
Rodolfo Silva was prepared to handle death – at least he thought he was. During his first year as a pediatric resident at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California, he watched a terminally ill 4-year-old die. It was then he realized dealing with death was harder than he had imagined (“New Rules for Resident … Read more
Did you know that the word “addict” cannot be found in the most recent edition of the standard AP Stylebook? That’s because earlier this month, the Associated Press took a groundbreaking step in destigmatizing the disease of addiction – they removed the word “addict” as a noun. The 2017 AP Stylebook encourages phrasing like “they … Read more
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 percent of people between the ages of 13-18 will experience a mental health or substance … Read more
