After months of what felt like a never-ending downward spiral, Adam Hill found himself deep in the woods, bottle of vodka in hand with the intent of killing himself. Hill had been living with depression since college; but as a pediatric palliative care doctor, he did not want to advertise what others in medicine might … Read more
Valencia D. Clay was 28-years-old when she finally got care for her major depressive disorder. Before then, she didn’t have the vocabulary to understand, or even begin to process, what she was experiencing. She thought, “This is just how I am.” Now, Clay is using what she’s learned about mental health to help her middle … Read more
A father’s plea echoes the desperation of many families across the United States as they watch their loved ones, who are living with addictions and behavioral health issues, mired in the criminal justice system, when they should be receiving treatment services. (“My Daughter Needs Help, Not Jail: Mental Health, Addiction,” Hartford Courant, January 27, 2017). David Klau … Read more
“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 be “strong” can prevent men—and especially fathers—from reaching out for help for emotional and mental … Read more
When Desmond Phillip was shot and killed by two Chico, Calif., police officers, the city’s police department was not prepared to appropriately handle the situation. It might have been yet another tragic incident that could have been prevented, but community outcry and requests for more mental health crisis training for local law enforcement may change … Read more
In a nationwide survey of more than 2,000 first responders, 85 percent reported mental health symptoms. One-third reported clinical diagnoses of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While these numbers loom large, seven out of 10 of those surveyed claimed mental health services are rarely or never utilized by their organization with four out of … Read more
We all dream about retirement – finally doing all the things we’ve wanted to do but never had time. But the reality of life after work doesn’t always live up to its promise. Take Glenn Howard. Within a year of leaving his career, he had checked off his entire to-do list. With no reason to … Read more
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 and a healthy part of the emotional process. But there is a difference between healthy … Read more
It’s tough working in the service industry. Uncompromising employers, workplace harassment and poor communication all too often affect worker’s sense of well-being, especially those living with mental health problems. What’s it like to feel the need to disguise a mental health issue while holding down a job? Find out from employees who work on the … Read more
Arduous and challenging are the two words Nicola Louise uses to describe the teaching profession. But when she returned to the obstacles of this profession after having a child, she entered an entirely new realm of anxiety. Teaching – the job she had loved – took her to a very dark and lonely place (“What … Read more
Not weak, just human. This is the tagline and overarching sentiment of the Men’s Mental Health Social Interest Group that was recently formed at the Good Men Project. Recently, they joined forces to create a public service announcement-like video during which they each open their hearts and share their own stories of living with mental … Read more
Faith-based groups across the nation are reacting to acts of violence and vandalism, like the recent defacing of a synagogue and shooting in a South Carolina church by partnering with mental health organizations (“Local religious organizations recognize need for violence prevention with training,” The News & Advance, April 26, 2017). Religious organizations are no longer … Read more
Even before the stress of college begins to set in, one in four students has a history of mental illness and treatment. That means 25 percent of college students have been formally diagnosed or treated for mental health issues – twice as many as non-college adults. On top of the usual college stressors, student athletes … Read more
The dangers of law enforcement extend far beyond the streets. In fact, police officers are far more likely to suffer multiple health complications than their general workforce counterparts. News 8 Anchor Scott McDonnel takes a closer look at how Connecticut is making changes to protect the mental health of police officers. (“Protecting the mental health … Read more
The recent suicide of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez is only one of an upward trend in suicides of people in custody. Hernandez, who has been serving a life sentence since 2015, was found hanging in his cell on the morning of April 20, 2017, despite being placed on suicide watch. Too often, suicide watch … Read more
Female veterans are two to five times more likely to commit suicide than civilian women. NPR host David Green spoke with women dedicating their lives to curb this number. They have heard the stories first-hand from women who have served their country and experienced the hardships involved in transitioning from working combat to civilian life … Read more
Juggling a heavy workload and large doses of stress day in and day out takes its toll on lawyers. They are prone to higher rates of addiction and mental health challenges than the general public. In an attempt to help eliminate the stigma, this article asks law firms to offer the help their attorneys so … Read more
I by MARY EMILY O’HARA The news that 52-year-old Seattle grunge rock icon Chris Cornell had killed himself after a concert in Detroit shocked and saddened fans of the Soundgarden frontman. But perhaps even more shocking is the fact that Cornell was one of scores of middle-aged American men who took their own lives on … Read more
On Friday, March 24, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing hosted briefings on Capitol Hill to address the importance of Mental Health First Aid trainings for law enforcement officers who regularly respond to calls involving persons in mental health or addiction crises. The panel included three law enforcement officers from across the U.S. who discussed … Read more
In addition to providing services to inmates, support teams will also offer support to correctional staff by providing skill refreshers and reinforcement of Mental Health First Aid training and techniques, bringing care packages to staff, and offering guidance.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Bartenders are often called the best therapists and hairstylists hear all the gossip. Take it from Jessica Drake, who has worked both jobs: It’s all true. “Sometimes I go home and stare at the wall and just kind of decompress,” she said, sighing. Drake recalled one client who came to her in crisis. … Read more
Psycho. Mental. Bipolar. OCD. Crazy. These are the words many teenagers use to describe people struggling with real or perceived mental health issues, according to participants in a Mental Health First Aid training session hosted last week by the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board. The training, offered in youth and adult versions, is an eight-hour … Read more
RICHMOND — An effort to mandate mental health training for resident advisers at Virginia’s public colleges is moving forward in the General Assembly. A bill by Del. Joseph Yost, R-Pearisburg, would require resident advisers to receive eight hours of mental health first aid training to recognize the signs of mental illness and substance abuse. Yost’s … Read more
Mental Health First Aid training has taught the officer to ask his charges, “What happened?” instead of, “What’s wrong with you?”
Teachers are often the first adults students turn to when struggling with mental health, but educators are not adequately trained to address the crises. I love teaching writing; it’s where revelations happen, where children plumb the dark corners, nudge the sleeping dogs, and work out solutions to their most convoluted dilemmas. As much as I … Read more
On Monday, the House chamber unanimously approved the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s version of H.R. 1877, the Mental Health First Aid Act of 2015. This legislation authorizes grants for mental health and substance use awareness training to law enforcement, first responders, teachers, and other individuals that work with youth. The National Council issued the following statement … Read more
On Monday, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing joined the Eating Disorders Coalition to host a congressional staff briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing focused on the importance of early identification of mental health and substance use disorders and the need for evidence-based trainings that help Americans understand how to reach out to someone experiencing … Read more
On Wednesday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved its version of the Mental Health First Aid Act (H.R. 1877). This legislation authorizes grants for mental health and substance use awareness training to law enforcement, first responders, teachers, and other individuals that work with youth. The National Council has long supported the Mental Health … Read more
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health amended and approved the Mental Health First Aid Act (H.R. 1877) on Monday afternoon. The amended bill would authorize $15 million in funding to provide mental health awareness training to teachers and school personnel, first responders, law enforcement officers, and veterans. This vote, a landmark achievement for this … Read more
Pennsylvania prisons trained staff and inmates in Mental Health First Aid Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (CNN) – The man was about to snap. He had just lost a child. “I couldn’t really relate to that,” Peter Robinson said of his fellow inmate. “I know what loss feels like, though.” Like the other prisoner, Robinson struggles with mental … Read more
So many people are out there wishing for something better, hoping that help will show up. That’s what Mental Health First Aid is – it is help to get people connected to care and ultimately to get them to a better place.
On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a revised version of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646). Introduced and championed by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), the bill now heads to the House floor where it awaits consideration from the full chamber. According to reports, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) … Read more
We don’t provide our services in a vacuum. We don’t provide our services to buildings. We don’t provide our services to corporations. We provide our services to people. We are people who provide services to other people. It’s easy to forget this simple truth. But at the Clifton Fire Department, we’re reminded daily because of our Mental Health First Aid training.
On Tuesday, May 24, Mental Health First Aid instructors and champions addressed a packed room on Capitol Hill to share stories about how Mental Health First Aid has saved their life, or the lives of others in their communities. For the second year in a row, the National Council has hosted this briefing, bringing Mental … Read more
This post is adapted from comments shared at the Atlantic Summit on Mental Health and Addiction held on April 12 in Washington, DC. I want to tell you the story of two mothers. Susan has a 13 year old son. She started noticing that her son seemed extra thirsty, had unusually itchy skin and dry mouth. … Read more
As a psychology student at Brigham Young University, the Mental Health First Aid class seemed like a great opportunity for me to supplement my classwork with some real-world knowledge. So, I signed up and took the course. I never expected to put the things I learned to use so soon.
Last week at National Council Conference 2016, I spoke about the past ten years and the tremendous progress we have achieved together. In Washington, we are in the midst of the most proactive and important public policy shift in over a generation. From the implementation of the Excellence in Mental Health Act demonstration, to continued … Read more
Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced their own version of mental health reform legislation this week. The bill, which spans nearly 300 pages, touches on many parts of the US mental health system. The bill’s authors said in a statement that their legislation is not meant to compete with Rep. Tim … Read more
I recently sat down with Julie Miller, Editor in Chief of Behavioral Healthcare Magazine, to talk about what’s coming in 2016. Read more in this article in Behavioral Healthcare. The post My List of 2016 Priorities appeared first on Linda's Corner Office.
I recently sat down with Julie Miller, Editor in Chief of Behavioral Healthcare Magazine, to talk about what’s coming in 2016. Read more in this article in Behavioral Healthcare. The post My List of 2016 Priorities appeared first on Linda's Corner Office.
I recently sat down with Julie Miller, Editor in Chief of Behavioral Healthcare Magazine, to talk about what’s coming in 2016. Read more in this article in Behavioral Healthcare. The post My List of 2016 Priorities appeared first on Linda's Corner Office.
In July 2015, I had the opportunity to take a Mental Health First Aid course at WestCare Nevada. Little did I know that just a few days later I would be using the information and techniques I had learned in the class in a real life situation.
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 in the eight-hour Mental Health First Aid class she completed.
Representative Lynn Jenkins was honored Monday with a National Council Behavioral Health Champion Award in Lawrence. 12/15/2015 Link to Source
A relatively new program for helping in a mental health crisis is picking up steam across the country. Mental Health First Aid courses have taught thousands of people in the past 7 years, an action plan for early intervention in a mental illness. 12/10/2015 Link to Source
On Wednesday, the House of Representative approved a long-debated education reauthorization bill that includes language based on the Mental Health First Aid Act. The House and Senate earlier this year approved differing versions of the education bill, but only the Senate version include mental health awareness training programs. After a period of deliberation and debate, … Read more
Westland Police officers Joseph Reardon and Michael Stechly recently participated in a week-long training on Mental Health First Aid. 11/29/2015 Link to Source
About 30 percent of people who are chronically homeless have mental health conditions. 11/06/2015 Link to Source
In just over a year, more than 800 individuals who live or work in Chester County have become certified Mental Health First Aiders. And, this free program continues to gain momentum locally. 11/02/2015 Link to Source
Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use are common in the United States. In fact, more than one in five American adults will have a mental health problem in any given year. 10/24/2015 Link to Source
