“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 … Read more
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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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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. … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … 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 … 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 … Read more
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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more
