A panel of seven mental health experts gathered at Methacton High School to help raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention at a forum hosted Wednesday night by state Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150th Dist.). “For some reason there was a trigger in my brain saying I don’t belong here anymore,” said … Read more
Tuesday, 120 state and local educational agencies learned they will be part of a major national initiative to support teachers, schools, and communities in recognizing and responding to mental health concerns among youth. The educational agencies–including school districts in 28 states and departments of education in 20 states–were awarded Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience … Read more
120 State and Local School Districts to receive funding for Mental Health First Aid Training HHS’ Project AWARE grants award $48M to support teachers, schools, and communities Washington (September 23, 2014) – 120 state and local educational agencies just found out that they will be part of a major national initiative to support teachers, … Read more
JUNEAU, Alaska —The state department of education has received $9.1 million in federal grant funds to help address mental health issues in school-age children. The grant is set to run for five years, with $1.8 million to be distributed annually. Link to Source
If Alicia Hafford had known someone who could have helped her before she became homeless last year, she likely never would have ended up living on the streets for six months, wondering where her next meal and shelter from winter’s cold would come from. Link to Source
Eastcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center recently received a $5,000 grant from the Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania to train individuals who work with adolescents to better understand and recognize mental health and crisis situations. Eastcentral will use the grant to deliver the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program to 150 … Read more
Today, U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement that, as part of its Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service Grant Program, it will be awarding the Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port School District (known as the Laker Schools) a grant totaling $100,000. Link to Source
Suicide does not happen in a vacuum — it happens in families. Family members must play a role in suicide prevention. To do this, they need to know how suicidality arises and how they can help. They need to know the danger and warning signs of suicide, the risk factors, and how suicidality and mental … Read more
An estimated quarter of the nation’s population have struggled with a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Link to Source
It might come as a surprise just how common mental health problems — such as depression, anxiety, impulse control and misuse of alcohol and other drugs — are in the United States. In fact, more than one in four American adults will have a mental health problem in a year. Link to Source
El ejecutivo del Condado Robert Astorino y el Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health anunciaron que el Condado patrocinará varios programas en la observancia de “September as National Suicide Awareness Month” (Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre el Suicidio). “Es importante hablar si usted o alguien que conoce está muy deprimido. El Condado de Westchester tiene una … Read more
The map above shows a state-by-state breakdown of the total number of individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid and instructors (in parentheses).
Two Ellicott City residents who Howard County police believe were suffering from mental health issues were killed last week in separate police-involved shootings – incidents that the county’s top elected official says reinforces the need for more mental health initiatives. Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/ellicott-city/ph-ho-cf-police-mental-health-0828-20140827,0,685553.story#ixzz3CvXEdfkz
Out of the 8,000 full- and part-time law enforcement officers in Kansas, only one in four have been trained to handle crisis calls involving the mentally ill. Records show that 80 percent of the nearly 1,800 trained officers work in four high-population counties: Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte. Full Text
Nurses and those who are trained in CPR and First Aid are prepared to respond to a heart attack and other physical crises, but most of them are not prepared to respond to a mental health crisis. Link to source
About 350,000 Americans with a diagnosis of a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are in state jails and prisons, while the number of psychiatric beds available has shrunk to 35,000, according to a coming analysis by the Treatment Advocacy Center, a nonprofit group that favors expanded access to treatment. Link to Source
As teachers headed back to school in Newtown this year they are better equipped to respond to specific students in need after participating in the first phase of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training sponsored by the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation, Inc. Link to Source
The reported suicide of actor Robin Williams has again tragically put the spotlight on one of the most serious public health issues facing our nation. According to the CDC, suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States today. Every 15 minutes, another person dies from suicide in this country. National and local … Read more
Two months ago, many Americans had never heard of an obscure neurodegenerative disease that affects 30,000 people in the U.S. Now, thanks to the #IceBucketChallenge, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a household word. With that rise in awareness has come a stunning increase in private donations to ALS research and patient support – as of … Read more
Suicide prevention has garnered new attention in the media and at the dinner table with the recent death of actor Robin Williams. In the wake, experts say it is important to know the signs of depression, what resources are available in the community and the local trends in deaths by suicide. Full Text
Contact: Communications@TheNationalCouncil.org or 202.684.7457 Washington, DC (August 21 2014) — The National Council for Mental Wellbeing held a Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans, and Their Familes training today for organizations representing veterans, service members, and their families. The training offered 25 individuals a simple, proven combination of information and techniques to recognize and … Read more
AspenPointe announced the fundraising initiative for this year’s Heroes of Mental Health Luncheon will support its Mental Health First Aid training program, a need highlighted during this spring’s Mental Health Begins With Me community forums. Link to Source
Last Thursday at Gulf Coast State College Gulf/Franklin Center more than 60 local educators attended a seminar on Mental Health First Aid presented by Life Management Center of Northwest Florida. Link to Source
Some of the deepest wounds can’t be covered by bandages. Fortunately, new training is equipping responders to address these needs. Mental health first aid helps first responders and other care workers to identify and work with an individual who is having a mental health crisis until more advanced help can be provided. A grant from … Read more
… veterans living with untreated mental health conditions, Mental Health First Aid for Veterans is needed now Full Text Outlet: States News Service Publication Date: 08/21/2014 Media Group: Other Byline: States News Country: United States of America
Mental Health First Aid is a course to train people to assess warning signs of behavioral health concerns that is gaining advocates in many countries around the world, including the U.S. It can have particular benefits for farm and other rural residents where there is a shortage of behavioral health professionals and sometimes a reluctance … Read more
The Brandywine Health Foundation will launch a four-year pilot program this week to help school district employees learn to identify mental health issues in students through a nationally used course. As part of a nationwide effort to improve mental health responses and reduce stigma, teachers, and staff in the Coatesville Area School District will take … Read more
Last week, the news of Robin Williams’ death stunned and saddened the world. Touchstone Health Partners would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Williams’ family, friends and fans. The death of a well-known and beloved celebrity causes pain for his admirers and can also trigger the emotions and memories of those who have … Read more
On a daily basis, Boulder County law enforcement officials are first on scene when calls come in about a person who has threatened suicide, disappeared or made troubling statements to a loved one or friend. Link to Source
Boulder County law enforcement officials are facing more mental health-related incidents, such as suicide threats, and are training to deal with them. Though statistics for calls involving suicidal parties aren’t readily available, the number of countywide 72-hour mental health holds has increased in recent years, said Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Link to Source
If tragedy is a bitter draught, then perhaps there is still the chance of distilling something better from it. Actor Robin Williams committed suicide on Monday, Aug. 11, and his wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement that he had been suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, as well as anxiety and depression. Full Text … Read more
After participating in New Hampshire’s first statewide Mental Health First Aid training held last month in Manchester, my mission over the next 12 months will be to train other New Hampshire citizens to identify and understand signs of mental illness and how to offer help. Link to Source
As a participant in New Hampshire’s first statewide Mental Health First Aid training held last month in Manchester, I am both honored and enthused that my mission over the next 12 months will be to train citizens how to identify and understand signs of mental illness, and how to offer help. I see the Mental … Read more
… in New Hampshire’s first statewide Mental Health First Aid training held last month in Manchester, I am … Full Text Outlet: New Hampshire Union Leader Publication Date: 08/15/2014 Media Group: Print Byline: Jim Adams Country: United States of America Circulation: 37,912
Officer John Jones of the Miami-Dade Police Department was the first to arrive at the dilapidated house in a poverty-stricken section of the city. He and his fellow officers had been summoned to the address by a caller who had alerted police that a depressed 18-year-old mom was threatening to hurt her 3-month-old son. Link … Read more
The death of beloved comedian Robin Williams has heightened awareness of suicide and its relationship to mental health problems. But many African-American churches quietly began educating members on the issue well before the Oscar winner’s death. Link to Source
The death of Robin Williams is bringing suicide and depression into the nation’s spotlight. Suicide isn’t something reported in the news a lot. It’s very sensitive and very personal, but it’s something many people struggle with every day. The key is to see the signs, and get the help. Link to Source
The death of Robin Williams still has many across the world shocked. But it’s now a chance and responsibility to look at suicide and it’s warning signs. “Over 39,000 people lose their life to suicide each year and it’s probably more than that because it goes unreported,” said Michelle Bauer, the Regional Mental Health First … Read more
There are several ways to tell if a person is depressed. “They could be withdrawing from activities they used to find enjoyable, they could be no longer hanging out with their friends, they could be neglecting their work activities, they could be neglecting their home responsibilities and just general isolation,” said Mark Phillips, a Mental … Read more
On Father’s Day this June, a 35-year-old Matoaca man killed himself with a handgun. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have made headlines. Most news organizations don’t report suicides, considering them private matters, unless there are special circumstances involved. Link to Source
On a recent visit to St. Joseph, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the positive impact that our bipartisan efforts on mental health are making on communities in Missouri, as well as the clear path ahead toward making even greater strides in this area. Link to Source
… health crisis responseA Youth Mental Health First Aid Class is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at Grand Valley Full Text Outlet: Grand Rapids Press Publication Date: 08/12/2014 Media Group: Print Country: United States of America Circulation: 82,021
… EVENTSMental Health First Aid courses: Manatee Glens is offering Mental … Full Text Outlet: Bradenton Herald Publication Date: 08/12/2014 Media Group: Print Byline: Bradenton Herald Country: United States of America Circulation: 32,120
The last thing I expected to hear on my wedding day was that an invited guest – a lifelong classmate and teammate – would not be coming. He had taken his life at a park the day before. Link to Source
A few years ago, while walking in Baltimore, Lori Montis unexpectedly put her mental health first aid training to work. She was in Baltimore for a conference and came across a man who she said “seemed like he was struggling.” She walked beside him to see whether she could help. “As we walked kind of … Read more
called Mental Health First Aid.After some training, which Optum and supporting agencies can facilitate, … Full Text Outlet: Idaho Statesman Publication Date: 08/10/2014 Media Group: Print Country: United States of America Circulation: 43,335
A 17-year-old boy has a gun. He’s holed up in a drainage ditch in a Vail neighborhood while negotiators try to talk him down. And after almost five hours, he surrenders peacefully. Pima Regional SWAT Sgt. Christy Anderson says a recent Mental Health First Aid course for the negotiators helped do that. Link to Source
Resources for Human Development’s (RHD’s) Family Practice and Counseling Network officially unveiled the first integrated behavioral health system with a convenient care clinic in the country, with the launch of “Wellness at Your Fingertips” Aug. 5 at FPCN’s QCare in the Bakers Centre Shoprite on Fox Street. Link to Source
System continues to offer free mental health first aid training sessions.GHS has offered several training … Full Text Outlet: Flint Journal Publication Date: 08/06/2014 Media Group: Print Country: United States of America Circulation: 39,900
The roomful of adults sit quietly in groups at tables, conferring together and drawing large pictures with colorful markers on white chart paper. The instructor, Shemiah Cooper, walks between the groups, encouraging them, as human figures form on their papers. Link to Source
