The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is joining with Governor Rick Snyder and local Mental Health First Aid trainers to celebrate Michigan Mental Health First Aid week May 18-26, to raise awareness about the trainings available to residents to help identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. Across Michgian, several nationally certified … Read more
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Several members of Congress have added themselves as cosponsors to the Mental Health First Aid Act and Behavioral Health IT Act in the wake of the National Council’s 10th annual Hill Day, held May 7 in Washington, D.C. Hill Day brought more than 1,200 mental health and substance use advocates to DC for three days … Read more
26 Fulton County School Counselors were trained in Mental Health First Aid this week. If your organization or school is interested in receiving information about this training, please contact Marti Vogt at 404-431-2676 for details. Link to Source
The Arizona State Legislature passed a series of new mental health laws this session that went largely unheralded by the media, despite their significance. Had these laws been in place, it’s quite possible that what happened here on that day – a mass shooting that left six people dead and 13 others injured, including former … Read more
Fairfax County is offering courses teaching the basics identifying mental health warning signs and helping those who suffer from mental illnesses, useful skills that might save lives. Fairfax County is hoping to make you a first responder. The county is offering courses that allow anyone to receive national certification in mental health first aid. Link to Source
Parents are accustomed to dealing with cuts, broken bones and the physical wounds of childhood. But there is little preparation for what to do when your child is feeling alone, experiencing depression, or even considering taking his own life. Link to Source
Earlier this week, members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce – which oversees many policies related to mental health and substance use – introduced legislation to improve the U.S. behavioral healthcare system. The Strengthening Mental Health in Our Communities Act (H.R. 4574) was introduced by Ron Barber (D-AZ), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Doris Matsui … Read more
For three years running Annapolis Royal has hosted the Annapolis County Defeat Depression walk/run/bike to raise funds for mental wellbeing in the Valley area, an initiative started by the Mood Disorder Society of Canada and taken up by the Annapolis County branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. The first two years were a resounding … Read more
This is the second in a four-part series about individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and are living successfully in your community. This series was initiated by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) PA York County to celebrate Mental Health Month. To quote the late Paul Harvey, we all deserve to hear … Read more
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is hosting several events across the commonwealth to remind Pennsylvanians of the importance of awareness surrounding mental health. This year’s theme is “Mind Your Health.” “Pennsylvania is setting national standards for our innovative efforts to target various mental health disorders,” DPW Secretary Beverly Mackereth stated. … Read more
The CarePlus Foundation is pleased to announce that the Paramus Stigma-Free Zone is among the honorees at the 16th annual Courage Awards Gala to be held on May 28th, 2014 at the Venetian in Garfield, New Jersey. The Paramus Stigma-Free Zone is a coalition of concerned citizens, business leaders, local government, and school officials that … Read more
If you saw a service member or veteran struggling with substance abuse, post-traumatic stress or depression, would you know how to encourage them to get help? A new program aims to teach educators, law enforcement officials and community workers to recognize the signs of mental illness and understand how to spur those affected to seek … Read more
Beth Wilkinson became her dying father’s main caregiver at age 16, so she had to grow up fast. “I was working, paying bills, going to school and taking care of my dad,” said the Plainfield resident, who is now 23. “I ended up dropping out of high school four months before I was supposed to … Read more
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released its Request for Applications (RFA) related to $15 million in new funding for communities to offer Mental Health First Aid. On April 29, the National Council held a webinar to brief interested individuals and entities about the details of this funding announcement. The webinar … Read more
Many people pay attention to their physical health, but total wellness involves eight basic dimensions: spiritual, financial, social, occupational, intellectual, emotional, physical and environmental. This month, May, has been designated Mental Health Month in America – a time to heighten awareness of mental health issues and reduce stigma for those living with mental illness. Link … Read more
On Tuesday, nearly three dozen people gathered at the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility to attend a free, two-day training course to become mental health first-responders. As executive director of the Dubuque County Veterans Affairs Commission, Charlie Brimeyer has seen many lives torn apart by post traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. Link … Read more
Almost everyone in Victoria has a Pepper story. “My daughter, who is in fourth grade, even talks about him,” District Attorney Stephen Tyler said. “He’s more famous than you or I or anybody in town.” So it surprised some when the man often seen roaming Victoria streets in search of a few bucks or delighting … Read more
Fair Lawn – The borough is on track to become the second “stigma-free zone” in Bergen County next month. The Care Plus New Jersey initiative to eliminate stigmas attached to those who suffer from mental illness has received unanimous consent from the borough council to begin in May, which is Mental Health Awareness month. Link … Read more
A push for new funding — and the use of existing funds — may soon make more resources available to help identify vets who need help with depression or other mental illness through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s “Mental Health First Aid training.”
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-5) on Friday visited Prime Time House, a residential mental health facility, for a roundtable discussion with the members, director, and board members. Link to Source
The National Council, along with leaders from veterans service organizations and fellow mental health advocates, today launched a new training program – Mental Health First Aid for Veterans – that offers participants a simple, proven combination of information and techniques to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental illness and addiction.
Innovative Program Offers Proven Techniques to Recognize and Respond to Mental Illness and Addiction Contact: Heather Cobb at 202-684-7457 x277 heatherc@thenationalcouncil.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council), along with leaders from veterans service organizations and fellow mental health advocates, today launched a new training program – Mental Health First Aid … Read more
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing will launch Mental Health First Aid for Veterans with leaders from veteran service organizations and fellow mental health leaders. Mental Health First Aid for Veterans builds on the evidence-based training program for educators, community leaders, law enforcement and public safety officials. Link to Source
Today on CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley, Sen. John Walsh (D-MT), the first Iraq War combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate, and Tom Tarantino, Chief Policy Officer at IAVA and former Army officer, spoke to CNN about veteran suicides, the cost of war, and Walsh’s bill, the Suicide Prevention Act for American Veterans. … Read more
In the aftermath of a series of student suicides at W.T. Woodson High School, parents are urging Fairfax County schools administrators to help the teens cope with stress at the high-performing school.
Six teens at the school have died by suicide during the past three years, including two students who died within a day of each other in February. The deaths have shocked the school community and have left parents, teachers and students searching for answers.
Before giving their children their own cellphones, access to the Internet and video games, parents should develop a media plan, set time limits for use and establish rules their children will be expected to follow or risk losing the privilege.
That was one of the recommendations made by Dr. Paul Weigle, Natchaug Hospital psychiatrist and expert on video game and Internet addiction, during a forum Thursday titled “iSafety: Protecting Kids in the Digital Age.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration has published two new funding opportunity announcements related to the Project AWARE and Mental Health First Aid initiative enacted by Congress in the 2014 budget. The National Council encourages our member organizations and local Mental Health First Aid instructors to collaborate with state and local education agencies to … Read more
Using Crayola markers set on each round table, small groups of adults from the Greeley area — school outreach workers, Boys and Girls Club staff and foster parents — created poster-sized pictures of what mental health problems look like. Glum stick figures sat under rain clouds, a face contorted from happy to sad and a … Read more
Educators and juvenile probation officers recently spent a day learning about mental health to better assist young people. For the first time in Cleburne, a Youth Mental Health First Aid training course was held for educators Thursday at Pecan Valley Center for Behavioral and Developmental Healthcare thanks to a grant provided to the center. Link … Read more
Today, I am also alarmed by the lack of focus on the recent tragedies at Fort Hood and centers of Jewish life in Kansas City. I cannot help but wonder: Were there too few victims for this to capture our attention?
Take the Fort Hood shooting: Instead of a serious discussion on the connections between mental health and gun violence, most of what I heard were some members of Congress on TV arguing for allowing guns on bases, even though our military leaders say this would make service members less safe.
When shots rang out on April 2 at the Fort Hood military post in Texas, Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz., couldn’t help but remember his own experience with gun violence. “That takes me back to the day that the shooting occurred in Tucson back in January of 2011,” Barber told ABC News in a recent interview. … Read more
Health experts with Optum Idaho are traveling the state helping people from many different backgrounds learn more about mental illness. Instructors are using the latest shooting at Fort Hood as a conversation starter about mental illness and how to spot symptoms of anxiety disorders. Link to Source
The U.S. Senate today passed legislation that included $900 million to fund the bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health Act. The legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week as part of the Medicare SGR Repeal bill, establishes a two year demonstration program in eight states to offer a broad range of mental health and substance use treatment services, including 24-hour crisis psychiatric services, while setting new standards for provider organizations.
It’s been about two months since Columbia experienced the sadness and loss of random public violence. In that attack, 19-year-old Darion Aguilar murdered Brianna Benlolo and Tyler Johnson, employees at a Zumiez store in The Mall in Columbia, and injured a third individual before turning the shotgun on himself. Police later discovered a crudely improvised … Read more
The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools met Thursday at the North Carolina History Center in New Bern to discuss key issues to school safety, specifically identifying and responding to student mental health issues, crisis response plans and the security of school buildings. This is the task force’s second meeting since being formed in September … Read more
Jacqueline Caserio knew that teen depression and suicide were difficult topics for a Girl Scout to tackle. But after learning about several students in the Birmingham area who took their lives, the Marian High School junior and member of Girl Scout troop 40-298 decided she wanted to break through the social stigma of mental illness … Read more
Mary Jo Andrews, Carol Poehnert and several other West Hartford mothers of children with mental-health problems had quietly met for eight years, usually over dinner, to share their experiences and frustrations, and to trade tips and shortcuts learned while navigating the treatment system. Then the Sandy Hook School tragedy happened in December 2012. Link to Source
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, along with the Department of Community Mental Health and Westchester Jewish Community Services, launched “Youth Mental Health First Aid,” a new Safer Communities initiative, last week. At a press conference at the County Center announcing the new program, Astorino said: “Youth Mental Health First Aid trains adults on how to … Read more
I recently got a call from George Delgrosso, Executive Director of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, excited to share the news that the Colorado legislature approved $750,000 to expand Mental Health First Aid in Colorado. What made the difference in getting the appropriation? A legislative staff member took the course and became a champion of … Read more
I recently got a call from George Delgrosso, Executive Director of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, excited to share the news that the Colorado legislature approved $750,000 to expand Mental Health First Aid in Colorado. What made the difference in getting the appropriation? A legislative staff member took the course and became a champion of … Read more
I recently got a call from George Delgrosso, Executive Director of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, excited to share the news that the Colorado legislature approved $750,000 to expand Mental Health First Aid in Colorado. What made the difference in getting the appropriation? A legislative staff member took the course and became a champion of … Read more
A report from Mental Health First Aid USA ranks Missouri second-highest among the states with residents trained in Mental Health First Aid. The training is designed to teach people how to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health. Similar to standard first aid, the knowledge and training can save lives. Mental health issues … Read more
Howard County Executive Kenneth Ulman, who is running for lieutenant governor in the upcoming state election, delivered his final state of the county address on Thursday. In wake of the shooting that claimed three lives at the Mall in Columbia in January, Ulman’s speech had significant focus on public safety and mental illness. Link to … Read more
Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health trained the students on mental health first aid last summer, and each “preventer” is now a certified mental health first-aid responder. Link to Source
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Award at the House of Lords in recognition of the school’s … Full Text Outlet: Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough) Publication Date: 03/22/2014 Media Group: Print Country: United Kingdom Circulation: 30,137
Taking the taboo out of mental illness was a vital issue Howard County Executive Ken Ulman honed in on during his eighth and final state of the county address. Link to Source
One out of four of us has a mental illness,” said Barry Groesch, who works at Linden Oaks Hospital at Edward and coordinates the Naperville facility’s Mental Health First Aid training sessions. In the three years since the program was launched, 3,608 people have completed the eight-hour training in 184 classes taught by 51 instructors … Read more
“So, are you thinking of killing yourself?” Uttering the words is painfully emotional, even within the safe confines of practicing them in a class like Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network’s Mental Health First Aid. But asking the question could save a life. Link to Source
The Columbia Mall tragedy is heart wrenching, terrifying and incomprehensible, and so are last week’s revelations about the shooter (“Police say Columbia mall shooter wanted to mimic Columbine,” March 12). Here was a young man developing a serious mental illness with psychosis who kept the symptoms of his illness hidden from almost everyone around him. Because … Read more
Kevin Hines, author, advocate and representative of Mental Health First Aid for youth, will talk at Fresno State about his suicide attempt and surviving a jump off the Golden Gate in San Francisco. The free, public event, sponsored by University Health and Psychological Services, will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 12 in the Satellite Student Union. Link … Read more
