Police officers are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, faced with enforcing the law while potentially confronting the coronavirus. Although in some places crime rates are dropping because of physical distancing, police officers continue to work long and tiring hours with the risk of insufficient personal protective gear. Despite this, there are more than … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
On March 10, I stood in a classroom teaching Mental Health First Aid. I was three hours away from the closest confirmed COVID-19 case. Nothing had been cancelled, life in my small rural county hadn’t been altered in any way, and people didn’t seem scared. We live in a very remote area, tucked in the … Read more
When our world changes quickly and suddenly because of things like COVID-19, it is common to experience changes in our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Feelings of anxiety, fear or worry are typical in stressful situations. Typical reactions include: Feeling stressed or overwhelmed, frustrated or angry, worried or anxious Feeling restless, agitated, on ‘high alert’ or … Read more
Practicing physical distancing can be hard. As we spend less time interacting with others, it becomes more likely that we experience feelings of isolation, loneliness or even anxiety. It’s important to remember that even though you may be inside right now, you are not alone. Thanks to technology, your family and friends are just a … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you’re feeling stressed or nervous during these days of COVID-19, you’re not alone. Uncertainty and the sense of not being safe — not to mention physical distancing, round-the-clock news and empty grocery shelves — are stressful. What you’re feeling is common around the world. We know you’re looking for ways to take care of yourself … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA … Read more
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). A teenage girl in your life might be struggling with self-injury or self-harm behavior and not getting the support she needs. Self-injury affects nearly 1 in 4 teenage girls in the United States, according to … Read more
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). “Sometimes, I wonder to myself if people see the scars and think it was just a clumsy accident, or does it run through their minds that I harmed myself? I wonder if they silently have … Read more
Natural disasters affect lives and property in many ways, devastating communities through a chain of catastrophic sequences affecting social and economic developments. These events are often difficult to predict, prevent and control. They affect individuals who must cope with trauma, loss, separation from loved ones and crisis. The effect of exposure to a traumatic event … Read more
For up to 30 million people in the United States, thoughts and emotions related to body image are distorted and can interfere with a person’s daily life as an eating disorder. And among those with eating disorders, less than a third received treatment for a mental health problem in the past 12 months. But you … Read more
“Young adolescence is a time of both peer influences and appearance being very important, so it’s not hard to see how people this age could become very focused on how they are perceived online.” New research suggests that young people who use social media are more likely to develop an eating disorder. Skipping meals and … Read more
It can be hard to recognize if someone has an eating disorder. They can be underweight, overweight or even normal weight. They might show obvious behavioral, physical or psychological signs, or they might show none. It can be even harder when you’re not sure what to look for. Whether the signs are obvious to the … Read more
“When researchers followed a group of 496 adolescent girls for 8 years, until they were 20, they found a total of 13.2% of the girls had suffered from a DSM-5 eating disorder by age 20,” according to research published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. In the United States, eating disorders affect up to 30 … Read more
When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher so I could help people. I would play “school” with my siblings and use it as an escape from all the not-so-great life experiences I was going through. Even then, I knew teaching would always be part of my life in some way. Throughout … Read more
We’ve all heard of CPR. And because of it, many of us know what to do if someone is choking on a small piece of food or having trouble breathing. But, do you know what to do if someone around you is having a panic attack or suicidal thoughts? That’s what Mental Health First Aid … Read more
A recent study on New Year’s resolutions found that about 40% of Americans set resolutions at the start of the year, and less than half are successful after six months. We all want to make positive and impactful changes in our lives, but how can we make the changes last? Keep them realistic. When setting … Read more
The new year is quickly approaching. For a lot of people, it’s a time to hit the reset button on fitness and nutrition, let go of negative habits and expand career or travel goals. It’s also a great opportunity to prioritize your mental health. We know that mental health treatment can be expensive and time-consuming. … Read more
As the number of Americans facing a mental health condition continues to grow every day, we want to help you continue to #BeTheDifference for those around you. So, we asked our Mental Health First Aid Instructor community what advice they have for you as you head into the new year. Here are a few tips … Read more
One in five adults in the United States face a mental illness in any one year – that’s almost 44 million people. For these people, the holidays can be an especially difficult time. For some, large gatherings and traveling to see family or friends can cause stress. For others, the holidays are a time of … Read more
You may not realize it, but seasonal changes can impact both physical and mental health . As the temperature starts to drop and there is less natural sunlight, we are at risk of getting not only the flu, but also seasonal affective disorder – or SAD – a type of depression. SAD, more commonly referred … Read more
The holidays can be a time full of shopping, family traditions and holiday parties. But, for many people, it can also be a time of stress and social anxiety. The idea of walking into a crowded office party, traveling to see family and friends or attending large gatherings can produce intense feelings of anxiety and … Read more
Joanna is a Mental Health First Aider who practices gratitude regularly, and especially during stressful or difficult times, as a way to manage her mental health. And she’s not alone. Many mental health intervention programs and life coaching regimes include gratitude practices in their treatments through activities like gratitude journaling, group discussions and daily meditation. … Read more
When you’re struggling with a mental health or substance use problem, it can be hard to get the help you need. With a surplus of information available online, it may be confusing to know what kind of help you might need, where to go or who to talk to. According to Cohen Veterans Network’s 2018 … Read more
About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – that’s nearly 9 million people. Of those diagnosed with PTSD, 37 percent are classified as having severe symptoms. That means someone around you might be struggling with PTSD after facing a traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, witnessing something terrible happen, … Read more
“Prior to deployment, service men and women are trained in basic first aid so that we are equipped to address the physical wounds of battle. When the shooting stops, different challenges begin for many of us. We live with the emotional wounds of war,” said Tousha Paxton-Barnes. Tousha was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army’s … Read more
“So many men and women who served our country did so much more than me and were in so much more danger than I was on my four-month tour. I can’t have PTSD, I told myself, because I didn’t earn it,” said Jason Kander. Jason enlisted in the Army National Guard after 9/11 and volunteered … Read more
Often, people suffer in silence rather than admit they are struggling and need help. And too often, people turn their backs on those with mental health issues either because they lack insight into what mental health is or they are afraid because of the stigma attached to mental health – they see depression as a … 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.” Deanna Silva faced postpartum depression 15 months after giving birth … Read more
It can be hard to admit you’re not OK and ask for help. But, help and support are available around you and can make a positive difference. Mood disorders affect one in 10 adults in the United States each year. Depression is the most common, impacting 6.8 percent of adults in any one year. Of … Read more
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 911, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text “MHFA” to 741-741 for 24/7 confidential counseling from the Crisis Text Line. Anthony Bourdain. Kate Spade. Avicii. These are just a few names of people who died by suicide and remind us that … Read more
“Everybody has bad days, but depression can make every day a bad day. I would spend days on end in bed, unwilling, or even unable to move, for depression can be so debilitating that it becomes physically disabling.” Harry is the events and community officer at the Mental Health Foundation. He’s also a student and … Read more
We all feel sad or blue when bad things happen. The loss of a loved one, a breakup or just a bad day can all cause feelings of sadness. And that’s okay. Sadness is a healthy emotion to feel when faced with a difficult situation and usually we cope and soon recover without treatment. Depression … Read more
Eventually we have to ask ourselves, “Why are we afraid of mental health?” As my high school experience came to an end, I found myself in the middle of a revolutionary path toward understanding and normalizing mental health. It is so common to avoid mental health in everyday conversations. It’s treated like something that – … Read more
I wanted to help them. I wanted to say something. But, what could I do? What could I say? When I lost one of my classmates to suicide, I had no clue what to do. Suddenly, so many lives were changed, and I saw my friends and peers start to fall apart. As they grieved … Read more
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 9-1-1, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text “MHFA” to 741-741 for 24/7 confidential counseling from the Crisis Text Line. Talking about mental health can be hard. It can be hard to admit that you’re not feeling okay, and even … Read more
“Regardless of how happy, smart or popular someone seems on the outside, everyone is fighting battles we have no idea about,” said Katie Ramboyong, a junior at Freedom High School in Loudoun County, Va., and one of the first students to complete the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) pilot program. “I noticed a friend … Read more
Joel Davis became a First Aider to better serve the people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach Calif., where he works as a firefighter. But when he took the course, he knew he wanted to bring Mental Health First Aid to his entire fire department. A couple years later, Joel is doing just that – and … Read more
Forgetting to do your homework, misplacing a project that is due or leaving your lunch at home are all minor inconveniences that high schoolers face. They may be frustrating at the moment and become a low for the day, but they are forgiven, and you move on. In the pressure cooker that is Loudoun County, … Read more
“To this day, 18 years later, I can drive down Woodruff and Spring Streets and see the image of a 1-year-old who was shot by his father. Every single day, that image from 18 years ago is still in my head. And I’ve learned that’s normal.” Jason Cash is our 2 millionth Mental Health First … Read more
One in five teens has had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their life. And suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds. It’s critical that we help teens in every way we can, and this starts with the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) pilot program. We’re … Read more
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). In the United States, almost half of adults will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. Of the people who had a mental illness in the past year, only 41 percent received mental health services … Read more
When Ethan Call’s usually reliable friend didn’t come to church services, he was worried and texted her. She responded that she was having a bad time and wanted to stay home. Knowing that she struggled with anxiety and depression, Ethan knew something was wrong and immediately went to see her. “We talked about what she … Read more
Mental health can be hard to talk about, and sometimes it’s hardest to talk about with the people we’re closest to, like family members. In the United States, almost half of all adults will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. That means you or someone in your family member may face a mental health … Read more
