Unlike physical health challenges — like scrapes and cuts or the flu — mental health and substance use challenges often remain unseen. And because we can’t always see mental health challenges, it’s important that we feel comfortable having conversations about them. Talking about mental health can be difficult and awkward, but it doesn’t have to … Read more
Most people experience stress and anxiety at some point in their lives. Depending on the level of severity, they can detrimentally impact one’s quality of life. Although stress and anxiety share many of the same emotional and physical symptoms — uneasiness, tension, headaches, high blood pressure and loss of sleep – they have very different … Read more
As a flight attendant, Julie found herself drawn to the international nightlife, drinking at bars in London, cafes in Paris and pubs in Ireland. “It all sounds so glamorous, but near the end, most of my drinking was done alone in my room.… I was living a double life and it was taking everything I … Read more
“How are you?” Those three words have become a prescriptive question with a prescriptive answer in today’s society. When we’re asked how we are, we’re expected to automatically respond with, “Great,” “Good,” or at the very worst, “I’m fine.” But in a world where 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health or addiction … Read more
In January, Droga5, the Jed Foundation (JED), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Ad Council launched a viral ad campaign geared toward suicide prevention, called Seize the Awkward. But at Mental Health First Aid USA, we know that conversations about mental health and substance use don’t have to be awkward, if you know what to … Read more
This post was adapted from an original article by The New Social Worker, Social Workers Learn From and Raise Awareness Through Mental Health First Aid. Read the full article here. Our Mental Health First Aid champions from across the country recently took to the media to express the value of Mental Health First Aid and how … Read more
More than 16 million men and women in America – roughly 6.7 percent of the adult population – have had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, making it one of the most common mental illnesses in America. In addition, 3.1 million adolescents are affected each year. Many people experience the lonely … Read more
In December 2016, Graham Burton, a sophomore at Hamilton College in upstate New York, died by suicide. His parents, Gina and Stewart, found out only afterward that there had been red flags indicating Graham was at risk, but the college chose not to share this information. Their story highlights the gaps in our higher education … Read more
When I think back to college, it was a time when my days were filled with classes, Friday night football games, campus organizations and socializing. I also remember all the people I knew who had some form of anxiety. The majority of my peers’ anxiety could be attributed to moving to a new state, being … Read more
On Tuesday, May 8th, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing hosted briefings on Capitol Hill to highlight the importance of Mental Health First Aid training in helping communities respond to opioid overdoses and other substance use and mental health crises. The briefing introduced Congressional staff to Mental Health First Aid’s opioid overdose education and naloxone … Read more
Mental Health First Aid USA Launches New Module to Address Unique Needs of First Responders A training program to specifically target the mental health needs of firefighters and EMS workers WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 15, 2018) – With one out of every five persons experiencing a mental illness every year, it is highly probable that firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) … Read more
When I think of types of eating disorders, one of my first thoughts is Maureen, one of the main characters of my favorite movies about ballet, Center Stage. Maureen, was bulimic. It was the first time I saw what it’s like for someone living with an eating disorder. And it was in a movie. Ironic, … Read more
Our Cloud 911 family – family in the professional, I-love-working-with-these-people-sense – is made up of people living with private pain: the singular pain that stems from first-hand experience confronting the difficulties of mental illness, both in ourselves and among those we love. We’ve lost family members, witnessed incarceration and hospitalization and have both provided treatment … Read more
Four months before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, gold medal swimmer Missy Franklin was diagnosed with depression, insomnia, anxiety and an eating disorder. Today, she is among a growing number of Olympic athletes who are speaking out about the importance of mental health (“Olympian Missy Franklin opens up on depression,” CNN, March … Read more
Women are increasingly stressed at work, they’re not talking about it and it’s affecting their ability to do their job. These are among the key conclusions of a survey conducted by Glamour magazine, in partnership with ThriveGlobal and SurveyMonkey (We Need to Talk About Mental Health at Work, Glamour, March 28, 2018). The survey asked … Read more
“Drug crimes,” as they relate specifically to our nation’s opioid epidemic, appear to be flooding the news as of late. While controlling the use of illegal opioids is important, when we use scare tactic language like that in these news stories, we skirt around the real issue. The opioid epidemic is more of a mental … Read more
This piece was originally published on the Ohio Department of Education’s Extra Credit Blog. Read it here. I’m going to be open and honest here. The staff and students of Indian Lake Local Schools have experienced the suicides of two high school students in the past five years. I was serving as the high school … Read more
In the wake of Hurricane Maria – a true climate catastrophe – thousands upon thousands of residents of Puerto Rico are experiencing severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Today, many are still without power, have lost loved ones, are homeless and harboring feelings of isolation. The rate of mental illness on the island has also surged. … Read more
Here in St. Louis County, we’re very proud of this statistic: On average, our police officers have had to use force in only 1 percent of cases involving an encounter with someone in a mental health crisis. That’s a remarkably low number considering that the St. Louis County Police Intervention Team (CIT) officers respond to … Read more
March is Women’s History Month, a month when women are especially celebrated for their strength, vigor and resilience. Coverage of women breaking records, closing the gender pay gap and opening small businesses are just a few of the top headlines inundating the media. However, the path many women travel to achieve these goals is often … Read more
Teen Health Week has gone global. Begun in Pennsylvania in 2016, the annual celebration of adolescent health and mental health now includes more than 27 states and 36 countries. This year – from March 18 to 24 – teens, teachers and physicians worldwide are wearing lime green and sharing social media posts with the hashtag … Read more
“Healing emotional pain is not as straightforward as rebuilding physical structures, or restoring cell service,” said Chirlane McCray, New York City’s first lady, as she announced the city’s initiative to help address Puerto Rico’s mental health crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (“New York City to deploy mental health experts to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico,” … Read more
When we think of police officers, our minds may jump to the physical tools resting on their toolbelts: tasers, handguns, handcuffs. What we don’t often think of are the tools that aren’t hanging from their waists – like the extensive training that has qualified them to become police officers in the first place. To better … Read more
It is well known that unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings. Blood sugar fluctuations and nutritional imbalances are often to blame. Without a steady source of fuel from the foods we eat, our mind and bodies don’t function well. Here’s how some unhealthy eating habits can alter your mood and emotional well-being: Skipping meals. … Read more
March is National Criminal Justice Month. When we think about mental health and the criminal justice system, we may conjure up images of prisons overflowing with people in need of mental health or addiction care, or negative – even fatal – interactions between police and people experiencing mental illness. But thanks to increased awareness, advocacy and … Read more
With a brassy laugh and penchant for bringing her granddaughter to appointments, Ms. L had been a memorable patient for Dr. Audrey M. Provenzano. That’s why it was such a shock when Ms. L admitted that she had started using opioids again after decades in recovery – and an even greater shock when she learned … Read more
Over 7.9 million people in the U.S. have a dual diagnosis according to a 2014 study by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). A “dual diagnosis” is the condition in which one is diagnosed with a mental illness as well as a substance use disorder at the same time. The most common dual diagnosis … Read more
This piece was originally published on The Hill. Read the original article. Approximately 10 percent of police calls involve a person with mental illness, making police the nation’s de facto first responders to mental health crises. Despite being on the front lines, some officers do not have the training to recognize nor appropriately respond to a mental … Read more
Forty million individuals in the U.S. have a mental illness or condition according to Mental Health America’s 2017 data. That’s one in five adults! What’s more is the disturbing decline of teen and young adult mental health. In the same year of data, 1.8 million young adults reported to have experienced major depression or a … Read more
Five years ago, family physician Pamela Wible began compiling a list of doctors who have completed suicide. Since then, she has documented 757 cases. She found that dying by suicide is one of the medical profession’s greatest risks. Doctors have a stressful job that is often exacerbated by inhumane working conditions, and yet, many of … Read more
We see it in the news every day: the death toll due to opioid overdose continues to climb. The national opioid crisis is widespread and complex, and the solution will require a widespread and complex response. But each and every one of us has the power to make a difference — and it starts with … Read more
In my 10 years as a corrections officer, I have witnessed many changes – the biggest of which has been our approach to responding to people who are incarcerated who have a mental health diagnosis. Stressful and challenging, working in the mental health unit of a state correctional institution is hard. Fortunately for everyone, Mental Health … Read more
I am a mom and a suicide loss survivor. The tragic loss of my 26-year-old son, Jared Coffin, almost three years ago, has been devastating. However, amidst this devastation and loss, I developed a strong desire to raise awareness about mental health challenges and provide education about the signs and symptoms to look for. After … Read more
These healthy habits can have a big impact on your professional performance to keep you and your small business running smoothly. Being successful at work requires focus, commitment, dedication and time. But being your best professional self also requires that you take care of your health. Indeed, when you neglect basic healthy habits, you run … Read more
After facing multiple waves of criticism for uploading disturbing footage of a dead body found in Japan’s “suicide forest,” YouTube star and vlogger, Logan Paul, has uploaded a new video – this one about suicide prevention (“Logan Paul Issues Suicide Awareness Video, In Return To YouTube, NPR, January 25, 2018). “Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow” is … Read more
There is good news and bad news in poll findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Washington Post’s investigation into the public opinion of the use of prescription opioids (“Public opinion on the use and abuse of prescription opioids,” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation). But there is also ample opportunity to make a difference. … Read more
Instagram is now the second most popular social media platform, but it was ranked the worst for young people’s mental health last year. Whether you just joined or are a long-time user, slight changes in how you use the app could improve your mental health (This is The Healthiest Way To Browse Instagram, Huffpost, December … Read more
Before he turned his farmhouse into an inn open only on holidays, Jim Hardy (played by Bing Crosby in the 1942 classic film Holiday Inn) imagined a bucolic country life. But the reality of farming landed Jim in a “sanitarium.” Played for laughs in the movie, the stress of farming is all too real (“In … Read more
One in five Americans will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and more than 20 million Americans ages 12 and older will experience an addiction. Despite the high rate of mental illness and substance use in the U.S., there is also hope for recovery. Knowing what resources are available, both nationally and in your … Read more
Mental health challenges don’t go away at work and stressful work environments can exacerbate existing problems. Bloomberg recently reported that employers want employees to support their colleagues who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge with Mental Health First Aid at Work (“Employers Want Workers to Help Colleagues in Crisis,” Bloomberg, January … Read more
Now that we’ve rung in 2018, it’s time to say goodbye to negativity from the previous year and refocus on setting healthy goals for the new year. We know it can be easy to neglect your own well-being because of other responsibilities you may prioritize—like family, friends and careers. This year, don’t overlook your mental … Read more
In 2017, I ditched the resolutions, which was a wise move. Here I quote myself, from less than a year ago: “I’m going to allow myself to make mistakes. Instead of being so pressured and focused on making a perfect year, because there’s no such thing, I’m going to make ‘next year’s words await another … Read more
The new year marks a fresh start for many, including setting goals for the upcoming year. While resolutions often center around physical health, we believe that incorporating mental wellness into your New Year’s resolutions is critical. That’s why we’ll be focusing on building healthy habits for the new year during #BeTheDifference this January. Here’s how … Read more
You may think jumping out of a car traveling 75 miles-per-hour would be a good reason for someone to seek mental health help. It wasn’t for Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback. Prior to that uncompleted suicide attempt, his mental health hadn’t ever crossed his mind. Now, 20 years later, he’s working to break the … Read more
Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone. — Crisis Text Line user Americans tap, swipe or click their cell phones at an astonishing average of 2,617 times each day. So, it’s probably no surprise that the Crisis Text Line – a nonprofit organization that provides 24/7 crisis intervention by texting 741741 – has … Read more
“They just wanted to stop hurting.” — Jennifer Tafoya, whose 19-year-old stepdaughter, Dominique, died from an opioid overdose They ranged in age from 19 to 56. One was a high school football standout whose Mom was his biggest fan. Another was a history buff with a degree from Indiana University. Some battled drug problems for … Read more
Older teens living with depression are twice as likely to drop out of high school than their peers without depression, Canadian researchers report. This was the first study of its kind to assess depression symptoms among high school students the year before dropout. (“Depressed High School Students More Likely to Drop Out,” Psych Congress, December … Read more
Have you or anyone you know experienced depression that coincided with the changing of seasons? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly referred to as seasonal depression, or major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, is depression that strikes predominantly in the fall to winter and lifts during the spring and summer when there is more natural … Read more
We are all so much together, but we are dying of loneliness –Albert Schweitzer It wouldn’t be the holidays without endless rounds of shopping, baking and parties, or without advice about how to cope with the stress of endless rounds of shopping, baking and parties. In a recent post, members of the Mental Health First … Read more
Being safe is about being seen and heard and allowed to be who you are and to speak your truth. –– Rachel Naomi Remen When Lisa Marie Basile was in high school, she purposely didn’t make friends. She crafted an image of “happy,” despite the secret that weighed on her every day. “I felt invisible, … Read more
