Have you ever noticed a friend or family member become more distant? Or leaning on alcohol to cope? While talking about mental health challenges has become more normalized, it can be hard to know what to do or say when a friend, family member or colleague seems to be experiencing a mental health or substance … Read more
The American Cancer Society uses the term “survivor” to refer to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, no matter where they are in the course of the disease. Being a breast cancer survivor has opened my eyes to how much stigma still exists and how often people do not know how best to offer … Read more
In June, two Ohio State University students died after taking what they believed to be Adderall, a prescription stimulant that is frequently misused by college students, but was actually the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The students were not alone. Accidental fentanyl overdoses occur far beyond campus walls, impacting thousands of individuals, families and communities across the … Read more
Life can be challenging at times. Everyone experiences feelings like anxiety, sadness and stress now and then. While these feelings are common, it’s important to recognize when they may be interfering with your daily life. If you feel overwhelmed by emotions or experiences, know that you are not alone. Nearly 1 in 5 adults in … 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
Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s nearly impossible to understand the emotional impact receiving a poor physical prognosis can have on someone. This unfortunate circumstance can bring on a multitude of different feelings, including denial, regret and frustration. It can also leave patients vulnerable to developing depression and anxiety and other mental health conditions that … 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
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
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
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
Millions of people every year take a CPR or first aid class to learn how to recognize and care for a variety of medical emergencies. But what about someone experiencing a mental health emergency? That’s where Mental Health First Aid comes in, educating our community on how to reach out and help those around us … Read more
It was about 8:45 p.m. on a slow weeknight in early 2011. We were ready to close the pharmacy down as soon as 9 p.m. hit. A patient came to the counter looking anxious and exhausted; she passed me – a young pharmacy intern at the time – a crumpled, handwritten prescription for oxycodone 30 … Read more
The idea that military-connected individuals and civilians cannot understand one another, often referred to as the civilian-military divide, is one of the most prominent barriers to care for veterans and military members seeking mental health and addiction treatment. So how can I, a civilian psychologist, help and connect with someone who has devoted so much … 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, he watched a terminally ill 4-year-old die. It was then he realized dealing with death was harder than he had imagined (“New Rules for Resident … 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 groundbreaking step in destigmatizing the disease of addiction – they removed the word “addict” as a noun. The 2017 AP Stylebook encourages phrasing like “they … 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 had been living with depression since college; but as a pediatric palliative care doctor, he did not want to advertise what others in medicine might … Read more
The Connecticut General Assembly is contemplating the fate of a two-year, $40.3 billion budget. Approved on June 3, this budget restored massive cuts to human services that were recommended by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. 6/26/15 Link to Source
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in every four American adults has a mental illness of some kind. Now there could be good news for them and the people who care for them. 6/27/15 Link to Source
Mental health has long been relegated to the shadows. For centuries, mental illness was poorly understood; those affected by it, marginalized and cast out of society. Even in recent years, people have been reluctant to discuss their mental health. Some still are. Increasingly, though, we’re shining the light on mental illness — bringing it out … Read more
The mental health services, which include counseling, advocacy, referral and telepsychiatry, are provided by North Central Behavioral Health Systems through a state grant that also assists neighboring Stark County, Donna Augustyn-Sloan told the board. 04/13/2015 Link to Source
The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City on Thursday are announcing an ambitious initiative called Healthy KC aimed at improving health and well-being wherever people live, work or play. 04/02/2015 Link to Source
Upper Valley public health officials say an annual ranking of the health status of each county in the United States will help guide them as they create action plans to address the challenges area communities face. 03/28/2015 Link to Source
Alameda Health System (AHS) announced that Dr. Scott Zeller has received the distinction of Doctor of the Year by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council). Dr. Zeller serves as the Chief of Psychiatric Emergency Services for John George Psychiatric Hospital (JGPH), a member of Alameda Health System. He will be honored during the … Read more
Although the last Congress was criticized for lack of action, it got quite a bit done on behavioral health, including passage of the Excellence in Mental Health Act and funding for mental health first-aid training. But those are just first steps, and they require lots of follow-up work. 02/27/2015 Link to Source
“It can be overwhelming,” said Janet Lee, crisis support co-ordinator at the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre. “And we’re very aware of the importance of good mental health and being aware of some of the signs and symptoms for our callers and for ourselves as staff and volunteers.” 02/21/2015 Link to Source
Mental health initiatives make up the fourth category, where employee assistance programs (EAPs) continue to lead the pack (80% of U.S. companies), followed by mental health first aid training (for 69%), critical incident and crisis response counseling (in 33%), Some 11% of employers offer end-of-life counseling, which THINK-Health forecasts as a fast-growing area for employee … Read more
President Obama’s recently proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Budget provides the nation with an unprecedented opportunity to address America’s urgent behavioral health needs. About 1 in 5 Americans experiences a mental illness every year, yet many struggle to access treatment and services. The FY 2016 Budget proposes improvements to the mental health system by expanding … Read more
Oregon has begun to realize the importance of addressing the state’s serious and growing mental health care needs. 02/11/2015 Link to Source
National Rural Health Resource Center recently presented Sanpete Valley Hospital with the Critical Access Hospital Recognition Certificate based on the hospital’s behavioral/mental health outreach efforts in the Sanpete community. 01/15/2015 Link to Source
This editorial originally appeared in Roll Call. As this lame-duck Congress limps to the end of its tenure, pundits are shouting about its ineffectiveness. The 113th Congress passed fewer laws than any Congress in 60 years. With control of the government still divided along party lines, many see little hope the next Congress will be … Read more
This editorial originally appeared in Roll Call. As this lame-duck Congress limps to the end of its tenure, pundits are shouting about its ineffectiveness. The 113th Congress passed fewer laws than any Congress in 60 years. With control of the government still divided along party lines, many see little hope the next Congress will be … Read more
This editorial originally appeared in Roll Call. As this lame-duck Congress limps to the end of its tenure, pundits are shouting about its ineffectiveness. The 113th Congress passed fewer laws than any Congress in 60 years. With control of the government still divided along party lines, many see little hope the next Congress will be … Read more
The key to providing access to quality health care for those with a mental illness lies in the expansion of Medicaid, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday to a crowd of 500 at the 25th annual Thanksgiving banquet of Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board. 11/21/2014 Link to Source
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that Nassau’s 5th Annual Co-Occurring Disorders Conference – focusing on “Integrated Health Systems: Helping Families Across the Lifespan”- will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014 at University’s Mack Student Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The conference will highlight challenging and major issues facing health … Read more
“We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.” I couldn’t agree more with Bill Gates. 2013 saw progress. But big ideas are exacted quickly; it is change that is incremental and requires … Read more
“We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.” I couldn’t agree more with Bill Gates. 2013 saw progress. But big ideas are exacted quickly; it is change that is incremental and requires … Read more
“We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.” I couldn’t agree more with Bill Gates. 2013 saw progress. But big ideas are exacted quickly; it is change that is incremental and requires … Read more
