The face of mental illness can be deceptive, hidden behind big smiles, wide eyes and exuberant expressions forced into place to avoid detection. Millions of people every day wear a … Read more
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“It’s probably not a big deal. I’m probably overreacting,” thought Sara, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, when her dark thoughts were not going away. She was sitting … Read more
“Hello, I am the protective factor,” was the unorthodox greeting I recently received following congregational prayer in my local mosque. The elderly gentleman who approached me was a participant in … Read more
Mental health is an issue that touches teachers and school administrators in their work across the country. ThriveNYC has teamed up with the Department of Education and the Department of … Read more
More than 60,000 people in New York city are homeless. That statistic includes more than 15,000 families and 22,000 children who sleep each night in the New York City municipal … Read more
“If you see something, say something” became a popular slogan in the aftermath of 9/11; however, my eyes bore witness to a number of situations that remained unspoken for more … Read more
Esther Ha was 21 when she died by suicide. She had been living with depression for years, something that, across Korean communities and culture, is often shrugged off or simply … Read more
Many faith communities are at the front lines of the fight for better mental health. A faith community – whether a mosque, church, synagogue or temple – provides a space … Read more
Statement by Betsy Schwartz, Vice President, Public Education and Strategic Initiatives, National Council for Mental Wellbeing WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 9, 2018) – As wildfires burn throughout California – making this … Read more
Your patience and understanding will make all the difference in your loved one’s bipolar disorder treatment and recovery—these tried and true tips can help you be their source of empowerment … Read more
College marks a new beginning in a child’s life – for many it’s the first tentative steps away from the safety of their home. It is when a child becomes … Read more
As a trained Mental Health First Aider, you know that mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent. And that’s true for young people, too: one in five youth aged … Read more
Michaela is a high school sophomore. She’s a straight A student, excels as point guard on the girls’ basketball team, plays second chair clarinet in the marching band and is … Read more
Summer is a great time to think about self-care. With long sunny days and warmer weather, there are more opportunities than ever to switch up your routine and enjoy what … Read more
This piece was originally published on Linda’s Corner Office blog. Read it here. How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. – Annie Dillard The iconic designer Kate … Read more
Our beloved America is in constant mourning over the many people who have lost their lives to suicide. From celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain to fashion icon, Kate Spade; we think … Read more
The Rock. Prince Harry. Logic. Ryan Reynolds. Michael Phelps. Kevin Love. Brandon Marshall. These famous men have courageously opened up about their struggles with a silent illness that’s eschewed when it … Read more
With an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States experiencing at least one major depressive episode in a given year, understanding depression – what it is, who it affects … Read more
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults each year. Yet only 36.9 percent of people living with anxiety disorders … Read more
For more than a decade, I was a global advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, I grew accustomed to people whispering in my ear, “I’m HIV positive.” They didn’t … 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 … Read more
Summer is a great time to focus in on your self-care routine. Getting outside, shopping for fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market and listening to upbeat summer tunes … Read more
This article originally appeared on www.BravadoHealth.com. Read it here. In July 2017, my 20-year-old son’s best friend, Jack, took his own life. Jack had battled depression in the past. At the … Read more
In 2016, an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode – 6.7 percent of all U.S. adults. But with appropriate professional and … Read more
For years, most states have mandated that schools provide physical health education. This year, New York and Virginia will be the first two states to pass laws that require mental … Read more
Laura might have had an inkling that something was awry with her mother’s mental health, but at 12 years old, she didn’t have the knowledge or understanding of what it … Read more
If you notice a friend or loved one experiencing a substance use challenge, you may want to help, but might not know what to say or what to do. One … Read more
With the recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, suicide prevention and mental health awareness are a significant part of the daily news cycle. As someone who has been … Read more
A lot can be said without words in a face-to-face conversation. Often, our non-verbal communication—our facial expressions, body posture, eye contact, etc.—speaks loudest. These non-verbal cues play a huge role … Read more
In a week that was marred by tragedy, the world lost two icons: Designer Kate Spade on June 5 and chef Anthony Bourdain on June 8, both from apparent suicide. … Read more
Did you know that more than 40 percent of people who live with addiction also have another mental health challenge of some kind? It’s no surprise that the correlation between … Read more
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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … 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 … 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 … 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, … 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 … 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 … Read more
This post originally appeared on the Capitol Connector blog. View the original post. On Tuesday, May 8th, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing hosted briefings on Capitol Hill to highlight … 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 … Read more
When I think 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more
