Student suicide rates have been steadily increasing, with recent reports citing the highest recorded number of deaths by suicide across college campuses in years. Annually, more than 1,100 college students die by suicide, and another 24,000 attempt to take their lives. These concerning numbers highlight...
It’s very common to use apps and other online resources to research symptoms and find information that can help you make more informed decisions about your health and well-being. But when you're struggling with a mental health concern, have you ever tried using an app...
The holidays can be a time full of joy, wonder, and excitement for many people, but for some, it can be the most difficult time of the year. The demands of shopping for gifts, decorating, preparing meals, and anticipating family get-togethers can lead some people...
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders present in childhood but is not limited to children. Despite receiving significant attention throughout the last 30 years, doctors and researchers are still uncovering new potential causes, contributing factors, and treatment options for...
“Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority” is the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. The day was first celebrated in 1992 as an initiative of...
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical healthcare workers were widely celebrated as the heroes they are – individuals working tirelessly and selflessly on the front lines to provide much-needed care for those who needed it most. While nurses and physicians were recognized for the...
Even before the pandemic, mental health services in the United States were approaching capacity. A brief prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services in March 2020 concurred. The report examined trends in this field from 2014 to 2018 and found that: Utilization rates...
It’s well known by now that many young children and teens have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation reached such a critical juncture, that the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a state of emergency due to the intensifying challenges around child and adolescent mental...
On July 16th, 2022, the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was implemented. The 988 shortcut was designed to ensure easier access for anyone in a mental health crisis in need of urgent care, providing them...
A popular Staples commercial from 1996 reverently termed the few weeks between late August and early September – also known as Back to School season – as “the most wonderful time of the year.” For many, a box of freshly sharpened colored pencils or a...
The Trevor Project is one of this nation’s foremost non-profit organizations focusing on the mental health of the LGBTQ community. Since 1998, The Trevor Project has sought to help LGBTQ individuals through their work in crisis intervention, peer support, advocacy, research, and public education. In addition...
While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the discussion around mental health awareness, the conversation is especially nuanced when it comes to communities of color. For this very reason, our focus shifts to the individualized mental health challenges that underrepresented populations in America are facing throughout...
The pandemic especially impacted the lives of our healthcare workers, who were expected to go out when everyone else was expected to stay inside and socially and physically distance themselves from the rest of the world. Most of us attempted to cope with the fear...
Starting July 16th, 2022, people of all ages will have access to a new dialing code designed to support their mental health. The new 988 code has been created to connect those in crisis to trained counselors that are part of the National Suicide Prevention...
For many children and young people, summer is one of the most anticipated times of the year. School is out and schedules are much more free and open. However, this unstructured time isn’t always easy, and may be especially challenging this summer. Many children are coming...
Throughout the month of June, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies celebrate Pride Month. While many use the month to celebrate freedoms, build awareness, and encouraging diversity, it is important to remember that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender, queer, questioning, and other non-binary individuals are part...
For those outside of the military, Memorial Day is oftentimes referred to as the “unofficial start to summer.” The holiday weekend conjures up visions of barbeques, beach trips, and time off with family and friends. Yet, for veterans and their loved ones, this weekend may...
It’s no surprise that pediatric mental health issues have skyrocketed to unrivaled levels as children have been forced to navigate the challenges that have come with the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Desperate for ways to address this growing concern, healthcare professionals across...
May 15-21 is National EMS Week. This annual celebration was first instituted in 1974 by President Gerald Ford to honor the hard work and sacrifice that paramedics, EMTs and the entire EMS workforce offer to communities all around the United States. This awareness week highlights...
This year, Mental Health Awareness Month feels especially timely, as scientific publications and news pieces continue to chronicle the ongoing mental health crisis in America. COVID, and its impact across all areas of life has triggered an alarming spike in feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety,...
Each May, we celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Week to underscore the importance of nurturing positive mental health among our nation’s youth. This year, from May 1st-7th, the awareness week will emphasize the vital importance of building strong emotional health for children’s long-term development and...
On March 28th, the Biden-Harris Administration submitted its presidential budget proposal for the 2023 fiscal year. While this action is just the first step in the lengthy budgetary process, it offers an interesting insight into the White House’s spending and policy priorities moving towards the...
Experts fear a “second pandemic” is sweeping the nation as the urgent need for mental health counseling continues to exponentially grow. COVID-19 created a sense of general uncertainty, spurred major financial adjustments, created a healthcare crisis, and spurred social isolation from government mandated measures. Not...
Bodybuilding has long captivated audiences. Once upon a time, star ironmen like Arnold Schwartzenegger were admired, but not often imitated. One would have to visit a Gold’s Gym or similar spot to find individuals pursuing similar lifestyles. It wasn’t often that one would be inundated...
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been hearing about the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our collective mental health. This crisis has become so dire that in his first State of the Union address, President Biden took the time to highlight the...
We spend roughly one-third of our lives asleep – and for good reason. Quality sleep is integral to feeling – and functioning – well across our waking hours. During sleep, we relax and recover while our mind and body recharges. A national study seeking to...
It is no surprise that children and youth mental health has suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With schools forced to switch back and forth between remote learning and in-class education, it has been very difficult for teachers and school personnel to keep up with...
With events like the Winter Olympics and Superbowl LVI recently taking place, it’s no surprise that many of us are fixated on sports more than usual. These marquee events highlighted impressive feats of athleticism, provide hours of entertainment, and create a point of connection for...
Celebrated annually on the third Friday in February, National Caregivers Day offers a chance to honor the most compassionate among us. Today, an estimated 53 million Americans identify as caregivers, which equates to 21% of the population. While this number already represents a startling increase...
With the Winter Olympics underway in Beijing, athletes from around the world are readying themselves to perform at their best. While the opening ceremony, medal counts, and displays of athleticism in snow and ice are typically the main topics of conversation, these Winter games also...
The ongoing pandemic has put many of us under considerable strain. Over the last few years, we’ve seen the state of mental health in America continue to deteriorate at alarming rates, with more than 50 million Americans living with at least one mental health condition....
It’s not an understatement to say that most people have been affected by COVID-19 in some way. It has been a fact of life for almost two years, and even now, many areas of the globe are not equipped to effectively treat those who need...
The past couple of years of uncertainty, loss, and change have had a profound impact on our nation’s youth. Even prior to the pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among adolescents had been steadily rising for a decade. In 2019, COVID-19’s emergence pushed the...
During the holidays, it feels like you can’t go anywhere without hearing familiar songs like “Jingle Bell Rock'' and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” (seemingly played on repeat) or seeing greens, reds, and poinsettias everywhere. Conversation turns to holiday planning, annual family traditions,...
In 2020, Michelle Obama sat down with Oprah Winfrey and was asked the meaningful question: “What do you appreciate most now about your body today?” Instead of singling out a specific aspect of her body, the former First Lady took the opportunity to lay out her...
For many parents, raising kids that have a healthy relationship with social media can be a challenge. Why? Because social media is ubiquitous. 4.48 billion people currently use social media worldwide, a number that has more than doubled from 2.07 billion users in 2015. As...
It’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but is it? Emotions are more intense during the holidays than other times throughout the year, and celebrating with family and friends brings about a diverse range of feelings. While many people experience joy and...
With daylight savings time squarely in the rearview mirror, we’ve moved into that gloomy time of year when the sun sets during early evening, the days are darker and chillier, and we spend more time than ever indoors. For many, this time of year is...
Part Two in a Series On October 19th, 2021, a variety of leading pediatric organizations including the Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children’s mental health. This emergency was brought on by challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic,...
Part One in a Series More than a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that Americans continue to struggle with their mental and behavioral health. Within our families and communities, there have been irreparable changes that continue to affect us, even...
Behavioral healthcare providers know there isn’t one definitive solution to treat the mental health needs of their clients. From their very first days on the job, clinicians working in mental and behavioral healthcare are prepared to do everything in their power to help their clients...
If your behavioral health practice is like most, you have been busier than ever this year. Today’s challenges are manifold: applying and enforcing safety measures, navigating the new world of virtual therapy, and facing a new need for services due to pandemic-related increases in anxiety,...
In the early morning of August 30th, the last plane carrying U.S forces left Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, bringing an official end to America’s longest war. For 20 years, American troops fought in the desert of Afghanistan, first searching for 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden,...
In the last year and a half, we’ve watched in awe as first responders like doctors, nurses, paramedics, and even coroners and medical examiners have stepped up to the incredible demands put on them by COVID-19. Most trained professionals could see the crushing wave of sickness...
For a variety of reasons, the 2020 Summer Olympics was vastly different from previous Olympic games. First, they were delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many athletes to train for much longer periods of time than they could have imagined. They...
Part Six in a Series Within the United States, it’s an undeniable reality that within two decades, older adults will outnumber young children for the first time in our nation’s recorded history. As of 2018, there were more than 52 million adults aged 65 and over....
Children across the United States are heading back to school--many for the first time in over a year. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were seeing more students with emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other publications have...
40% of LGBTQ youth have seriously considered suicide in the past year. Over half of transgender and non-binary youth have considered suicide, and 20% have attempted it. The Trevor Project provides evidence-based support for LGBTQ youth through crisis services, peer support, advocacy and education. The organization...
Every child gets scared or anxious sometimes. It’s normal for kids to be afraid of the dark, shy around new people, or nervous before a big test. It becomes an issue when fear and anxiety cause distress or interfere with everyday activities. Anxiety disorders in...
It’s summer, and many parents are sending their children off to camp for a few weeks of swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and singing songs by the campfire. The excitement, however, is oftentimes mixed with anxiety – especially for a child who is leaving home for...
Part Three in a Series Within the United States, roughly 5.6% of the population identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. Despite being a relatively small population within the United States, the LGBTQ community is vastly overrepresented when it comes to mental and behavioral health...
An unfortunate reality is that many children experience devastating ordeals in their young lives. A close family member commits suicide. Parents get divorced. The child experiences abuse or neglect. These traumatic events are referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They are closely linked to...