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...
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths attributed to it in 2020 alone. That equates to one person dying by suicide every 11 minutes. This staggering number does not take into account individuals who consider attempting suicide, a...
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...
Parents, researchers, and front-line mental health providers are all saying the same thing: there is an ongoing mental health crisis among youth in America. Taking action to mitigate these challenges is essential. However, it can be hard to know where to start without the appropriate...
Without good data, it’s hard to get a clear picture of just about anything. But when it comes to mental and behavioral healthcare, it’s non-negotiable. Analyzing information to find trends and patterns gives us a better understanding of mental health conditions, which ultimately leads to...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
In October 2020, a ground-breaking study was published online that sought to address the long-term effects of severe black box warnings on antidepressants. These warnings are familiar to anyone who has ever taken antidepressants or discussed them with a doctor or mental health clinician. These black...
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...
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...
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...
Healthcare disparities by race and ethnicity impact almost every aspect of seeking and obtaining health care. These discrepancies in physical healthcare are apparent in notable ways, such as in diagnosis and mortality rates for life-threatening cancers, and deadly chronic conditions such as diabetes and high...
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...
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...
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...
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Why is it so important that we create awareness and take action? Because the data is alarming. Every day, approximately 130 Americans die by suicide. That is one person every 11 minutes. There is one death by suicide for...
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...
September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month-- a time meant to raise awareness and open the dialog around suicide, while advocating for better mental health care. As part of this awareness month, September 5th-11th is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10th...
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...
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...
Part Two in a Series When they sign up for active duty, military members know that they’re putting everything on the line to protect their country. But what they can not prepare for is the impact their service will have on their own mental health. For...
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness--it’s actually a sign of strength and confidence. Yet, so many people are reluctant to reach out for help with their mental health needs because of the stigma that is still (incorrectly) associated with mental health. Military...
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. According to data compiled by Mental Health America (MHA), a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization, suicidal ideation has been growing rapidly since the start of the pandemic. Here’s what...
Part Two in a Series The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, greatly expanded both access and affordability for healthcare. Mental health was also addressed, under a portion of the ACA known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity...
PART ONE IN A SERIES The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, expanded healthcare access and affordability. A portion of the ACA, known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), strives to ensure that mental health and...
COVID-19 swept the United States in the spring of 2020. Seemingly overnight, businesses shuttered, schools closed, and everyone not deemed an “essential worker” began to shelter at home. While the economy is now reopening in an uneven state-by-state, and even city-by-city patchwork, the pandemic is...
Listen in on an incredible conversation with Hersch Wilson, a 30-year veteran volunteer firefighter/EMT, and author of "Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide to Thriving in Tough Times." Hersch offers insightful wisdom to help people thrive during stressful times. He shares his thoughts about how to...
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and the numbers have been increasing over the past few decades. Historically, attempts to predict and prevent suicide were based on self-reporting, which can be problematic because people may hide their suicidal thoughts....
Part One in a Series Enacted in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded healthcare access and affordability for tens of millions of people in the United States. Part of the ACA is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)....
The global coronavirus pandemic has had worldwide mental health repercussions. Long-term stress has exacerbated existing behavioral health conditions, and social isolation has increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Chronic stress and economic instability have created a breeding ground for psychological distress. When it comes...