Creating Change and Acknowledging Failure
Tyler’s Journey Through the Criminal Legal System “He’s dead, David. He’s dead. He’s dead.” Those frantic, dreadful words echoed through my mind, on repeat. ‘David’—that is me. ‘He’—that’s my friend, Tyler. Or I should say ‘was,’ as of September 5, 2023. Tyler and I were …
The Foundation of Mental Health: It Starts at Birth
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is the Foundation of Life In today’s news, references to “mental health” most often focus on child and adult mental health – with the mental health of infants and young toddlers often overlooked or misunderstood. However, given that important …
The Importance of Disaster Behavioral Health: Why it Matters
From devastating wildfires, tornadoes, and mudslides to mass shootings and terrorist attacks, it’s almost impossible to turn on the news these days without seeing a report about another disaster. Natural and human-caused disasters are increasing in frequency, duration, and severity. In 2023 alone, the United …
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Tips and Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month
It’s May, so just checking in… “How is everybody doing?” In case you missed it, Sesame Street’s lovable Elmo posed that very question on social media earlier this year – and the responses came flooding in. From relationship problems to financial troubles, and feelings of …
Release of the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Leveraging the Latest Substance Use and Mental Health Data to Make America Healthy Again
Mental health, substance misuse, addiction, and their related health and social impacts such as overdose and suicide are dynamic and evolving. With the ready availability of illicitly made fentanyl and other potent synthetic opioids such as nitazenes, the emergence of substances like xylazine, medetomidine, and …
Harm Reduction: Findings from the Field
In 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funded 25 awards for its inaugural Harm Reduction Grant Program. Harm reduction is nested throughout the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery, with a service model that is strategic, practical, and transformative. SAMHSA defines …
The Right to Live in the Community: Commemorating 25 Years of the Olmstead Decision
Tomorrow, 25 years ago, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision affirmed the rights of people with disabilities – including those with serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED) – to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. The case involved …
On National HIV Testing Day, Level Up Your Self-Love by Checking Your Status
On June 27 each year, HHS observes National HIV Testing Day, a day that reminds everyone to get tested for HIV, know your status, and get linked to care and treatment. This year’s theme is “Level up your self-love: check your status,” a theme that …
Behavioral Health Impacts of Long COVID – Policy to Action
In May 2023, the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended – reflecting a long-awaited return to normalcy across the United States. However, this has not been the case for millions of Americans who continue to struggle with the economic and social effects of the pandemic, …
Celebrating Minority Mental Health Month: Focusing on Arab American Mental Health
Minority Mental Health Month in July gives us the opportunity to spotlight a growing and increasingly visible population: Arab Americans. According to the Arab American Institute’s estimates, there are approximately 3.7 million Arab Americans. Originating from 22 diverse countries across the Middle East and North …
