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 …
Advancing Behavioral Health Equity and Language Justice: SAMHSA's Updated Language Access Plan
At the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), we know that every one of us, regardless of who we are or our background, deserves access to quality behavioral health care resources and services. In everything that we do, we strive to advance equity, …
Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Journey of Progress
People with disabilities represent a significant portion of the U.S. population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 26 percent of adults in the United States have a disability. American Indians and Alaska Natives and people who identify as “Other” or “Multirace” …
Together We Can: International Overdose Awareness Day 2024
In 2023, our nation witnessed the first annual decline in overdose deaths since 2018. In 2022, there were over 111,000 deaths. In 2023, that number fell to 107,543. Though modest, this suggests that nationwide efforts to reduce overdoses are making a positive impact. However, the …
