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Author Archive: December 2022

people doing yoga outside

Prioritizing Mental Wellbeing in the Summer

June 21, 2022
After what feels like an eternity of stay-at-home orders and roped off public spaces, a somewhat “normal” summer is a welcome treat. Longer and warmer days, a more flexible work schedule (or even summer break) and an abundance of social...
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Young women applying to be MHFA Ambassador

Ignite Awareness: How to Be a Mental Health First Aid Ambassador

June 13, 2022
It’s no secret that there is an unprecedented mental health crisis in the U.S. However, there is something we can do it about it. We know from the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum that the sooner a person experiencing...
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A father talking to his daughter

How Mental Health Challenges Can Manifest in Youth

June 6, 2022
*If your child does or says anything that indicates they have a desire to hurt themselves or others, take them seriously. If you feel your child is in danger, call 911, a local mental health crisis hotline or one of...
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teens smiling and talking in a group

How to Talk to Your Teen About Tobacco Use

May 31, 2022
Tobacco use has often been portrayed as harmless, something the “cool” kids do, especially in popular TV shows aimed at teens, like “Skins” and “Euphoria.” But in reality, commercial* tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable disease, disability...
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a veteran in a wheelchair hugging their children

Supporting Veterans and Service Members on Memorial Day

May 27, 2022
Throughout my Army career, I carried a piece of paper folded in the breast pocket of my uniform with a list of the names of the 35 soldiers killed in my brigade during my first deployment to Iraq. I carried...
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Derrick Sanders in front of a police vehicle

Mental Health First Aid is the Invisible Tool We All Need

May 25, 2022
Deputy sheriff. Army veteran. Crisis intervention specialist. Hostage negotiator. These titles paint a picture of the multitude of trainings I’ve taken and certifications I’ve earned throughout my career, but I am first and foremost a Mental Health First Aider.  I...
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A woman smiling at her desk at work

Why Employers Should Invest in Employee Mental Wellbeing

May 19, 2022
This month, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing scheduled a mental health day to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month. It was a modest but important measure to help our hard-working staff, and the benefits were significant.  Like all employers,...
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people smiling putting their hands in a circle

National Prevention Week: A Resource Guide

May 9, 2022
May 8-14 is National Prevention Week, an annual observance sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) dedicated to increasing public awareness and action around substance use prevention and promoting positive mental wellbeing. In the past year,...
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A father putting his hand on his son's shoulder

Our Youth Are in Crisis, But It Is Not Too Late to Help Them

May 3, 2022
Our youth need our help. A new CDC survey shows significant increases in high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, considering suicide or attempting suicide over the past decade – trends that have been exacerbated by the...
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Alexander Hardy writing down reasons why he's a 'mhfa instructor.'

Five Ways to Use Food as a Tool for Practicing Mindfulness, Fostering Connection, and Centering Joy

April 26, 2022
As a grits-powered mental health programming developer, facilitator and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, food is more than a source of sustenance for me. It’s an ice-breaker and a way to get friends, attendees and strangers to talk about...
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Woman breathing calmly in front of a lake

Use Person-First Language to Reduce Stigma

April 12, 2022
For millennia, people living with mental health and substance use challenges were imprisoned, tortured and subjected to inhumane treatment. Our society has come a long way since then, however the stigmatization of these challenges is still a significant problem. Even...
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Alcohol Use Disorder is Not a Choice: Understanding and Supporting with Mental Health First Aid

April 7, 2022
Many of us may be familiar with the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20.” I know I am. I routinely wish I had known many of the things I know now when I was younger, especially regarding my mother’s life-long challenge with...
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