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boys basketball team texting from the bench

What Student Athletes (and Their Coaches) Need to Know About Mental Health

March 14, 2025
In my sophomore year of high school, I took the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course as part of my gym class, and my number one takeaway is that mental health is just as important as physical health. This...
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two college students talk in a coffee shop

Prevent Suicide in College Students

March 12, 2025
Beginning or returning to college can be an exciting time for students. Each year is a new chapter filled with learning, discovery and opportunities. But, how students respond to the stressors of higher education varies from person to person —...
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three college students sit together on steps

Reducing Mental Health Stigma on College Campuses

March 10, 2025
College campuses are a melting pot of cultures and experiences. Students can hail from the same state as their school, or from across the world. Some are first-generation students and some have alumni in their family. Some live in dorms...
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a woman sitting with legs crossed and eyes closed

10 Ways to Practice Self-Care as an Act of Kindness

February 17, 2025
It’s easy to feel mentally exhausted in a world that demands so much of our time, energy and focus. Many people push themselves from sunup to sundown in a quest to keep up with responsibilities at home and work, juggling...
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group of smiling people huddling in a circle

Suicide Prevention Month: A Resource Guide

September 3, 2024
In 2022, nearly 49,476 people in the U.S. died by suicide — an average of one person every 11 minutes — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10–14...
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young man sitting on a couch talking to a counselor

How to Build Resilience When You Have PTSD

November 3, 2023
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, about 6% of people have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But PTSD affects more than military members and veterans. Just one event can have a lifetime impact on a person’s overall wellbeing...
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five smiling women stand together arm in arm

What Not to Say to Someone with Breast Cancer

October 30, 2023
The American Cancer Society uses the term “survivor” to refer to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, no matter where they are in the course of the disease. Being a breast cancer survivor has opened my eyes to how...
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two teen boys reading books and talking on a sidewalk

Give Teens Permission to Talk About Mental Health

October 26, 2023
I first heard about teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) late summer of 2018. The National Council was piloting the program across the country. As a manager at North Texas Behavioral Health Authority in Dallas, I was immediately intrigued by...
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dad and two young kids dance around the living room

10 Ways to Celebrate World Mental Health Day 2023

October 10, 2023
It’s World Mental Health Day! Each year, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) joins the World Health Organization to raise awareness about mental health around the world and support those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. In honor of the...
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four smiling young women sit at a cafe table

Leaning Into New Routines by Welcoming Seasons of Change

October 4, 2023
Life has a rhythm. Some seasons are busier than others, some are quieter and more predictable. Workloads ebb and flow. Relationships evolve. And then there are the curveballs thrown our way. Our lives change no matter what, and that change...
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two corrections officers stand in front of a jail cell

“Toughing It Out” Doesn’t Work for Corrections Professionals

September 27, 2023
With 14 years of experience in the corrections industry, plus family in the field, Kristen Thompson has a bead on what goes on inside correctional facilities. Thompson, who is a field services training manager for the Wyoming Department of Corrections,...
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retail worker in a clothing store

Q&A with Zana Busby: Why Retailers Need to Invest in Employee Mental Health

September 26, 2023
Mental Health First Aid USA only offers trainings to employees based in the United States at this time. Working in the retail industry is downright tough. It can be mentally and emotionally draining for many reasons, such as interacting with...
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