Author Archive: July 2023

When natural disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma strike, the number one priority is physical safety. But after the initial emergency passes, media coverage fades and public attention shifts, the process of recovery really begins to take shape. For those...

September is already underway and we’re continuing our focus on mental health at school as part of our #BeTheDifference campaign. Whether in the classroom or out, we know how critical it is for students, teachers and caregivers to take care of their...

Chad Farley picked up one last fare. A pretty normal night in the life of an Uber driver. But his GPS told him this fare’s destination was the top of Skyway Bridge. And Farley did an amazing thing – something...

August is back-to-school month, and we all know what that means. The new school year means new clothes, shoes, school supplies and more. But part of preparing to go back to school, whether as a student, teacher, parent or caregiver,...

Many of us forget that we all possess one of the most effective tools to aid someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Listening. We hear a lot about active listening – listening and responding to another person to improve mutual...

“A Dickensian nightmare” is how the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania described the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ treatment of mentally ill inmates back in 2013. The advocacy nonprofit’s complaint stated that mentally ill inmate’s symptoms were exacerbated, then they were...

When you put on a first responder uniform, you’re expected to be ”brave, strong and courageous – giving help and not asking for help,” said Jeff Dill, a retired firefighter. Corrections officers, police and firefighters are trained to recognize and...

“It’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.” That’s the mantra of David Yarborough, a full-time peer specialist working at Metrocare, a nonprofit serving people with mental illness in North Texas. Yarborough sees a host of people...

Sales of prescription opioids in the U.S. nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2014, with more than half prescribed to adults with mental health disorders. Adults living with depression, anxiety and mood disorders receive 51 percent of all opioid prescriptions, despite...

Rodolfo Silva was prepared to handle death – at least he thought he was. During his first year as a pediatric resident at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California, he watched a terminally ill 4-year-old die. It was then...

Did you know that the word “addict” cannot be found in the most recent edition of the standard AP Stylebook? That’s because earlier this month, the Associated Press took a groundbreaking step in destigmatizing the disease of addiction – they...

After months of what felt like a never-ending downward spiral, Adam Hill found himself deep in the woods, bottle of vodka in hand with the intent of killing himself. Hill had been living with depression since college; but as a...