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Guest Commentary

closeup of American flag patch on army fatigues
closeup of American flag patch on army fatigues
November 9, 2022

Giving Reassurance to Veterans on Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, it is important to remember that not every service member experiences Veterans Day in the same way.…

Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, News, Veterans
smiling older adult and her smiling caregiver walk down a hall together
smiling older adult and her smiling caregiver walk down a hall together
November 2, 2022

Support Caregivers with Mental Health First Aid

November can be a time for s’mores, warm hoodies and crisp air. For me, it’s also a time to reflect,…

Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, News, Older Adults, Self-Care
closeup of a line of police officers
closeup of a line of police officers
October 28, 2022

Mental Health First Aid in Action: The Importance of the…

What we say and do in response to the signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, News, Public Safety
boys basketball team texting from the bench
boys basketball team texting from the bench
October 18, 2022

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

In my sophomore year of high school, I took the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course as part of…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, Sports, Teen Mental Health, Youth Mental Health
man and woman hugging warmly
man and woman hugging warmly
October 10, 2022

Compassion and Mental Health First Aid

With World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, it’s more than fitting to ponder how compassion shows up in the…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, World Mental Health Day
woman walks a fluffy white dog through an orchard of cherry blossoms
woman walks a fluffy white dog through an orchard of cherry blossoms
October 3, 2022

Living My Values

As a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainer who is on the road and in virtual training spaces regularly, I…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, Self-Care
circle of people holding hands raised in the air
circle of people holding hands raised in the air
September 26, 2022

Supporting a Loved One During National Recovery Month with Mental…

September marks National Recovery Month, an annual observance to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, recovery, Substance Use
youth posing for a picture
youth posing for a picture
August 12, 2022

An Essential Education: Mental Health First Aid for Emerging Adults

As young adults carve out their place in the world, their new interests and pursuits often push them away from…

Be The Difference, Guest Commentary, Healthy Holidays, Mental Health First Aid, Schools, Youth Mental Health
a veteran in a wheelchair hugging their children
a veteran in a wheelchair hugging their children
May 27, 2022

Supporting Veterans and Service Members on Memorial Day

Throughout my Army career, I carried a piece of paper folded in the breast pocket of my uniform with a…

Guest Commentary, Mental Health Month, News, Self-Care, Veterans
Derrick Sanders in front of a police vehicle
Derrick Sanders in front of a police vehicle
May 25, 2022

Mental Health First Aid is the Invisible Tool We All…

Deputy sheriff. Army veteran. Crisis intervention specialist. Hostage negotiator. These titles paint a picture of the multitude of trainings I’ve…

Guest Commentary, Mental Health Month, Public Safety
Alexander Hardy writing down reasons why he's a 'mhfa instructor.'
Alexander Hardy writing down reasons why he's a 'mhfa instructor.'
April 26, 2022

Five Ways to Use Food as a Tool for Practicing…

As a grits-powered mental health programming developer, facilitator and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor, food is more than a…

Guest Commentary, News, Self-Care
April 7, 2022

Alcohol Use Disorder is Not a Choice: Understanding and Supporting…

Many of us may be familiar with the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20.” I know I am. I routinely wish I…

Guest Commentary, Mental Health First Aid, Substance Use