Posts Tagged ‘mental health first aid’: December 2017

A staggering 90% of police officers surveyed reported stigma as a barrier to seeking mental health help. Some of that stigma stems from what they, and other people in public safety, witness as part of their jobs. “Just as the...

Our nation has a youth mental health crisis. One in six youth and adolescents will experience a mental health condition in any given time, nearly half of teens (44%) report feeling persistently sad and hopeless and 50% of all mental...

When you have substance use challenges, navigating summertime social gatherings can be difficult. It can be hard to strike the balance between wanting to spend time with friends and family when you know there could be temptations, such as alcohol,...

Older Adults experience mental health challenges about the same rate as the general public. According to the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, one in four older adults has a mental health issue. And just like people of all ages, you...

More than 3 million people have been trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). That is cause for celebration! Of course, we are thrilled that our community of First Aiders is growing. But we measure success in more than numbers....

The challenges people who live in rural communities are vastly different than those who live in urban areas. What is gained in wide, open spaces is traded for convenience. Trips to the grocery store take more planning and walking or...

It can feel like a pit in your stomach. Or maybe it makes your heart flutter. Sometimes, it can escalate and paralyze you into staying in bed. The commonality: It always hits on Sundays. What is this dreaded feeling of...

Anthony Campbell admits he used to be a “yeller.” Whether it was the way he was raised or his military background that instilled the behavior — probably a bit of both, he said — taking a Mental Health First Aid...

On the East Coast, the place where firefighters reside is called a firehouse. On the West Coast, it’s called a fire station. Misusing the terms — which may seem insignificant — can cause a shift in credibility when it comes...

Taking charge of your mental health doesn’t have to mean drastic lifestyle changes. In fact, the smaller the shift, the more likely it is you’ll do it. Big, lofty goals are often unrealistic and quickly fizzle out. For example, you...

I always thought I knew the best way to have a conversation with people. I have three kids, so I thought I knew how to communicate well. But in 2017, after a colleague and I attended a Youth Mental Health...

I started my mental health journey when I was hired at a Centerstone of Illinois clinic as a residential support specialist in a group home setting. This felt like the perfect opportunity for me — I’d always been interested in...