Jill Ramsey, a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, traveled more than 700 miles to teach a course in St. Paul, a remote native town in the Pribilof Islands off the … Read more
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Growing up, everyone I knew wanted to be a police officer, doctor or firefighter. Me? I wanted to be a psychologist. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and … Read more
Have you ever asked a firefighter, “What is the worst call you has ever been on?” Don’t! Your well-meaning question is like asking them to flip through the mental files … Read more
Some days John McCormack feels like he can take on the world. But then he hears a baby cry or a siren wail, “and my heart starts pounding and I … Read more
Today is World Mental Health Day, and this year’s focus on adolescent mental health is timely. One in five teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition. Half … Read more
We don’t provide our services in a vacuum. We are people who provide services to other people. And like many first responders across the country, the Clifton Fire Department in … Read more
By any measure, 2018 has been a difficult year for firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. Firefighters in California battled the worst fire season on record, and EMS personnel … Read more
National Council Teams with Kate Spade New York for Mental Health First Aid Training WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 25, 2018) – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has teamed with Kate … Read more
From living on your own to partying without a curfew, college offers a panoply of first-time experiences. There’s one “first,” however, that no college student wishes for — a first-time … Read more
Damien Johnson owns and operates Charlotte, N.C.’s No Grease Barber School and knows firsthand how mental illness impacts his clients. Johnson says he hears stories day in and day out of men … Read more
A death by suicide is often met with a would’ve, could’ve or should’ve. If he would’ve told me, maybe I could’ve done something. Even though he never said a word, … Read more
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to train local club staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid. The eight-hour … Read more
In June, designer Kate Spade’s and chef Anthony Bourdain’s suicides reminded us that suicide does not discriminate. It can impact anyone, and it is often unexpected. Numerous factors can put … Read more
Your boyfriend or girlfriend breaks up with you. Your beloved pet dies. Your hoped-for promotion at work falls through. We all feel sad or “blue” when bad things happen, but … Read more
Hi, my name is Ramon Cruz and I am a person in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. For many years, I carried a good deal of anger … Read more
September is National Recovery Month and Mental Health First Aid can be the first step on the road to recovery. You can literally #BeTheDifference in someone’s life by knowing how … Read more
Mental Health First Aid teaches people how to understand, recognize and respond to people who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis and connect people to care, … Read more
The face of mental illness can be deceptive, hidden behind big smiles, wide eyes and exuberant expressions forced into place to avoid detection. Millions of people every day wear a … Read more
“It’s probably not a big deal. I’m probably overreacting,” thought Sara, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, when her dark thoughts were not going away. She was sitting … Read more
“Hello, I am the protective factor,” was the unorthodox greeting I recently received following congregational prayer in my local mosque. The elderly gentleman who approached me was a participant in … Read more
Mental health is an issue that touches teachers and school administrators in their work across the country. ThriveNYC has teamed up with the Department of Education and the Department of … Read more
More than 60,000 people in New York city are homeless. That statistic includes more than 15,000 families and 22,000 children who sleep each night in the New York City municipal … Read more
“If you see something, say something” became a popular slogan in the aftermath of 9/11; however, my eyes bore witness to a number of situations that remained unspoken for more … Read more
Esther Ha was 21 when she died by suicide. She had been living with depression for years, something that, across Korean communities and culture, is often shrugged off or simply … Read more
Many faith communities are at the front lines of the fight for better mental health. A faith community – whether a mosque, church, synagogue or temple – provides a space … Read more
Statement by Betsy Schwartz, Vice President, Public Education and Strategic Initiatives, National Council for Mental Wellbeing WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 9, 2018) – As wildfires burn throughout California – making this … Read more
Your patience and understanding will make all the difference in your loved one’s bipolar disorder treatment and recovery—these tried and true tips can help you be their source of empowerment … Read more
College marks a new beginning in a child’s life – for many it’s the first tentative steps away from the safety of their home. It is when a child becomes … Read more
As a trained Mental Health First Aider, you know that mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent. And that’s true for young people, too: one in five youth aged … Read more
Michaela is a high school sophomore. She’s a straight A student, excels as point guard on the girls’ basketball team, plays second chair clarinet in the marching band and is … Read more
Summer is a great time to think about self-care. With long sunny days and warmer weather, there are more opportunities than ever to switch up your routine and enjoy what … Read more
This piece was originally published on Linda’s Corner Office blog. Read it here. How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. – Annie Dillard The iconic designer Kate … Read more
Our beloved America is in constant mourning over the many people who have lost their lives to suicide. From celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain to fashion icon, Kate Spade; we think … Read more
The Rock. Prince Harry. Logic. Ryan Reynolds. Michael Phelps. Kevin Love. Brandon Marshall. These famous men have courageously opened up about their struggles with a silent illness that’s eschewed when it … Read more
With an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States experiencing at least one major depressive episode in a given year, understanding depression – what it is, who it affects … Read more
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults each year. Yet only 36.9 percent of people living with anxiety disorders … Read more
For more than a decade, I was a global advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, I grew accustomed to people whispering in my ear, “I’m HIV positive.” They didn’t … Read more
Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s nearly impossible to understand the emotional impact receiving a poor physical prognosis can have on someone. This unfortunate circumstance can bring on a multitude … Read more
Summer is a great time to focus in on your self-care routine. Getting outside, shopping for fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market and listening to upbeat summer tunes … Read more
This article originally appeared on www.BravadoHealth.com. Read it here. In July 2017, my 20-year-old son’s best friend, Jack, took his own life. Jack had battled depression in the past. At the … Read more
In 2016, an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode – 6.7 percent of all U.S. adults. But with appropriate professional and … Read more
For years, most states have mandated that schools provide physical health education. This year, New York and Virginia will be the first two states to pass laws that require mental … Read more
Laura might have had an inkling that something was awry with her mother’s mental health, but at 12 years old, she didn’t have the knowledge or understanding of what it … Read more
If you notice a friend or loved one experiencing a substance use challenge, you may want to help, but might not know what to say or what to do. One … Read more
With the recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, suicide prevention and mental health awareness are a significant part of the daily news cycle. As someone who has been … Read more
A lot can be said without words in a face-to-face conversation. Often, our non-verbal communication—our facial expressions, body posture, eye contact, etc.—speaks loudest. These non-verbal cues play a huge role … Read more
In a week that was marred by tragedy, the world lost two icons: Designer Kate Spade on June 5 and chef Anthony Bourdain on June 8, both from apparent suicide. … Read more
Did you know that more than 40 percent of people who live with addiction also have another mental health challenge of some kind? It’s no surprise that the correlation between … Read more
Unlike physical health challenges — like scrapes and cuts or the flu — mental health and substance use challenges often remain unseen. And because we can’t always see mental health … Read more
Most people experience stress and anxiety at some point in their lives. Depending on the level of severity, they can detrimentally impact one’s quality of life. Although stress and anxiety … Read more
