National Suicide Prevention Week/Month

Suicide PreventionThe American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) recognizes the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month. National Suicide Prevention Week is the week after Labor Day.

“Suicide prevention is important every day of the year. National Suicide Prevention Month gives us an opportunity to shine a special, encouraging light on this topic that affects us all, and send a clear, hopeful message that help is available, and suicide can be prevented.” – AFSP

• For information about AFSP: https://afsp.org

Message from the USO (United Service Organizations):
USO
“Tragically, suicide rates among active-duty service members and veterans have risen dramatically in recent years. Service members are four times more likely to die by suicide than in conflict. Many of the realities of a service member’s day-to-day life, such as time away from their loved ones, dangerous conditions, an uncertain future, isolation and stress, are factors that we know can contribute to depression and thoughts of suicide.

This is a serious problem and not one that can be easily fixed — but by acknowledging it and continuing to do everything we can to support our service members, we can make a difference. Supporting service members’ mental health is at the heart of everything we do at the USO — from building a community, to showing them they are not alone, to creating programs that help them handle and cope with deployment, PTSD, financial management and other challenges.

Having a safe, supportive environment plays a key role in suicide prevention. USO Centers are strategically located in airports and military installations all around the world to give our service members a welcoming space to use however they’d like — from mentally regrouping to calling loved ones to just being themselves — no matter where their service takes them.

Isolation is known to be a key contributor to depressive and suicidal thoughts. Programs like USO Operation Phone Home® and the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program keep service members connected to their loved ones no matter where they are in the world.

USO Warrior and Family Centers offer therapeutic activities tailored to service members recovering from physical injuries, PTSD and other ailments. Classes in art, music, yoga and cooking have been proven to help service members express themselves and reduce anxiety.

By letting our service members know they have the support and gratitude of the American people, we can help build a stronger sense of community and reduce isolation. Right now, this feels more important than ever.”

• For information about the USO (United Service Organizations): https://www.uso.org

Mental Health Care

In this 25-minute video posted on August 1, 2022, John Oliver, host of the TV program “Last Week Tonight” on the HBO network, discusses problems and issues in our mental health care system with his trademark sense of humor. He talks about apps and hospitals and difficulties finding a (good) therapist… who takes insurance… and is available.

The Lifeline and 988

(July 16, 2022) – 988 is the new phone number for the USA’s Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

     See: https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

People who call, text, or chat 988 are connected to trained professional counselors who listen, understand, provide support, and connect people to resources.

In addition to reaching the Lifeline using 988, toll-free number 1-800-273-8255 remains available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

The Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers has been in operation since 2005 and has proven to be effective.

The non-profit administrator of the Lifeline is Vibrant Emotional Health. “For 50 years, Vibrant Emotional Health, formerly the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), has been at the forefront of promoting emotional well-being for all people.”

     See: https://www.vibrant.org/

Created by Vibrant Emotional Health, The Safe Space website offers free resources and tools that provide support in an emotionally safe environment.

     See: https://safespace.vibrant.org/

Vibrant Emotional Health

Mental healthcare IS healthcare!

mental healthcare

California just implemented the strongest mental healthcare law in the entire United States. At a time when anxiety, depression, loneliness, and PTSD are on the rise, such legislation is urgent. However, health insurance companies remain intent on raking in profits without doling out help, constantly putting greed above the health of people who pay for coverage.

That’s why we’re asking all 49 other U.S. states to pass similar laws to California and expand mental healthcare access and services. Sign the petition if you agree!

It’s part of a movement toward what’s known as “mental health parity,” the ideal standard in which mental health conditions are treated with the same level of care and seriousness as physical health conditions. Under California’s previous parity law, health insurance companies could deny financial coverage for mental healthcare willy nilly. Families were pushed into debt and bankruptcy trying to access and afford treatment. Lives were disrupted. Relationships were ruined. All this so a few (usually rich old white men) at the top of the corporate ladder can keep getting richer at the expense of others.

Learn more and see the petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/319/683/906/?TAP=1129

The foregoing is excerpted from a post at Care2.com, “the world’s largest community for good… where you’ll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.”: https://www.care2.com/

Conversation About Our Mental Health Crisis

“To better understand the ramifications of the global pandemic on the hearts and minds of humans everywhere,” Doctor Mike speaks with Dr. Ali Mattu and Dr. Tarun Dua in this 21-minute video for both healthcare professionals and the general public.

“COVID-19’s impact on the globe can’t be understated and, while the vaccine has dramatically reduced the spread of the virus in nations that are lucky enough to have access, the global toll on our mental health, vaccinated or not, will be felt for years to come.” – Doctor Mike Varshavski (family medicine)

With over 13 million social media followers, Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, commonly known as “Doctor Mike,” is a board-certified family medicine physician, media personality, educator, writer, and philanthropist.

See: doctormikemedia.com

Ali M. Mattu, Ph.D.: Dr. Ali Mattu creates mental health and psychology media that’s fun, easy to understand, and free.

See: https://alimattu.com/

Loop: Dr. Ali Mattu is also the director of mental health at Loop, a startup making self-care social through small group real time audio hangouts. Loop is a new way to manage personal challenges and anxieties through a fun, safe, live audio, clinically-backed experience. Loop is designed to be a safe place to talk about hard things. Think of looping as exercise for your emotional health.

See: https://www.loop.co/

Dr. Tarun Dua, Head of Brain Health, WHO: Dr. Tarun Dua is a medical officer working on the Program for Neurological Diseases and Neuroscience, Management of Mental and Brain Disorders in the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the World Health Organization.

Mental Health TV Series by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey

New docu-series featuring honest discussions about mental and emotional health, including trauma, abuse, and depression, plus where and how we go from here… No one needs to heal alone. By caring for each other, communities shape a powerful route to sustainable recovery. The road to recovery is not a straight line. Challenges are inevitable; hope for each of us is found in awareness, acceptance, and action.

Millions of people around the world struggle with mental illness in silence. In order to heal, that silence must be broken – and now is the time. The pain, suffering, and urgent need for help is universal. A simple act of sharing can be a powerful first step. Mental and emotional health is about people, not patients. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting the right help.

“The Me You Can’t See” is a new docu-series co-created by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry that explores mental health and emotional well-being with stories from people around the world. With storytelling at its core, this timely series gives a voice to stories that seek truth, understanding, and compassion. It’s about people, our experiences, and why we feel the way we do.

See: https://apple.co/_TheMeYouCantSee

#TheMeYouCantSee

7 Ways to Detox Your Emotional Well Being

“Emotional health is an important part of overall health. It means you are aware of your emotions. You can deal with them, whether they are positive or negative. Emotionally healthy people still feel stress, anger, and sadness. But they know how to manage their negative feelings. However, burnout is a real thing too. In this video, we share 7 ways you can detox your emotional well being. Hope you find these tips helpful! Share it with someone who might need this.” – Writer: Catherine Huang, Psych2Go

Psych2Go “hopes to raise awareness about mental health and create a safe space that allows for open communication to those who are struggling in life, so we can learn to cope together.”

See: https://psych2go.net/

6 Habits That Destroy Your Emotional Well-Being

“Emotional well-being refers to the emotional quality of our experiences… Stressed out and overwhelmed? Not sure if you’re falling into bad habits that hurt you and destroy your chances of finding lasting contentment? These habits tend to fly beneath our radars because we’re unaware of the damage they do to our mental health, such as the increased risk of depression and anxiety. So, to help you take your power back and stop this negative cycle, we’ve made this video to help you recognize some of the habits that may destroy your emotional wellbeing.” – Writer: Michal Mitchell, Psych2Go

Psych2Go “hopes to raise awareness about mental health and create a safe space that allows for open communication to those who are struggling in life, so we can learn to cope together.”

See: https://psych2go.net/

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, reminds us, “One call can save a life. But when a person in a mental health crisis has to find a local phone number or a ten-digit Lifeline number, precious minutes—and even the resolve to get help—can be lost.”

That’s why NAMI and others are advocating for an easy-to-access 3-digit emergency number (9-8-8) to help people in a mental health crisis. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

every minute counts

On May 13, 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 2661, The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, to establish 9-8-8 as a nationwide hotline for suicide prevention and mental health crises—making it easier for people in crisis to receive immediate and appropriate mental health support. Now, the U.S. House of Representatives needs to pass this important measure. Click here to support this effort.

Although 9-8-8 is not currently available [UPDATE: 988 became available on July 16, 2022.], if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available now. Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

COVID-19 Advocacy

COVID-19 Advocacy: Help people with mental health conditions

Covid-19 Crisis

During the COVID-19 crisis, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), a nonpartisan organization, is asking the public to support their effort to convince the U.S. Senate to:

1. Remove barriers to mental health treatment. People need ways to manage existing mental health conditions and maintain mental wellness while reducing their exposure to the coronavirus. To do this, Congress should:

• Eliminate all barriers to widely implementing telehealth in all public and private health plans and encourage all health plans to provide extended supplies and/or mail order refills of prescriptions. Both actions will help people with mental illness avoid risk of exposure to COVID-19.

• Approve funding for Emergency Response Grants at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to assist states in continuing to provide treatment for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

2. Promote coverage for health and mental health care. People with mental health conditions are often uninsured or face barriers to getting needed treatment and supports. These challenges are even greater during a crisis. To address this, Congress should:

• Immediately launch a special enrollment period for commercial health insurance in the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) to make sure people have access to affordable, quality health care coverage.

• Require the use of “presumptive eligibility,” which allows certain providers like hospitals and clinics to enroll people in Medicaid that they believe meet eligibility criteria.

• Ensure free COVID-19 testing and treatment for everyone, including people who are uninsured.

3. Ensure safe housing for people with severe mental illness. Many people with severe mental illness experience homelessness or housing insecurity and are uniquely vulnerable to being exposed to the virus and outbreaks in shelters or encampments. With the loss of steady income, many more individuals are also at risk of losing housing. Congress must act by:

• Providing $5 billion to serve people who are homeless and help them stay safe and healthy during this emergency.

• Approving an additional $5 billion to provide rapid rehousing for people who are at immediate risk of becoming homeless and funding for rental assistance to help low-income renters weather this crisis.

• Putting a temporary stop on evictions to ensure that renters and homeowners maintain stable housing during this crisis.

4. Support nonprofits’ capacity to serve. The economic impact of this crisis will also touch charitable organizations like NAMI organizations and our partners. Nonprofits need support to meet greater demand and fill important gaps during this time. To assist, Congress should:

• Provide targeted assistance to 501(c)3 organizations to help them keep their doors open during this crisis and offer paid leave to their employees.