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The majority of women veterans are not enrolled in Veteran Health Administration care, yet these women have experienced a more than sixty-percent increase in suicide rates over the past two decades. (Adobe Stock)

ME women veterans request counselors for military sexual trauma

Advocates for women veterans, who've experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military, are asking state lawmakers for much-needed funding…

Studies show fewer than half of people with a mental illness are able to access prompt care while rural and lower-income communities in particular suffer from a lack of behavioral health care providers. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

ME mental health care advocates push for services after Lewiston shooting

Advocates for mental-health care in Maine are applauding Gov. Janet Mills' push to increase access to services, following last year's deadly shooting …

Roughly half of U.S. adults report experiencing feelings of loneliness, making them more susceptible to fraud. Crime experts note that interventions to reduce social isolation among senior citizens in particular could reduce their chances of being scammed. (Adobe Stock)

Holidays, loneliness leave ME seniors vulnerable to online scams

It may be the season of goodwill, but advocates for the elderly say online financial scams only increase around the holidays. Conversations with a …

Health care experts said continued subsidies should help Mainers cope with a rise in insurance premiums on Maine's health care marketplace, which will increase by nearly 15% in 2024, according to the state Bureau of Insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Subsidies protect most Mainers from ACA insurance cost hikes

Health care premiums are increasing again under the federal Affordable Care Act, but experts said continued subsidies should protect most Mainers …

Researchers with the University of Kentucky found that up to 135 people are affected to some degree by every person lost to suicide. That number includes all people who have known the deceased. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

More conversation, training urged to break stigma of suicide

Advocates for mental health in Maine say the stigma of suicide often prevents those most at risk from getting the help they need. The CDC reports …

Crisis clinicians say some behaviors that indicate a serious risk of suicide include talking about feeling trapped or being a burden to others, increasing the use of drugs or alcohol and withdrawing from loved ones. (Adobe Photo Stock) <br />

Suicide Prevention Focus of New ME Bridge Barriers

Recently approved legislation provides funding for barriers on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge - a scenic but unfortunate hot spot for suicide attempts…

Mainers offered family insurance plans through their workplace that cost more than 9.12% of the total family income may qualify for more affordable healthcare coverage through the health insurance marketplace. (Adobe Stock)

MaineCare Recipients Urged to Update Forms to Ensure Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health care coverage as pandemic-era policies have ended…

People with mental health-related challenges are far more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence, according to the Coalition for Smart Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Advocates Reject Blame for Gun Violence Epidemic

Mental health experts say people with psychiatric diagnoses are being unfairly scapegoated for the gun violence epidemic in Maine and across America…

Around 65% of rural counties in the United States do not have psychiatrists, and more than 60% of rural Americans live in areas lacking mental-health providers, according to the Journal of Clinical and Translational Sciences. (Adobe Stock)

Broadband Funds Could Improve Mental Health Care in Rural ME

Health care providers in Maine hope an influx of federal dollars to expand high-speed internet service will improve access to mental health care in Ma…

56% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, according to the Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

Study Shows Benefits of Creativity for Youth Mental Health

Young people who engage in creative activities report a reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety, according to a new study. The Adobe Foundation …

Maine ranks first in the nation for having the lowest percentage of children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma, at 4%, compared to the national rate of 11%, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME Parents Struggle with Lack of Affordable, Accessible Child Care

CLARIFICATION: Percentages of students' reading and math scores were clarified. (12:46 p.m. MDT, June 14, 2023) Maine ranks 12th in the nation on …

The world is home to 1.8 billion young people between ages 10 and 24, the largest generation of youth in history, who are increasingly aware of the challenges and risks presented by the climate crisis. (Adobe Stock)

'Climate Grief' Motivates Young Mainers to Take Action

The magnitude of climate change can feel overwhelming, creating a sense of so-called "climate grief" for some, but young climate activists say they …

The 2022 National Young Farmers Coalition Survey found more than 70% of respondents have experienced at least one climate impact such as floods or drought in the past five years, impacting their livelihood and mental health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Network of Young Farmers Provides Mental Health Supports

Young farmers in the United States face extensive structural barriers affecting their mental health, according to a new survey from the National …

Research has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people 65 and older and could help counter America's newest public health epidemic, loneliness.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Andrus Award Honors Older Volunteers Helping ME Communities

AARP is seeking nominations for its 2023 Andrus Award for Community Service, which celebrates those individuals over age 50 who share their …

Undergraduate enrollment continued to shrink in Fall 2022, but the decline has slowed to nearly pre-pandemic rates, according to preliminary data. Colleges lost 1.1% of undergraduates this fall, leading to a total two-year decline of 4.2% since 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Research Opportunities Aim to Reverse Declining Enrollment at U of Maine

The University of Maine is hoping a unique program offering students the chance to do real-world research will help reverse a trend of declining stude…

One in six U.S. youths ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, but only half receive mental health treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (Adobe Stock)

Fake Threats to Maine Schools Cause Real Trauma for Students, Staff

Experts say the presence of police in full tactical gear and spending hours in school lockdown mode will leave a lasting impression on Maine teens and…

All Juul e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine, but a single Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to the manufacturer. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts to Curb Youth Vaping Fall Short

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., yet efforts to prevent kids from picking up the habit continue to …

A Pew Research Center survey in 2021 found that 24% of Americans living in rural settings said lack of access to high-speed internet was

More Broadband Needed to Address Rural Mainers' Health Needs

For older Mainers living in rural areas of the state, access to reliable and affordable internet service can mean the difference between life and …

Parents of roughly 36,000 Maine kids have been told by a medical professional that their child has anxiety or depression. (Adobe Stock)

Well-Being Report Highlights Mental-Health Struggles of Maine's Kids

Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the mental-health challenges of Maine's kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today …

Nearly 70% of fire fighters in the United States are volunteers, which can be a barrier to getting support after traumatic events. (Peter Abzug/Adobe Stock)

ME Firefighters: Extend Law to Support First Responders with PTSD

A bill in the Maine Legislature would keep a law in place that makes it easier for first responders to get workers' compensation coverage for Post-Tra…

Groups representing 77,000 physicians and more than 200 hospitals issued a declaration of a national children's mental health emergency. (Robert Hainer/Adobe Stock)

Mental-Health Summit to Raise Awareness of Challenges in Maine System

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Advocates for access to mental-health services are holding a Behavioral Health Summit today at the Augusta Civic Center. They are …

An estimated 22 million people in the United States are recovering from addiction. (junce11/Adobe Stock)

Workforce Shortage Still Limits Some Substance-Use Treatment Providers

PORTLAND, Maine -- Maine's providers of substance-abuse treatment and some other behavioral-health services are seeing a major increase in …

Approximately 23% of Maine kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 33% in 2010. (Daniel Jedzura/Adobe Stock)

Report: Child Tax Credit to Benefit More than 90% of Maine Kids

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Child wellbeing in Maine improved between 2010 and 2019, according to a new annual report, but advocates for children and families …

A recent juvenile-justice task force found that many youths are in detention because of a lack of community-based alternatives and wait lists for existing programs. (Chatiyanon/Adobestock)

Staff Shortages Threaten Mental-Health System for Basic Services

AUGUSTA, Maine -- With about three weeks left in the legislative session, mental-health advocates want lawmakers to increase the funding for …

Day One is the only Maine agency that provides an adolescent residential substance-use treatment program. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Groups Decry Lack of Substance-Use Treatment for Young Mainers

AUGUSTA, Maine - As Maine's legislative session nears an end, groups are urging lawmakers to prioritize making mental health and substance-use …

Maine is one of 20 states that have introduced bills aimed at banning transgender students from participating in school sports. (Michael Chamberlin/Adobe Stock)

Transgender Mainers, Allies Oppose Bill Targeting Trans Student Athletes

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Advocates for transgender Mainers are opposing a newly introduced bill in the state Legislature which would ban trans students from …

Nearly a third of households with children nationally reported struggling with mental health, feeling down, depressed or hopeless.(Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Report: ME Families with Kids Struggle with Housing, Health Insurance

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Many Maine kids are struggling during the pandemic with health care, mental health, housing and hunger. Seven percent of Maine …

Providers say mental health and substance-use services are even more critical during the pandemic, with more Mainers experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation. (Chinnapong/Adobe Stock)

Portland Providers: Possible Cuts to Services Without State Help

PORTLAND, Maine -- Some mental health and substance-use providers in Portland may need to cut down on services in the midst of the global pandemic …

The number of Mainers requesting help with domestic violence situations increased close to 150% from April through June compared to the same period in 2019. (PickPik/Creative Commons)

Maine Domestic-Violence Shelters Get Creative as Needs Surge

AUGUSTA, Maine - It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the groups that help survivors in Maine are expecting another record number of requests …

In the first quarter of 2020, 127 Mainers died of drug overdoses, a 23% increase from the last quarter of 2019. (StockSnap/Pixabay)

Maine Drug-Overdose Deaths Climb, Could Surpass Record

PORTLAND, Maine -- Close to 260 people likely died from overdoses in Maine during the first half of this year, according to preliminary estimates…

The Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration CARES Act funding awarded Maine less than $1 million toward behavioral health. (Medic454/Wikimedia Commons)

Stimulus Debate Largely Overlooks Behavioral-Health Funding

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Federal stimulus funding is barely helping states such as Maine with their behavioral-health needs, also called mental-health and …

The COVID-19 crisis has heavily impacted the finances of Day One, a youth nonprofit and member of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services in Maine. (Day One/Facebook)

Maine Behavioral-Health Providers Worry about Trimming Services

AUGUSTA, Maine - Forty percent of the agencies in Maine's Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services are concerned they may need to shut down …

After 1978, the number of women in prison nationwide increased at twice the rate of men. (ErikaWittlieb/Pixabay)

Women's Prison Population Reductions Lagging

AUGUSTA, Maine – Prison populations are dropping in most states, but a new study finds that the number of incarcerated women is not falling as …

Experts caution there's no summer break for cyberbullies, and parents can help kids reduce their risks by limiting screen time. (pixabay)

Cyber Bullies Don't Take Time Off for Summer

BANGOR, Maine – It once happened mostly in schoolyards, but now bullies also launch their attacks on the Web - and those attacks can intensify …

Dr. Thomas Andrew says it's a trend in most New England states; he has seen a 1,000 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths since he started his job as Chief Medical Examiner in New Hampshire. (Kay Andrew)

Maine Opioid Deaths Up 26 Percent; How Many Suicides in the Mix?

AUGUSTA, Maine -- New England is in the grips of an opioid drug epidemic, and a medical examiner who's been on the job for two decades says it's hard …

Senior advocates want lawmakers to consider measures that will help the growing number of older Mainers age comfortably in their own homes and communities. (AARP-Maine)

Looking Out for Seniors: Maine Lawmakers Get Back to Work

AUGUSTA, Maine – As state lawmakers get back to work, advocates for seniors say they should put more focus on the needs of the aging population …

There are ways that millions across New England can keep their New Year's resolutions to get healthy in 2017. (M. Baird/Wikimedia)

Tips for Mainers on Keeping Their 2017 Resolutions

PORTLAND, Maine – About 4 in 10 people make New Year's resolutions, but only a tiny fraction actually keep them. The top pledges center …

A new study suggests giving an experience as a gift this holiday shopping season. (Mike Clifford)

Study Suggests Giving Gifts You Can't Fit in a Box

AUGUSTA, Maine - People feel more grateful for what they have done than for what they have, according to new research, and that feeling of gratitude …

On Veterans Day, Mainers who served their country have their fingers crossed that President-elect Trump will honor his promise to help veterans. (Gage Skidmore)

Maine Veterans Want Trump to Honor His Promises to Help

AUGUSTA, Maine – New England is home to about 3,000 paralyzed veterans, and on this Veterans Day, Mainers who served their country say now that …

Mainers are urged this week to get their kids outside by getting them to forego the seven hours a day most kids spend watching TVs or computer screens. (Mike Clifford)

Mainers Encouraged to Turn Off the TV: It's Screen-Free Week

AUGUSTA, Maine - With all the smartphones, tablets, computers and video games around, it's easy to forget that there is life beyond a screen…

Gov. Paul LePage continues to draw fire for last week's veto of a measure to make a lifesaving drug-overdose antidote available in Maine without a prescription. (Matt Gagnon/Wikipedia)

"Pro-Life?" LePage's Anti-Naloxone Veto

AUGUSTA, Maine - To save a life - or not? That's the question at the core of the debate brewing over the veto by Gov. Paul LePage of a bill that …

A University of Maine professor says families don't have to spend money on videos to introduce babies and young children to reading. It's as simple as sitting down with them daily to enjoy a book. (Ldorfman)

Maine Expert: No Need for Videos to Help Babies Learn

AUGUSTA, Maine - New England children's advocates say a video learning series is back at it again, making "unfounded claims" about infants' ability …

The Long Creek Development Center is among 80 old and large prisons that a new national campaign called Youth First says needs to be closed. (Google Earth)

Youth First Campaign Calls for Closing Long Creek Youth Center

PORTLAND, Maine - The time has come to close the Long Creek Youth Development Center, according to a new national campaign called Youth First…

Backers of a proposal to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Maine say they have 60,000 more than the required signatures and look forward to being on the November ballot when lots of young Mainers should be headed to the polls. (RegulateMaine.org)

Pot Proposal Backers Hoping for Bernie Bounce

AUGUSTA, Maine – The nation will be watching New England on Tuesday to see how the presidential candidates fare in the New Hampshire primary…

December is among the top three months for first-time alcohol use among teens and local experts say New England states such as Maine are where kids are more likely to be taking a drink. (Mike Clifford)

Holidays Prime Time for First-Time Teen Alcohol Use in Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine - We all love a bit of good cheer, but December and the holidays also are prime time for teens to experiment with drugs and alcohol…

Advocates for foster children in Maine say programs like this youth leadership training session show the state is moving in the right direction to help make life in foster care more normal. Credit: Penthea Burns

Report: Maine Heading Foster Children in Right Direction

AUGUSTA, Maine – States can help foster children to thrive by knocking down a few barriers, according to a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report…

Maine's first lady Ann LePage is the keynote speaker Tuesday at an event to raise awareness for National Home Care and Hospice Month. Courtesy: Office of Gov. Paul LePage

National Hospice Month: Clueing Mainers in on Care Options

AUGUSTA, Maine – It's National Home Care and Hospice Month, and local advocates are using November to get the word out about end-of-life care …

It is World Suicide Prevention Day, and training sessions like this one in Brunswick held by NAMI Maine help people identify the warning signs of suicide and take action. Courtesy: NAMI Maine

World Suicide Prevention Day: Maine in Top Ten States at Risk for Suicide

AUGUSTA, Maine - Reaching out and saving lives. That's the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day today, and advocates say Mainers need to pay …

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ME: Mental Health