Mental Health / Public News Service

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)

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

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 …

The report suggests student loan forgiveness, for human services employees in the state who work at a<br />behavioral health provider for a minimum of two years, could help with the worker shortage. (Adobe Stock) — The report suggests student loan forgiveness, for human services employees in the state who work at a
behavioral health provider for a minimum of two years, could help with the worker shortage. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 29, 2021

Report: PA Child Behavioral Health Providers Chronically Understaffed

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Pennsylvania's child welfare and behavioral health services are in crisis, with a worker shortage exacerbated by the pandemic…

Ivy Smith, who was part of the foster care system, recieved her undergraduate degree from Boise State University in 2020. (Ivy Smith)

Struggles of Aging-Out Foster Youth in Focus as Holidays Approach

BOISE, Idaho - The holidays can be a hard time for foster care youth, especially young people who have recently aged out of the system. Ivy Smith…

Researchers say the links between experiences of racial discrimination and negative health outcomes are more pronounced for Black Americans than for any other group. (Adobe Stock)

UW Expert: Rittenhouse Verdict Could Add to Pain From Bias

MADISON, Wis. - The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict continues to evoke a range of emotions from the public. A University of Wisconsin expert says the …

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

Social-emotional skills help kids learn, since they improve attendance and also decrease the need for disciplinary referrals. (Adobe Stock)

Schools Work to Give Ohio Kids a Safe Space to Learn

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio schools continue to adjust to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, which means addressing both the academic and mental-stress …

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

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 …

Compassion and Choices has a "Dementia Values and Priorities" toolkit that can help folks start conversations about their wishes for their care. (Windy Night/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge End-of-Life Planning During Alzheimer's Awareness Month

CHICAGO -- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in Illinois, and groups advocating for end-of-life planning say now is the time to …

At nearly 1.5 million, Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the country. (27707/Pixabay)

Veterans, Military Families Acquire Easier Access to Health Care

AUSTIN, Texas -- Newly returned veterans or even those who've been back for years face obstacles, and a big one is how to pick the best health care…

Hospice teams provide medical care and pain management, and they give family caregivers a break by helping with showering and other daily activities. (Adobe Stock)

November Spotlights Benefits of Hospice and Palliative Care

TABERNASH, Colo. -- November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and advocates hope all Coloradans will consider these under-utilized …

For the Livable Communities grant, AARP Connecticut prioritized funding projects that enhance affordable-housing options for people age 50 and older and create safe public spaces for older adults as well. (Adobe Stock)

AARP CT Grants Support Enhancing Outdoor Rec, Community Spaces

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The latest round of an AARP Connecticut program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to organizations and municipalities improving …

Nationally, only 22% of children are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. (Adobe Stock)

School Counselor: Indiana Needs More Mental-Health Professionals

INDIANAPOLIS - More women and young people have faced behavioral-health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report. Nationwide…

Accountability groups say larger police departments, such as the one in Minneapolis, are beholden to their unions and often slow to implement reforms. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Mpls. Vote, Views on MN Police Reforms Keep Evolving

MINNEAPOLIS - Nearly 18 months after the murder of George Floyd, efforts for police accountability and best practices continue to take shape in …

About 7% of Texas children ages 3 to 17 reported anxiety problems even before the pandemic, according to a new study by the United Health Foundation. (marcisim/Pixabay)

Study: Concerning Stats for Women and Children's Health

AUSTIN, Texas -- Access to mental-health resources is not always available under insurance plans, but those with such services should take advantage …

Only 20% of kids nationwide are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, according to a new United Health Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Mental-Health Needs Climb Among Women, Young Michiganders

LANSING, Mich. -- Women and young people have faced increased behavioral health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report…

A new survey shows only one in five American children get at least 60 minutes of physical exercise a day, putting them at risk for chronic health conditions later in life. (Jordan/Adobe Stock)

Health Report: AZ Children Less Active, More Anxious

PHOENIX, Ariz. - A new report ranks Arizona 48th in the nation for kids' lack of physical activity. And only 20% of kids nationwide are physically …

Only about 20% of children with mental-health disorders receive care from a specialized mental-health care provider, according to the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (Adobe Stock)

Report Confirms Disparities in Getting Behavioral Health Support

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Women and young people have faced increased behavioral health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report…

Close to one million New York City residents smoke tobacco, according to Public Health Solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY a National Leader in Increasing Smoke-Free Households

NEW YORK -- Although New York and the country as a whole saw some progress surrounding the health of children and women, a new report showed there is …

Only 20% of kids nationwide are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, according to a new United Health Foundation report. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Women, Children Report More Anxiety, Mental Distress

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Women and young people have been facing increased behavioral-health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report …

Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says the state is closing Hartford's 10-bed mental-health treatment center because the building's lease was not renewed. (Adobe Stock)

CT Closing Mental Health, Addiction Facility for Young Adults

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut plans to close a transitional living facility in Hartford next month for people ages 18 to 25, which means fewer …

School social workers and educators face a dual dilemma this fall, trying to help students cope during the pandemic, while also serving as a sympathetic ear for fellow staff. (Adobe Stock)

MN School Staff Feeling Weight of Pandemic

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota students are back in class today after a mid-October break for annual teacher workshops. Not only are there lingering …

Veterans working on a central Oregon ranch supply produce for a restaurant in Bend. (Central Oregon Veterans Ranch)

OR Veterans Ranch Fosters "Post-Traumatic Growth"

BEND, Ore. - Veterans returning home sometimes struggle to find a place where they feel like they belong. In Central Oregon, a ranch is supporting …

Although people spent less time on average on Facebook than some other social media sites, the vast majority said they'd had arguments there. (jpgon/Adobe Stock)

How Social Media Design Fuels Online Fights

SEATTLE - Constructive conversations online can seem few and far between. Research from the University of Washington explores how the design of …

In addition to abuse and neglect, a new study says economically disadvantaged children have a risk of premature death that is 1.9 times higher than other socioeconomic groups. (Adobe Stock)

Study Underscores SD Efforts to Minimize Impact of Child Abuse

PIERRE, S.D. -- A new study links premature deaths in adulthood with people who experience abuse as children, and South Dakota groups say it …

The Violence Against Women Act has been stalled in the U.S. Senate since it expired in 2019. (nito/Adobe Stock)

Creating Space for LGBTQ Illinoisans to Discuss Domestic Violence

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and advocates want to shed more light on how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual…

In April 2020, half of all eligible visits were performed via telehealth. (Adobe Stock)

Telehealth Going Strong Even After Pandemic Closures

DENVER - The use of telehealth services - a combination of telephone, video and other online tools - peaked during COVID closures, and Coloradans …

A new report finds that Nevada needs to develop family support programs within the community.(Vejaa/Adobestock)

Nevada Gets a D+ for Children's Mental Health: Report

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada scored a D-plus for children's mental health, according to a new report from the Children's Advocacy Alliance. …

Some 500 volunteers made phone calls and canvassed neighborhoods in Broward County to find truant students. (Pixabay)

FL Teachers, Volunteers Go Door-to-Door to Get Missing Students Back to Class

TAMARAC, Fla. -- Teachers and volunteers in Broward County embarked on a unique canvassing campaign to find up to 11,000 students who either have not …

Wyoming consistently has ranked among states with the highest youth confinement rates in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: COVID Funds Could Help Close School-to-Prison Pipeline

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Federal school funding in response to the global pandemic, totaling nearly $190 billion, could help districts in Wyoming and across …

Initiated Ordinance 303 calls for city officials to enforce a camping ban within 72 hours of receiving a complaint. The city also would be open to lawsuits if it fails to clear camps. (Adobe Stock)

Ballot Measure Doubles Down on Denver Homeless Camping Ban

DENVER -- A growing number of tents popping up in neighborhoods across Denver have made it harder to ignore a chronic and expanding housing crisis in …

Advocates say this year's Mental Illness Awareness Week includes a focus on the need for improved crisis response and mental-health care. (Adobe Stock)

IA Parent: Families Should Prioritize Mental-Health Needs

CLIVE, Iowa - This week, more attention is being paid to the struggles of people living with mental-health conditions. In Iowa, parents are telling …

Las Cruces' Camp Hope provides temporary, transitional shelter in the form of tents, showers and cooking facilities while people experiencing homelessness transition to permanent housing. (nmcommunityofhope.org)

Desert Hope: A Las Cruces Option for People Who've Been Homeless

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A new apartment complex built to serve people who've been chronically unhoused in Las Cruces was three-quarters full when it …

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. gymnasts alleged the FBI could have done more to prevent abuse in their sport. (gustavofrazao/Adobe Stock)

National Abuse Scandal Reminder it Can Be Prevented

BOISE, Idaho - Simone Biles and other U.S. gymnasts are confronting sexual abuse in their sport, including at a Senate Judiciary Committee this month…

From 2007 to 2018, Colorado state and local governments cut public health spending per resident by more than 45%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: TABOR Blunted State’s COVID Response

DENVER -- Colorado's ability to respond to COVID-19 was blunted by decades of disinvestment in critical public services, according to a new report…

Experts say regular outdoor learning opportunities promote greater physical well-being and improved brain function in children. (isakarakus/Pixabay)

Advocates to Congress: Kids Need More Outdoor Learning

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- As Congress considers making significant investments in the nation's child-care system, children's advocates argued now is the …

Approximately 3% of the 1,500 students in Montgomery County who were screened for behavioral health indicators were found to be at risk of substance use. (Adobe Stock)

OH County Working to Treat Stressors that Lead to Youth Marijuana Use

DAYTON, Ohio -- An Ohio county is taking a trauma-informed approach to its work on preventing marijuana use in teens. As marijuana policy changes …

The American Psychological Association reports 81% of Gen Z teens (ages 13-17) have experienced more intense stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Adobe Stock)

ARP Funds Could Help WV Schools Address Mental-Health Needs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Degrading mental health among the nation's K-12 students over the past year and a half has alarmed health professionals. Experts …

A new study about how parents talk with their kids about racial violence will focus in part on Missouri, where Black families still deal with the impacts of the police killing of Michael Brown in 2014. (Elvert Barnes/Flickr)

Study to Probe How Black Parents, Kids in MO Discuss Racial Violence

ST. LOUIS -- More than a year after the police killing of George Floyd that sparked nationwide protests, a professor in St. Louis is taking on a …

According to NAMI Rochester, 67% of young adults confide in a friend that they're struggling emotionally before telling any other person. (Adobe Stock)

NY Mental-Health First Aid in Spotlight for Suicide Prevention Month

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- September is Suicide Prevention Month, and New Yorkers are being asked to make use of training sessions that are available on how …

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

CT Addiction-Prevention Groups Seek Aid to Lower Fatal Overdoses

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Addiction-prevention specialists in Connecticut are pushing for investments in substance-use disorder programs to combat the …

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help identify and overcome cognitive distortions and replace them with new, more helpful thoughts. (Adobe Stock)

Tips to Avoid Common “Thinking Traps” While Adjusting to College Life

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As young adults across Nebraska leave home for college, psychologists are offering tips to avoid falling into common "thinking …

School social workers say it might be hard for some students to feel comfortable exercising their in-person social skills again after more than a year of distance learning. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Stress Prompts Reminders of Welcoming Classroom Environment

ST. PAUL, Minn. - School districts across Minnesota have either started the new academic year, or will soon. As they welcome students back despite …

Allowing teens to voice their opinions and have make decisions builds trust, experts say.. (AdobeStock)

Talking, Trusting Key to Easing Back-to-School Stress

COLUMBUS, Ohio - With new teachers, classmates and expectations, back to school is full of uncertainties and anxieties. Stressful transitions …

Burnout among college students rose from 40% to 70% from August 2020 to April 2021, according to at study by The Ohio State University. (Engin-Akyurt/Pixabay)

Texas A&M Students Use Wearables to Track Stress, Mental Health

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The pandemic upended normal college life causing mental-health challenges that are now being studied at Texas A&M University …

The pandemic has added extra stressors for California's 9 million children and their parents. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

CA Parent and Youth Helpline Flooded During Pandemic

SACRAMENTO, Calif - More than 10,000 people have called the California Parent and Youth Helpline during the pandemic so far - but the funding is set …

Advocates for children say they need more support this school year after a study by McKinsey Global Institute shows the pandemic led more high school students to drop out of school. (Sofia_Shultz_Photography/Pixabay)

Kick-Starting TX School Performance Amid COVID-19 Redux

AUSTIN, Texas -- Starting the school year off on the right foot has probably never been more important as Texas kids return to classrooms. New …

During the pandemic, more than 20% of U.S. parents with children ages 5-12 reported their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — During the pandemic, more than 20% of U.S. parents with children ages 5-12 reported their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health in Spotlight as MD K-12 Schools Reopen

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As Maryland children prepare to return to school in the next few weeks, experts say ensuring their mental health is stable is a top …

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