Ashley Judd is sharing guidance for how the media should cover suicide following the highly-publicized death of her mother, Naomi Judd.......

Profiles in Mental Health Courage portrays the dramatic journeys of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health. This book offers deeply compelling stories about the bravery and resilience of those living with a variety of mental illnesses and addictions........

In March 2023, we launched a survey of PsychU members to assess the stigma associated with AAD........

Stigma and discrimination in people with mental health conditions are pervasive across societies and cultures.......

I hate it. I hate our conversations about guns in this country.

By any measure, Lisa Harbury Lerner was a high achiever.......

“A disease like any other.” This refrain, popularized by mental-health advocates in the late 20th century, was meant to reduce bias against people with schizophrenia, depression, or alcohol use disorder.

Christy DeSmith, Harvard Staff Writer

Suicide rates for Black women and girls ages 15 to 24 have more than doubled over the past two decades, according to new research by scientists at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia Department of Psychiatry.

One of the biggest problems for Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin was that bipolar disorder seemed to help him at first.

Anytime of the year, but particularly the holiday season, can be a difficult time for many individuals grappling with stress, blues, and other issues. NJAMHAA’s own Shauna Moses, Vice President, Public Affairs and Member Services, was featured on roi-nj.com, sharing some of the reasons for the “holiday blues,” and tips for identifying and dealing with them.

Shauna was quoted saying, “Besides the fact that anyone with tension in friendships or family relationships having that possibly intensified during the holidays … it could be an especially difficult time for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, whether that was recently or further back in time . . . That loss may be more acutely felt during the holidays.”

Shauna also highlighted that these issues can often combine with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a downturn in mood that accompanies shorter days and less sunlight. Additionally, this year, many individuals are dealing with distress stemming from conflict-stricken parts of the globe, such as Israel, Gaza, or Ukraine. Shauna stated, “The bottom line is that there’s a lot of overlapping situations . . . The more someone is dealing with at a given time, the impact could be even greater on existing depression and anxiety. It can lead to increased issues for some people.”

Identifying individuals dealing with these life challenges is a necessary first step in connecting them with the resources available to them. Shauna shared some “red flags,” such as individuals losing interest in regular activities or hobbies, changes in sleep habits or appetites, as well as unexplainable body aches or pains. More obvious warning signs include preoccupation with death or self-destructive behaviors.

Shauna noted that in the case that individuals are displaying these signs, nonjudgmentally encouraging them to talk about their problems is a good start, and that there is nothing wrong with recommending they seek support when it’s needed.

Additionally, Shauna highlighted the importance of self-care, saying, “Self-care is so essential for anyone, not only during the holidays, but all the time . . . And it’s the things you always hear about: eating properly, exercising, getting fresh air and engaging in meaningful activities and hobbies.”

“It’s important to have someone to talk to, even if it’s a friend or family member — it doesn’t always have to be a mental health professional,” Shauna said. She continued, “But, I do think everyone should be open to seeking professional care, especially if that depression, anxiety or substance use is becoming such a big issue that it’s interfering with daily life.”

Among other things, confronting the issue of stigma continues to be a barrier to care for many. “A big problem with stigma is that people feel like, if they admit they’re depressed, anxious or can’t handle these things, that it’s a sign of weakness . . . The truth is, it’s just the opposite. Seeking help, and taking care of yourself, is a sign of strength,” Shauna said.

Click here to read the full article and for more information. 

Mental health disorders, particularly among men, have gained momentum in becoming a silent killer.

Applications for registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurse licensure too often contribute to this stigma and prevent nurses struggling with mental health issues from getting needed help.

Tireless mental health advocate. Humanitarian. Pioneer.

With Permission from Mental Health Weekly, published on December 3, 2023.

So much of who I am today is the result of receiving a Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship from The Carter Center 15 years ago.

Mental illness was  an 'issue that nobody would touch' in the 1970s when the former first lady too up the cause. Carter, who died at 96, made it her signature issue.

In his new book, Life After Death: Surviving Suicide, Richard Brockman, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia, discusses how his career in psychiatry has been deeply influenced by his own mother's suicide.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—the $45 billion, federal medical research agency—is considering changing its mission statement.1

Many doctors don’t get help because they’re worried about career damage. The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation is pushing boards and health systems to change their policies.

Our nation is in the midst of an unprecedented behavioral health crisis. With experts estimating that one in five people will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their life and one in 20 are likely to experience serious mental illness, it may be more accurate to call it an epidemic.

In the mid-1990s, Chris Lalevee worked as a crane operator building high-rises in Jersey City. The construction industry was strong, he said, and the jobs were good. But the Union County native, in his mid-twenties at the time, began experiencing anxiety and panic attacks that led to sleepless nights — all affecting his work.

It got so bad that Lalevee said he thought about suicide. “It wasn’t because of the crane-operating job. But how am I going to be a crane operator if this is the way I am?” he asked.

Lalevee began seeing a counselor, but the male-dominated industry wasn’t accepting of mental health issues. So when he had a therapy appointment, Lalevee would often tell his co-workers that he was going to the dentist or the eye doctor. He worried he’d be teased and lose their trust.

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"Everyone needs to know that suicide is not a choice and that believing death is the only way to escape pain is a symptom of an unhealthy brain."

When Fonda Bryant called her aunt to ask if she wanted her shoes, her aunt knew something wasn't right.

People who attempt to die by suicide typically have physical, substance use, or mental health diagnoses that negatively impact their quality of life.

On Juneteenth, our nation commemorates a significant milestone in our history: June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The New Jersey Supreme Court formed a special committee that will develop a series of recommendations to help support the mental health of attorneys, judges and other members of the legal community.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to “ask how they’re doing, and listen, sincerely,”

As the Pennsylvania Democrat remains hospitalized for clinical depression – a medical condition impacting half the country – members and former members of Congress shared personal stories with USA TODAY that show even the nation's political leaders are not spared this struggle. 

The office of Sen. John Fetterman announced last Thursday that the Pennsylvania Democrat had checked himself into the hospital for treatment of depression.