Recent News

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved $100 million in this year’s budget to provide student mental health services at public schools across the Commonwealth. Every school district will receive $100,000 as a Ready to Learn Block Grant, and each charter school will receive $70,000. The budget increased education funding by $1.8 billion. Learn more  

COVID-19’s impact on college students seeking mental health services is the focus of a new Penn State University podcast. Produced by the school’s Social Science Institute, “The Perfect Storm: College Students, Mental Health, and the Sense of Belonging on Campus,” is the 18th episode of the monthly Evidence-to-Impact podcast series.   Learn More

The New Castle County, Delaware, Police Department has initiated a new holistic wellness officer program to help staff address mental health issues. Studies show that police officers face higher risk of mental illness because of repeated high-stress exposure. This federally-funded program provides services such as trauma-informed yoga sessions and calming centered meditation practices to its […]

The Maryland General Assembly recently passed a new law prohibiting state-funded county boards of education and schools from discriminating against students on the basis of race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other identity markers. The Inclusive Schools Act, which also bans retaliatory actions against students, parents and individuals who file complaints alleging discrimination, will […]

Ashley Williams created Clymb, a digital platform developed to help young people (K-12) increase their emotional intelligence and improve their emotional health. Currently nine schools and nonprofits in Baltimore are using this software product, which is expected to roll out to 70 sites throughout the country this fall.   Learn more  

The school attack in Uvalde, Texas is the second deadliest such incident on record, after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut. An estimated 15,000 youths are shot and wounded each year according to Everytown for Gun Safety, an American nonprofit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence. This article […]

SAMHSA’s National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery has released a new toolkit: "Tobacco-free Toolkit for Behavioral Health Agencies." The purpose of this toolkit is to provide guidance for substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities adopting tobacco-free policies and implementing cessation services as part of treatment plans. It provides information on tobacco use among […]

Students attending West Virginia University and other colleges throughout the state are experiencing increasing rates of depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation. Recent data also found that the volume of students seeking counseling services, both scheduled and walk-in appointments, has risen dramatically compared to pre-pandemic levels.   Learn more

In observance of May as mental health awareness month, the Washington, DC Mayor and Department of Behavioral Health Director highlighted the city’s mental health hotline. The service is a confidential resource for helping residents prioritize their mental health care. Learn more

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) launched the Maternal Mental Health Hotline on Mother's Day (May 8, 2022). This new, confidential, toll-free hotline offers a range of support for expecting and new moms experiencing mental health challenges. The hotline is accessible by phone or text at 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746) […]

Delaware Governor John Carney signed a proclamation in observance of May 2022 as Trauma Awareness Month. The Family Services Council and Trauma Matters Delaware will co-sponsor events throughout May to educate residents about the current state of trauma in Delaware and trauma-related topics.   Learn more

Results from a national survey reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges faced by children in low-income and historically excluded communities. First Book, a national nonprofit organization committed to ensuring educational equity as a path out of poverty, conducted the study. Learn More

Your Life ABA, a company that provides Applied Behavioral Analysis therapeutic services to clients with autism spectrum disorder or other disabilities, is opening six clinics across communities in Virginia. An open house will take place on March 23 in Lorton.   Learn more

A new study in over 1 million new mothers found that postpartum depression is highest among first-time mothers, 18-to 24 year-olds and women who had twins. Learn more

Young people of color have specific mental health needs that require an inclusive system tailored to their multifaceted perspectives. Policymakers must put into place policies and practices that deliver culturally responsive and social needs-focused services. Learn more

The AAKOMA Project is sponsoring a 90-minute virtual event on Monday, February 28 (6:00 PM ET), that will examine Black mental health needs. State of Emergency: You Are Not A Burden! A conversation about suicide in the Black community will enable caretakers, families, and youth to connect with advocates, survivors and experts to discuss mental […]

On February 10, the White House hosted a virtual roundtable on Black Mental Health and Wellness as part of Black History Month celebrations. Susan Rice, President Joe Biden’s Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and Administrator of SAMHSA, hosted the live-streamed event. Learn […]

Health care workers nationwide have been challenged by the overwhelming stressors of burnout, trauma, and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Virginia Health System received a new federal grant that will provide training to help these professionals recognize and respond to psychological stress to improve their well-being. Learn more  

A new dashboard will provide St. Mary’s County, Maryland health officials with metrics about the occurrences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in their community. ACES are potentially traumatic events ― such as abuse, neglect, being exposed to violence, mental illness, and divorce ―  that can have serious effects on children’s developing brains. They are also […]

The Center of Transformation provides mental health services to a multicultural community in western Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  In 2021 the organization received support from the American Heart Association's EmPOWERED to Serve Faith-Based Accelerator™, a grant-funding initiative for faith institutions and leaders to continue and scale their business models aimed at addressing social determinants of […]

Pennsylvania livestock producers, and agricultural professionals who work directly with them, are encouraged to complete a survey addressing mental wellness within the state’s agriculture industry. The results of the surveys will be used to develop a library of resources that will help dairy farm families and service professionals navigate mental health challenges. Both surveys are […]

Virginia launched a new system on December 1 for improving the response to mental health emergencies. The Marcus Alert system kicked off in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Prince William County, Bristol, Washington County, and five counties in the northern Piedmont. The statewide framework is named for Marcus-David Peters, a young Black Biology teacher fatally shot by […]

Jessica Parrillo, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the George Washington University’s Colonial Health Center, offers college students tips on maintaining balance and prioritizing mental health over their break. Learn more.

Rural Minds™ is a nonprofit organization that aims to end the suffering, silence and stigma around mental illness in rural America. It was launched to help residents of these communities obtain greater access to mental health information and resources. People living in rural counties have a higher rate of depression in comparison to urban dwellers. […]