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If You’re Hearing “I’m Fine,” It May Be Time for a Deeper Conversation
As a psychiatrist, I hear "I'm fine" a lot. At the start of each session, I ask some version of, "How are you?" or "How have you been feeling since our last visit?" Inevitably, many people reply, "I'm fine." I hear it from patients, friends, and colleagues. I've even caught myself saying it when...
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New York State Announces $660,000 Awarded to Strengthen Suicide Prevention Efforts in Five Rural Counties
Funding Will Support the Establishment of Sustainable Prevention Activities in Schools, Clinical Settings, and in the Community Office of Mental Health's Suicide Prevention Center of New York to Assist in Implementing Local Initiatives Statewide The New York State Office of Mental Health...
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Your Electronic Health Record Should Help You Deliver Suicide Care
Many frontline behavioral health teams are expected to deliver suicide-safer care inside systems that were not built to support it. Staff are asked to screen for suicide risk, complete additional assessment when needed, create or update safety plans, coordinate handoffs, complete follow-up, and...
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I Told the Bot, Not My Therapist – Why Some People Turn to AI for Emotional Support
Key Points Emotionally responsive AI systems are increasingly used for comfort, not just information. Validation without limits can unintentionally deepen isolation during moments of vulnerability. Chatbots can simulate empathy but cannot assume human responsibility or intervene when...
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SAMHSA Announces $231M Funding Opportunity to Administer 988 Lifeline
The SAMHSA-funded 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline received more than 8 million contacts from help seekers in 2025 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced today a $231M funding...
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Suicide Risks with Depression, Anxiety and Co-occurring Depression/Anxiety
The fact that depression increases the risk of suicide should come as no surprise. Less well known are the suicidal risks of anxiety and the synergistic effect of co-occurring depression and anxiety. Additional life factors can function as triggers and increase those risks even more. We will look...
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Caring for Caregivers: Why They Need to Protect Their Own Mental Health
Caregiving can be one of life’s most meaningful yet demanding responsibilities. Whether you’re a parent managing a child’s physical or behavioral challenges, an adult caring for an aging parent, or supporting a loved one through illness or disability, the weight of these responsibilities can...
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Most Mental Health Crisis Calls Still Go to 911, Not 988
Great Lakes Region Leads with New Training for 911 Dispatchers Handling Suicidal Callers As Suicide Prevention Month continues, the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAEDTM) is reminding everyone of the continuing role of 911 Emergency Dispatchers in suicide prevention and...
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Recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month: Supporting Maternal Mental Health
September is recognized nationally as Suicide Prevention Month, an important time to raise awareness, share resources, and take action to save lives. While we all work diligently to prevent this tragic loss of life, it is critical to highlight the urgent issue of maternal mental health, including...
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Creating a Continuum of Care: Addressing Mental Health Challenges Facing Youth & Young Adults in New York and Beyond
The mental health landscape for youth and young adults in the United States is at a critical inflection point. According to the World Economic Forum, the world’s 1.2 billion young people, representing 16% of the global population, are facing a generational mental health crisis of unprecedented...
