Dutchess County’s Stabilization Center Among New York’s First Licensed Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers

Dutchess County’s first-of-its-kind Stabilization Center, a partnership between the Dutchess County Department of Mental Health (DCDMH) and People USA, recently became one of the first Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS OMH) and the...

Leveraging Digital Tools: Innovative Technology for Suicide Prevention and Support in Healthcare

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with over 700,000 people taking their own lives each year (World Health Organization, 2021). Beyond the immense emotional toll it inflicts on families and friends, suicide places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Over recent years,...

Brain Structure Differences Are Associated With Early Use of Substances Among Adolescents

Many differences appeared to exist prior to any substance use, pointing to the role brain structure may play in substance use risk, NIH-supported study suggests. A study of nearly 10,000 adolescents funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified distinct differences in the...

Up, Up, and Aware: What Superman Can Teach Us About Mental Health

Chanukah came early for me this year with the release of James Gunn's Superman trailer. Superheroes have always soared through our imaginations, but lately, they’ve landed squarely in the world of mental wellness. As a rabbi, comic book aficionado (once called “New York’s Hippest Rabbi”...

Reported Use of Most Drugs Among Adolescents Remained Low in 2024

New NIH-funded data show lower use of most substances continues following the COVID-19 pandemic. After declining significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use among adolescents has continued to hold steady at lowered levels for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest...

Biden-Harris Administration Launches National Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced on November 13 the launch of the Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator, designed to help current and aspiring behavioral health...

Colorado Reforms Seek to Expand, Strengthen the Behavioral Health Safety Net

July of 2024 brought new laws impacting Colorado’s behavioral health system. While Colorado has continuously made some improvements and investments in behavioral health programs, the fundamental definitions of safety net services and providers were more than 60 years old. New Colorado reform laws...

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Investment to Integrate Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment into Primary Care

$240 million in funding will launch and expand behavioral health care services in 400 Community Health Centers that provide primary care to more than 10 million patients – advancing President Biden’s Unity Agenda The Administration has called on Congress to make behavioral health a required...

No Judgment. Just Help: What You Can Do to Support Suicide Prevention Month Efforts

Ask almost anyone about suicide, and you’ll likely find they have been personally impacted by the loss – or near loss – of a loved one. It’s perhaps not surprising given the statistics. In 2022 alone, more than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide, the highest number ever...

Back to School: Mental Health Tips and Resources to Help Youth Thrive in – and out of – the Classroom

As the dog days of summer draw to a sweltering close, many families across the nation are gathering books, binders, and other school supplies in preparation for a return to the classroom. And while the back-to-school season can be an exciting time, it can also be stressful – and even scary –...