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The Silent Battlefield: Synthetic Opioids Hidden in THC Vapes
The overdose crisis has always been a war, but the battlefield keeps shifting. Today, the weapon isn’t a needle or a powder bag. It’s a vape pen—sleek, pocket-sized, sold at a gas station counter, and marketed as harmless cannabis. In reality, these cartridges are Trojan horses carrying...
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The Connection Between Tobacco, Depression, and Anxiety
Despite decades of public health efforts, tobacco use remains a persistent public health issue, especially for individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. These two common mental health conditions are closely linked to tobacco use, both in terms of higher smoking prevalence and the emotional...
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America’s Hidden Maternal Mental Health Crisis
There is a quiet but growing crisis unfolding in America. It is the steady erosion of maternal mental health. New national data underscore what so many families and clinicians already know: U.S. mothers are struggling, and the supports meant to sustain them are lagging behind. A recently...
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The Future of Mental Health Is on the Line—We Must Protect It
Federal restructuring risks erasing decades of progress. Together, we can demand better for our communities. Each May, we pause to raise awareness about mental health, which also serves as a time to engage in conversations about emotional well-being, reducing stigma, and promoting equitable...
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NAMI-NYC Board of Directors Announces New CEO Maggie G. Mortali, MPH
NAMI-NYC's Board of Directors is proud to announce that Maggie G. Mortali, MPH, has been appointed as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. A nationally recognized leader in public health and mental health advocacy, Maggie brings more than a decade of experience in suicide prevention,...
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The Holidays Are Coming: How to Handle Disagreements
Key Points: Group narcissism refers to the tendency to exaggerate the positive image and importance of a group to which one belongs. Factors woven into the psychology of individuals may increase the likelihood of buying into group beliefs. Pay attention to how your emotions affect your...
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To End the Drug Crisis, Bring Addiction Out of the Shadows
When I was six years old, as I was having dinner with my mother and three sisters, my mother received a telegram. She broke down crying as she read it. Her father - my grandfather - had died. In her grief, she locked herself in her room and would not let me console her. The memory of my inability...
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New Medicaid Option Promotes Enhanced Mental Health, Substance Use Crisis Care
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is working with states to promote access to Medicaid services for people with mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) crises. Authorized under President Biden’s American...
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NYS Governor Hochul Appoints Dr. Mary T. Bassett as Commissioner of the Department of Health
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH, has been appointed Commissioner of the Department of Health. With more than 30 years of experience devoted to promoting health equity and social justice, both in the United States and abroad, Dr. Bassett’s career has spanned...
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A Root Cause of the Opiate Drug Abuse Epidemic
An epidemic of opiate abuse and addiction continues to ravage communities throughout the United States. Approximately 183,000 Americans succumbed to opiate overdoses between 1999 and 2015, and countless more have suffered the ancillary effects of addiction that include the loss of employment,...
