Join us for the Behavioral Health Commission’s Winter Wonderland Tea — a morning of gratitude, recognition and community connection. Each year, the Behavioral Health Commission’s Winter Wonderland Tea brings together staff, clubhouse members and the community for a morning of gratitude, reflection and celebration. It’s a special moment in the year when we pause to honor those who dedicate their time and energy to supporting the wellness and recovery of others across San Bernardino County. The tea is more than an event — it’s a tradition of appreciation. It represents the spirit of service that drives our department and the

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) -Missouri has one of the highest veteran suicide rates in the country, according to the U.S. Veterans Department, but a state group is now working to change that. Every year, Missouri loses nearly 200 veterans to suicide, according to data from the U.S. Veterans Department. A new state investment is working to combat the mental challenges veterans face. The state released its first yearly Veterans Suicide Prevention plan and Mental Health report. It’s part of a law implemented last year that requires the Veterans Commission to shift its focus to mental health. Last year, former Gov.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – Missouri has one of the highest veteran suicide rates in the country, according to the U.S. Veterans Department, but a state group is now working to change that. Every year, Missouri loses nearly 200 veterans to suicide, according to data from the U.S. Veterans Department. A new state investment is working to combat the mental challenges veterans face. The state released its first yearly Veterans Suicide Prevention plan and Mental Health report. It’s part of a law implemented last year that requires the Veterans Commission to shift its focus to mental health. Last year, previous

Savannah Lord, the clinical director of a Burlington nonprofit mental health clinic, got an email from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont this month and was immediately alarmed, as were many of her colleagues across the state. What transpired since then provides a small window into the highly complicated world of health insurance in the United States, where even the insurers who set reimbursement rates, and the providers who bill for them, can become confused. That complexity can also get in the way of efforts to improve patient care. The Nov. 5 email from Tom Weigel, the chief medical officer

The Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation has started a new initiative: a clothing drive to benefit behavioral health patients.  Each year, the hospital’s foundation has a worthwhile program to benefit the community. In the past, they’ve conducted Narcan trainings and a food rescue program in collaboration with North Fork Food Rescue.  Foundation staff at the 2025 Dancing on the Dock fundraiser. (Credit: file photo) “They’re admitted to the unit and arrive unexpectedly and often without basic necessities like clean clothes, shoes or outerwear,” said Linda Sweeney, vice president, foundation/external affairs at SBELIH. “I just thought this initiative would

This article is sponsored by Valant. As demand grows for higher-acuity behavioral health services, providers are doubling down on intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) to close critical care gaps. From workforce strategy to AI  integration, the stakes are high, and so are the opportunities for providers that can deliver scalable, high-quality care. In this Voices interview, Behavioral Health Business speaks with  Ram Krishnan, CEO of Valant, about the macro forces driving IOP/PHP innovation, the role of purpose-built technology, and how organizations can position themselves for long-term success.  Behavioral Health Business: What life and career experiences have most

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is purchasing the SSM Health facility on Southwest 59th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for $60 million to replace Griffin Memorial Hospital, funded by ARPA dollars. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”This will allow us to move Griffin Memorial Hospital to a more modern facility, and cost-effective operations,” said Jennifer Hogan, the department’s director of communications.The investment includes $18.5 million for the property and $41.5 million for upgrades and renovations. “This new facility will enable us to expand. We’re in the design phase right

Study design and participants This national cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period characterized by heightened psychological stress, social distancing measures, and limited in-person interactions in Korea. A proportionately stratified sampling method was used to ensure representative sampling of 2.5% of the Korean population. The study included participants aged 18–85 years and was conducted across all 17 provinces in South Korea. Participants were recruited through a professional survey agency using stratified sampling based on national demographic distributions of age, sex, and region. Recruitment was conducted primarily through an existing population panel

Blumenthal criticizes increasing wait times for Connecticut veterans seeking mental health care, urging immediate action from the VA Secretary. Quiver AI Summary Senator Blumenthal raises concerns over veteran mental health services: Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has expressed alarm regarding increasing wait times for mental health care appointments at VA clinics in Connecticut. He urges VA Secretary Doug Collins to provide explanations and solutions for these delays. Reported delays pose risks to veterans: Blumenthal’s inquiries reveal that veterans are facing waits of over 100 days for initial appointments at various facilities. He emphasized

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/CNN NEWSOURCE/WKRC) – As the holiday season approaches, many are already decking the halls, and experts suggest this early decorating trend could be beneficial for mental health. As the holiday season approaches, many are already decking the halls, and experts suggest this early decorating trend could be beneficial for mental health. (WCCO/CNN NEWSOURCE) A survey revealed that 30% of people are in full Christmas mode before Dec. 1, and 60% of adults believe holiday celebrations start earlier now than in their childhood. Licensed psychotherapist Amy Morin explained, “There is research too that decorating can help us with collective anxiety.”

This story contains language describing mental health and suicide that may be disturbing to some readers. The apparent suicide of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland on Nov. 6 renewed attention to the mental health of athletes nationwide. At Oberlin, the Athletics department integrates student-athlete mental healthcare into the athletics training programs. Specific procedures are in place if the Athletics professional staff become concerned a student may be at risk for suicide.  In recent years, Athletics has expanded their team directly concerned with student-athlete mental health, enlisting counseling psychologist Dr. John Harshbarger as director of student-athlete wellness.  In a statement

The data: More than half of women respondents said they received a mental health diagnosis from a healthcare provider since the onset of perimenopause (or the time before menopause), according to an August Biote survey. The survey queried 1,005 US women 30-60 years of age who work full or part time. For context, the average age of menopause in the US is 51. At the onset of perimenopause: 33% of women were diagnosed and treated for anxiety.27% were evaluated and treated for depression.25% were diagnosed and treated for mood swings.13% were diagnosed and treated for panic attacks. Why it matters:

Burlington CARES, a city program designed to send mental health clinicians to certain emergency calls, will cease operation by mid-December. Launched last year, the program was funded with a state grant that will expire next month. The city was unable to find other money for the program, which currently has 57 regular clients, according to a city memo. Two city staffers will be laid off as a result. City officials say Howard Center’s Street Outreach Team, which responds to mental health incidents, is best suited for the work being performed by CARES. The outreach team recently received an infusion of

(KY3) – No matter your profession, mental health plays an important part in your well-being. In agriculture, it is no different. “I even lost one of my best friends to suicide a few years ago, and that is tough. I think the reminder to folks is you don’t have to do this alone,” said Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau President. According to the National Rural Health Association, the suicide rate among farmers is 3.5 times higher than that of the general population. “I heard from a farm bureau member at a national meeting share that the decision his father made

Stress never waits for the “right time” to show up. It sneaks in during busy weeks, quiet mornings and everything in between. When your mind feels crowded, running can be one of the most effective ways to clear your head and lift your mood. “Running can be a powerful tool to help you manage stress, depending on how it’s used,” says Peter Lucchio, PsyD, a clinical health psychologist with Hartford HealthCare. “While running is a stressor on the body – like any exercise – it can also support both mental and physical well-being.” Here’s how running can help you stay

By Anna Turns, The Conversation A close friend of mine escaped her home in the British Virgin Islands during Hurricane Irma in September 2017. She and her young family had to grab their passports and not much else when they fled 200 mph winds. At the time, she described the total devastation as “like a bomb going off.” Damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Road Town, the capital of the British Virgin Islands. (UK Department for International Development, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Every hurricane season, she and so many other people relive the trauma of that experience. Eight

by Michelle Mullen When Dr. Craig Katz traveled to El Salvador after a devastating 2001 earthquake, he joined a small team of doctors offering mental health support to displaced families.  It was a relief mission that would ultimately reshape his life. “We were working with the local nongovernmental organization there that was like a community support organization,” he said. “It was our first experience, and it was rather challenging actually, because many of us were not used to working under those conditions.” That trip marked the beginning of Katz’s long career in global psychiatry. “So much of the disaster work

Behavioral health and addiction treatment providers are expecting renewed guidance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) around telehealth prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances, now that the longest government shutdown in the country’s history has been resolved. A pending executive order sent to the Office of Management and Budget titled “Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” seems to suggest these provisions will be extended for another year. However, its exact details have yet to be released. Previous telehealth prescribing extensions brought relief and ease to many providers who treat substance use disorders (SUDs), allowing them

The upcoming Broadway production of the solo play “Every Brilliant Thing,” starring Tony Award winner Daniel Radcliffe, has formed a partnership with the mental health nonprofit Project Healthy Minds. Through the creation of a custom marketplace for finding mental health services for audiences, this multifaceted partnership will aim to reduce barriers to care by making support options easily accessible. “Every Brilliant Thing,” which centers on a man who looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through, makes it a fine match for supporting the mental health tech organization Project Healthy Minds, which is dedicated

A $2.5 million grant from the Action for Women’s Health initiative will support the expansion of the Nia Project in Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences enhancing trauma-informed mental health care and research for women. Based at Grady Health System, the Nia Project will use the funding to strengthen clinical programs, deepen research and broaden access to care for women affected by violence, trauma or suicidal behavior.  Launched in 2024, Action for Women’s Health is a $250 million global initiative funded by Pivotal, a network of impact organizations founded by Melinda French Gates. The initiative supports innovative organizations around the world working to advance women’s mental

Overview: – Researchers worry the SNAP benefit disruptions will prevent millions of kids from accessing a steady diet of nutritious food, writes the University of Denver’s Jenalee Doom.– A 2021 analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. children showed that when kids experienced food insecurity sometimes or often in a 12-month period, they ran a 50% greater risk of anxiety or depression compared to kids who don’t.– If a child is experiencing food insecurity, they are often dealing with other types of stress at the same time. By JENALEE DOOM, University of Denver About 4 in 10 of the more than

SALINAS — The Monterey County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking community input on a proposed project to build six new mental health rehabilitation centers in Salinas. Behavioral Health staff will be hosting two more listening sessions (the first was Thursday) to share information and hear community feedback on the project. The sessions will be held Monday at 6 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Natividad Medical Center. The project plans to build six new 16-bed mental health rehabilitation centers in Salinas on a currently undeveloped lot owned by the county. The lot is located across

Dr. Gail Wyatt, distinguished professor emeritus of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was selected to receive the Association of Black Women Physicians’ 2025 Humanitarian Award. The association recognized Wyatt for extraordinary contributions to addressing women’s health disparities, trauma and domestic violence prevention, as well as her “profound influence as a scholar, mentor and humanitarian.” “Dr. Wyatt’s work has transformed the way we understand the impact of domestic violence and trauma,” the association’s president-elect Dr. Anastasia Williams said in a statement. “Her groundbreaking research, mentorship, and advocacy have created an enduring legacy of healing and empowerment.” Among

(InvestigateTV) — For a growing number of Americans, mass violence is no longer unimaginable as they watch it play out in front of their eyes, both in person and through a screen. Mass violence is defined as “disasters, which include shootings and acts of terrorism,” that “often occur without warning and can happen anywhere,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Experts say they’re just beginning to understand the overall public health impact of witnessing mass violence, both in person and online. Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting leaves lasting trauma Gabriella Majers-Darger loves puzzles. She says they

Trigger warning: The article below references suicidal ideation Today, she’s recognized as a trailblazing, award-winning actress, Audra McDonald, but there was once a time she was just a student struggling with anxiety, depression, and a dream that felt unattainable.  During an appearance at an event for Hope for Depression Research Foundation in New York City, the Broadway star opened up about her past mental health struggles and the time she almost took her own life.   “When you’re someone who already struggles with anxiety and depression, that kind of pressure doesn’t just make you tired. It eats at you. It scrambles