October 2016

Mental Health America just released its annual assessment of Americans with mental illness, the treatment they receive and the resources available to them — and the conclusions are sobering: Twenty percent of adults (43.7 million people) have a mental health condition, and more than half of them do not receive treatment. Among youth, the rates of depression are rising, but 80 percent of children and adolescents get either insufficient treatment or none at all. [ Obamacare promised better...

For years, this town has withstood a torrent of opioid-related deaths , and now claims one of the highest rates of opioid overdoses in the country. But the battle against opioids in Española is being fought with a paltry force: In a community of roughly 10,000, only three physicians are certified to treat patients with opioid use disorders. The scarcity of doctors trained to deal with addiction may be particularly acute in Española, but the issue resonates in cities and towns across the...

Kate Pickett is professor of epidemiology in the department of health sciences at the University of York. She is co-author, with Richard Wilkinson, of the bestselling The Spirit Level, winner of the 2012 publication of the year from the Political Studies Association and translated into 24 languages. Pickett is also a co-founder and Trustee of the Equality Trust. David Edmonds : There are huge inequalities in the United States between rich and poor. Some claim that this is one of the secrets...

'The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places." —E. Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms. 4 Essential Goals that could help create and foster a safe, nurturing environment during one's childhood. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/essentials_for_childhood_framework.pdf

Love from California The Adverse Childhood Experiences Conference got underway tonight in San Francisco with many of the 450 participants attending a meet-and-greet at the Park Central Hotel. The conference focuses on moving from “Awareness to Action”, and includes representatives from education, early childhood, juvenile justice, child welfare, pediatrics, and many other dedicated professionals committed to the ACEs movement. (Left to Right) Michelle Allen; Vanessa Jackson (Parents...

Reflections of Racing ACEs 2016: an exploration of how racial justice – its values, investments, strategies and practices – must be centered at the heart of trauma-informed work.

For many people, Instagram is a place where we share moments from our daily lives that bring us joy. But it's also a space where people share their innermost thoughts and, sometimes, cries for help. Instagram is launching a support tool which allows people to do something if they feel people are in danger of self-injury. [For more of this story, written by Rachel Thompson, go to ...

Attorney General Loretta Lynch this week announced the Justice Department's new online mental health initiative. Speaking at the International Association of Police Chiefs' annual conference in San Diego, Lynch announced the new Police-Mental Health Collaboration Toolkit, which will give law enforcement departments resources on how to police people in mental health crises. "This toolkit is designed to be a one-stop learning center to help departments craft comprehensive responses, offering...

“Do parties or social situations ever make you uncomfortable?” “How would you categorize your stress level?” “How often would you say you feel overwhelming anger or irritability?” These are some of the questions that greet students at Colorado State University when they log in to the university’s new online mental health portal, You@CSU . Created through a partnership with Grit Digital Health and officially launched this semester, You@CSU acts as a virtual counselor, asking students...

This article explains how scientists are working towards tapping into the neuroplastic capabilities of the teenage brain with the intent of re-opening the doors that may enable our adult brains to change. Another study connecting neuroscience and behaviors related to childhood trauma. Exciting possibilities towards a healthier and healing human community. Return to the Teenage Brain

A Bridgespan Group report projects returns of more than 8:1 for philanthropy focused on reducing criminalization in schools and overall incarceration rates

Suspensions cost America an enormous amount — almost $36 billion for the graduating class of 2004, according to a new analysis from researchers at the Civil Rights Project at the University of California–Los Angeles. In recent years, many teachers and principals have tried to suspend kids less often. They’re turning instead to other fixes , such as peer juries and community service assignments, when middle and high schoolers egregiously break school rules. The new study highlights why those...