There is a reason the holiday season is often called “the most wonderful time of the year.” With at least 15 different holidays and observances, it holds special religious and cultural significance for a stunning patchwork of people from around the world. A time for family gatherings, celebrations with friends, and spiritual connections, the holidays can inspire joy like no other time of the year. The holidays aren’t always fun for everyone, however. The month of December can trigger negative thoughts and feelings when holiday stress mounts, expenses increase, and support is lacking. Financial woes may prevent travel to see family or leave a parent to explain to their child why the family isn’t able to participate in gift giving…

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle As the holiday season begins, some people look forward to joyous celebrations, time away from work, or special moments with family and friends. For others, feelings of loneliness, desperation, or sadness can feel especially pronounced during this time of year. While many mental health concerns are best handled with the support of a professional, there are  things that can be done on an individual level or with family and social supports to improve feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Practicing gratitude can have a positive impact on your mind, body, and relationships with others. A sense of meaning, more joy, and increased…

Eating disorders affect millions of Americans, with approximately 1 in 10 expected to develop one during their lifetime.[1] Conditions including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating affect people of all ages, races, body types, and genders.[2] Anyone can develop an eating disorder at any time in life. In many cases, it begins during adolescence or young adulthood, with the average age of onset between 12-25.[3] During the COVID pandemic, a spike in reported eating disorders indicated a more than 70% increase in call volume to national hotlines.[4] With eating disorders ranking as the top fatal mental illness in young people, it’s a problem we can’t afford to ignore.[5] The statistics are alarming. In a study following adolescent girls until…

“I see a future where everyone who needs mental health care gets it. We must end the separate and unequal treatment of mental health and addiction and ensure each of us is able to achieve a full, meaningful life.” ~ The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, Former U.S. Representative and Founder of the Kennedy Forum. Recently, 988 – the new nationwide number for suicide prevention and crisis care – went live. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has the opportunity to change the game when it comes to accessing mental health services. It represents an entry point to treatment for all levels of behavioral health care and can be used for much more than suicide prevention. 988 can be used anytime someone…

Coming in July, the first nationwide crisis hotline for behavioral health emergencies will go live. The equivalent of 911 for mental health, 988 marks a historic milestone in improving access to life-saving crisis services. While 988 represents a crucial step forward to address the current mental health crisis in the United States, much work remains to ensure that the crisis response system is equitable – particularly for communities that have historically experienced great inequity and trauma. Data indicates that people who identify as LGBTQIA+; black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC); rural communities; immigrants, refugees, and non-English speaking people; people living with disabilities; older adults; people experiencing homelessness or housing instability; formerly incarcerated or justice-involved populations; survivors of trauma; and…

By Wendy Martinez Farmer, Beacon Crisis Leader Nine years ago, I was driving home during Atlanta rush hour concerned I would not make it in time to pick up my 2-year-old from daycare. Traffic was heavy and I was already running late after handling a crisis at work. Suddenly, I felt crushing chest pain that radiated down both arms and up into my jaw. Instinctively I pulled off the highway, turned into a convenience store, bought an aspirin, chewed it and looked at the store clerk and said, “Please call 911. I am having a heart attack.” Within seconds, bystanders who also seemed to know what to do stepped in to keep me calm. One of them even contacted my…

Data and algorithms are frequently used in the healthcare industry to identify populations that may benefit from specialty care management. Data driven programs that utilize algorithms can improve disease management, health outcomes and reduce the cost of care. They also have the potential to remove bias from human decision making when it comes to accessing care.  But what happens when the algorithm itself is biased? Recent research has shown that algorithms in healthcare[1] and other fields[2] can show bias against certain populations due to systemic racism that is reflected in the data used to construct these computer-based calculations. In healthcare for example, data on cost and utilization of care is often relied upon as an indicator of problem severity. However,…

With 988 set to launch this summer, many states are working hard to prepare. Although each state has its own unique array of providers and services, coordinating them into an effective crisis system capable of serving all people can be daunting. In order for a successful 988 launch, each state will need to implement a coordinated crisis response system should the contact with the 988 center not be sufficient to meet the immediate need. Investment in mobile crisis response teams and a continuum of facility-based crisis programs can enhance and bolster existing programs and services to provide timely, appropriate care. These include psychiatric urgent care facilities, 23-hour crisis stabilization programs, peer respite centers, crisis residential programs, partial hospitalization programs and…