Will “mental health days” help America’s children?
In some ways, there’s not a lot to envy about growing up in our current climate. Children are exposed to stresses far earlier now than in previous generations, from mass shootings to hate speech and more.
Sister of 9th NYPD suicide criticizes department
After yet another NYPD officer committed suicide this year on Wednesday, a parade of officials have called it part of ‘a crisis,’ asking officers to seek help and take mental health issues seriously.
Can having a pet provide mental health benefits for teens?
Becoming an adolescent is hard for anyone, but psychologist say that having a pet can provide some serious mental health benefits for teenagers.
Teens and mental health
Today's teens have a lot on their plates and on their minds. Mental health is a top concern. In fact, 70 percent of teens surveyed by pew research say depression and anxiety are major problems among their peers—even more so than bullying, drugs or alcohol.
Mental health education
All public school students in New York State will notice a new entry in their list of subjects: mental health. A law went into effect this school year requiring that mental health be a part of health education classes. The mandate comes as intentional self-harm remains among the Top-10 causes of death in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hurricane Maria's emotional toll
Puerto Ricans will never forget September 20, 2017. Hurricane Maria ripped through the island, causing catastrophic damage. Thousands lost their lives in the days and weeks after. The disruption to daily life made things worse for many Puerto Rican families.
Stress of work email
With our smartphones always on, it is almost impossible not to take our work home with us. And that is seriously stressing us out. In fact, a new study found that just the thought of having to deal with work e-mails during personal time can take a toll on our mental health.
Red Flag Gun Protection Bill
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday morning proposed new legislation called the Red Flag Gun Protection Bill that would allow parents and teachers to get a court order to prevent students suspected of being a danger to themselves or others from getting guns.
U.S. suicide rates rise
When designer Kate Spade took her own life this week, it shocked the fashion world and her legions of fans. But her death is part of an alarming upward trend of suicides. A new CDC report finds that suicides rose across the country in more than half of states by more than 30 percent between 1999 and 2016.
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First Lady Chirlane McCray [Interview]
New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray speaks about two important issues she is championing. The city strives to be a place where everyone can feel included. A new campaign called the Unity Project promotes inclusion for the city's LGBTQ youth. She also talks about a youth-led mental health awareness program.
Totality of a Woman
One woman is using life lessons to empower other women. Stephanie Carnegie is a single mom and entrepreneur. For more than 10 years, she owned a public relations company representing artists and entertainers.
Mass attacks in U.S.
The average mass attacker in America is neither an ISIS terrorist nor a high school student with an assault weapon. What these killers did have in common in 2017: they were all men often dealing with symptoms of mental illness, according to a federal agency report. Many of these attacks, 82 percent of which were carried out with guns, left the United States paralyzed last year. The U.S. Secret Service compiled 28 mass attack incidents, defined as onslaughts harming three or more people in public places.
Task force for safe schools and communities
The Nassau County district attorney on Tuesday convened a new school and community safety task force to promote preparedness and improve information sharing. Members of the task force are coming together to recommend reforms. The inaugural meeting comes at a time when many are questioning safety, especially in schools after the Parkland shooting. There are over 200,000 students in Nassau County alone.
Keeping your mind sharp
Experts say staying mentally alert underscores an important component of the aging process. Dr. Zachary Palace says the most important aspect of keeping the mind sharp is finding opportunities to build alternate brain pathways as some neurons deteriorate.
Deleting Facebook
For many of us, scrolling or posting on social media is part of our daily routine. But social media's immersive presence and impact on our lives are leading many young users to seek relief and hit delete. Back in December, Hill Holliday's research group Origin conducted the survey of more than 1,000 young people across the United States. The key findings: 64 percent of users between the ages of 18 and 24 said they have taken a temporary social media break and 34 percent of them deleted their accounts entirely.
INTERVIEW: Chirlane McCray
New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray announced an expanded initiative to help domestic violence victims. It is a major effort to fight the problem.
Therapy pet program
Residents of a supportive housing program for people with mental health issues called Community Access can also participate in Pet Access, which helps them adopt a pet. The program's coordinator said his data shows that residents who adopt pets are less likely to be hospitalized or relapse. Pet Access has facilitated some 118 animal adoptions for Community Access clients since it was started 15 years ago, including birds, fish, turtles, dogs, and cats.
Running for mental health
You don't have to be a marathoner to get all of the health benefits of running. And it is not just about getting you into top physical condition. Running helps our minds, as well. Dr. Teo Mendez, a specialist in sports medicine, said that the colloquial term for this is "endorphins." He said that running can release natural, feel-good molecules in the brain. Runners call the feeling the "runner's high."
Teen suicide rates rise to alarming levels
Suicide rates among teenage girls have reached alarming numbers, hitting a 40-year peak in 2015, where for every 100,000 American girls, five died by suicide. The suicide rate for teenage girls ages 15 to 19 doubled between the year 2007 to 2015 and went up 31 percent for teenage boys, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Brain study shows gender differences
A study conducted by Amen Clinics in California concluded that women have healthier and much busier brains. Female brains were especially active in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which deals with focus, planning and impulse control. Researchers say makes women wired to be leaders.