Community groups in Massachusetts are calling for an end to armed police response to mental health-related 911 calls. The majority of calls are for nonviolent emergencies, yet the response of armed police can often make a behavioral or mental health-related crisis worse, particularly in marginalized communities. Corinne Espinoza, co-director of the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team, said civilian first responders are better trained to deescalate what is often someone having a bad day. .
A free 12-week program is aiming to help Hispanic youths and their families in the Vegas Valley achieve better mental health. Familia Adelante, or Family Forward, is helping families find useful and beneficial mental-health strategies to help their children grapple with mental distress. Margarita Romano, founder and head therapist of Fuente De Vida, said the program is centered on not only facilitating a safe space to talk, but being able to do so in Spanish or English. .
Help for mental-health problems just got easier to find in California with the launch of a new podcast and the expansion of the Parent & Youth Helpline. The first episode of the podcast, called Breaking the Stigma, is available today - and features influencers from the music industry talking about their struggles with mental health. Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, is co-hosting the series. .
/PRNewswire/ Parents Anonymous Inc., a national organization offering free mental health programs and a helpline for both parents and youth, today announces.