The magnitude of climate change can feel overwhelming, creating a sense of so-called "climate grief" for some, but young climate activists say they are turning the sense of loss into motivation. Studies show eight out of 10 young people are concerned about the climate, and half report feelings of anxiety, anger and helplessness about it. Megan Birnbaum, youth engagement and policy fellow at The Climate Initiative, said it is important for young people to acknowledge their sadness about the environment, and to connect with other like-minded people who want to fix it. .
Nevada mental health professionals want to remind everyone it is OK to not be OK. According to Mental Health America, in 2022 Nevada ranked last in the country for its overall prevalence of mental illness and for having the lowest rates of access to care. Tennille Pereira, director of the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, said following the recent mass shootings around the country, traumatic events can be triggering on various levels for people, especially for survivors. .
Montana s mental health advocates said state lawmakers addressed many of the state s pressing needs in the just-completed legislative session, but more work remains to be done. The Montana Legislature addressed increasing funding for youth suicide prevention, adding beds at crisis care centers, improving Medicaid reimbursement rates for community behavioral health providers, increasing the number of community behavioral health centers and reworking conditional-release programs for offenders with serious mental health conditions. Matt Kuntz, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Montana, said it is exactly how lawmakers should address the state s critical mental health needs. .
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and across the Commonwealth, buildings are lighting up in green, the color for mental health awareness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in 2021 more than 43% of Kentucky adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, and 40,000 youths age 12 to 17 suffer from depression. Marcie Timmerman, executive director of Mental Health America of Kentucky, explained free and private online screening tests available at mhascreening.org can help individuals check their mental health status. .