Data from last year show a growing percentage of Kentucky children and teens report struggling with depression or anxiety, largely driven by social media use. A new online toolkit from Mental Health America aims to provide information, tips and resources for young people, caregivers and school personnel on how to protect kids mental health in a digital world. Marcie Timmerman, Mental Health America Kentucky s executive director, said having resources to spot early warning signs can help families get off to a good start this school year, when many households are adjusting to new patterns and habits. .
Advocates for mental health in Maine say the stigma of suicide often prevents those most at risk from getting the help they need. The CDC reports despite a decline in suicide deaths for those younger than 25 last year, total suicide deaths increased to nearly 50,000 Joyce Morrissette, clinical suicide-prevention specialist with NAMI Maine, said suicide is a preventable tragedy and that talking to someone in distress about suicide does not trigger them to act but, instead, starts a conversation. "In order to have a public health approach to suicide, we need to be able to acknowledge it and talk openly about suicide," she said. " .
In rural states such as North Dakota, accessing mental-health care can be extremely difficult. Federal officials say it s even worse when someone s benefits for such care are improperly denied. They re ramping up enforcement under a law aimed to address the issue. .