According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness and feeling like everything is an effort. Yet, only one...
September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness and discuss this highly stigmatized topic. In addition to shifting public perception, this month spreads hope and vital information to people affected by suicide.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services observes National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States.
Once you have taken the steps to seek professional therapy, what can you expect? Here are some helpful tips from Bridget McNally, case worker at Mental Health Advocates of WNY.
Community members celebrated the success of the Join the Conversation campaign at a member breakfast on June 7 at WNED studios. The
event focused on workplace wellness and encouraged companies and organizations to continue working to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. Krizia Williams of WKBW-TV served as emcee.
The Anti-Stigma Coalition’s Join the Conversation awareness campaign is expanding to Chautauqua County with a $7,000 grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). The Coalition’s campaign promotes mental health awareness and fights the stigma surrounding mental illness, which can be a barrier preventing people from seeking the help and treatment they need.
This past year, Western New Yorkers have experienced extraordinary loss, grief, and trauma, especially the Black community and East Buffalo community.
About 15-20% of mothers, or one in five to seven will experience postpartum depression and anxiety. There are still barriers to women seeking help for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS). Most recent data indicates that only about 50% of women will seek help....
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The goal is to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face. On March 21, World Down Syndrome Day, individuals...
The CDC reports that nearly one in four of adults provide care or assistance to a person with a long-term illness or disability. In addition, about one in three individuals spend at least 20 hours a week caring for a loved one.
A Healthy Mind survey revealed that nearly two out of five Americans rated their mental health as only fair or poor. More than one in four reported they anticipated experiencing more stress at the start of 2023, up from one in five last year.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many people, but for some older adults, it is a time of isolation and sadness.
Stigma can be a significant barrier for Veterans needing and wanting help for mental health challenges. An estimated 50 percent of returning Veterans in need do not seek mental health treatment.
The most common mental health challenges of refugees are PTSD, anxiety, and depression, most often the direct result of the catastrophic life changes they experienced.
A recent RAND survey showed that teachers and principals are experiencing frequent job-related stress at a rate that is about twice that of the general population of working adults.
Sharing Hope is a three-part video series that explores the journey of mental wellness in Black communities through dialogue, storytelling and a guided discussion.
Many people are experiencing mental health challenges as the result of the tragic shooting in Buffalo on May 14, other national tragedies, and continued repercussions from the COVID pandemic. Mental Health America reports that over half of adults with a mental illness...
Day after day, hour after hour, first responders witness trauma, violence, and other stressful situations.
The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition celebrated the five-year anniversary of its successful campaign, Join the Conversation (letstalkstigma.org) at a community breakfast event on May 25 at WNED studios in downtown Buffalo. The event was sponsored by The Patrick P....
Suicide is a growing health problem. Suicide not only affects the individual person, but their entire support network including family, friends, and community. Data collected through the New York State Department of Health Connector, shows Niagara County as having a...
Understanding Mental Health Challenges within the LGBTQ+ CommunityAccording to NAMI, LGB youth are more than twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers. Many in the LGBTQI community face...
The culture in the workplace plays a key role in breaking stigma for healthcare providers. Anyone can experience mental health symptoms, and everyone is deserving of support. Routine protocols of debriefing traumatic events, vicarious trauma, and difficult sessions in...
Olympic and Pro Athletes Sharing Their Stories Reduces StigmaOlympic swimming legend Michael Phelps is a tireless advocate for mental health and frequently comments about the stigma that exists about mental illness. On his website, Michael Phelps said “Over the past...
High school is a time of great change and exciting opportunities. Yet, it is also a time that many teens experience poor mental health. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently declared a mental health crisis among our nation’s youth, outlining the pandemic’s...
Mental health is a topic I've always been very aware of. Growing up surrounded with struggle has taught me a lot about empathy. Understanding how one is feeling and feeling that as if it’s your own pain is not a foreign concept. I first started going to therapy around...
The winter holiday season can be a wonderful time filled with parties and social gatherings with family and friends. Yet for some people, it can be a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. The COVID pandemic has made celebrating more...
Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. The statistics are alarming: Between 11 and 20% of Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...
Free, Confidential Tool Available Online If you have symptoms of depression, a free, quick, confidential online screening tool can put you on the path to better health. October is National Depression Screening Month and a time to access online depression screening and...
Words are powerful. How we talk about a sensitive and complex topic such as suicide can have traumatizing or triggering effects on those who struggle with their mental health or individuals who have lost someone to suicide. “Fear, shame, and misunderstanding around...
Going to college is both exciting and terrifying—let’s be honest. Having anxiety is completely normal and everyone experiences it differently. Anxiety does not need to control your life, we deserve to live the life we want not the life our mental health wants us to....
CDC research shows that nationally, about 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. While 80 percent of new moms may experience baby blues during the first two weeks following the birth of their child, postpartum depression impacts 15-20 percent of...
According to the World Health Organization, at least one in four older adults experiences some mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or dementia. Among the elderly, depression is a major public health concern leading to increased disability and morbidity....
According to the American Psychiatric Association, people experiencing mental health concerns often turn first to a faith leader. These leaders, as well as fellow community members, can play an important role in encouraging people to reach out for help and talk about...
This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never even imagined, and a lot of us struggled with our mental health as a result. The good news is...
If you feel you are in crisis – call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. Reach the Veterans Crisis Line online chat or send a text message to the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255. The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, confidential support 24 hours...
Registered nurse Karen DiLiberta has constant worry that she will be exposed. A wound care nurse at Eastern Niagara Hospital, she and her coworkers quickly adapted to extensive PPE requirements and patient care protocol, which she describes as exhausting. She also has...
The pandemic continues to impact our daily lives and virtually everyone is experiencing some type of mental health challenge. Economic woes, grief, isolation, loneliness, or fear of contracting COVID are causing mental health concerns for people who have not...
These are difficult times for us all. Mental health disorders are on the rise countrywide given the COVID-19 pandemic and current political climate. The silver lining may be that the stigma of mental illness is decreasing and more people are seeking help than ever...
Before the start of the pandemic, one in five Americans lived with a diagnosable mental health condition. These rates have skyrocketed as individuals from all walks of life have experienced disruption and insecurity in their lives due to the collective trauma caused...
As concerns about staying safe and healthy continue, we enter a holiday season like none other. Beloved traditions of gathering with family and friends may not be possible, yet this year may present an opportunity to adjust expectations and embrace new ways to...
As of January 2019, the National Cancer Institute estimated that there were 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States. By 2030, this number of cancer survivors is projected to increase to 22.2 million. Along with serious physical challenges, mental health...
Jessica C. Pirro, LMSW, chief executive officer of Crisis Services and co-chair of the Anti-Stigma Coalition, shares her story of cancer survival and mental wellness. We all have different response levels to stress. How we respond also is biological, including our own...
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of domestic violence in our community and remind survivors that they are not alone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone at any time and impacts individuals...
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time for mental health organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness and spread this important message. If you, or someone you know, are suicidal please...
Uncertainty about the upcoming school year is causing mental health challenges for many students, parents, teachers and staff. Will students be able to safely return to the classroom? The possibility of remote learning at the grammar school, high school and college...
When the word “disability” is mentioned, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) might not readily come to mind. Yet, the American Psychiatric Association reports that PTSD affects an estimated 3.5% of the American population, and people who have PTSD are entitled to...
African Americans have endured centuries of harms that have recently boiled over into the events we have observed in the last couple of months, most notably the response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks. What we are seeing is how the...
Steve Biegner, mission pastor at Main Street Ministries: St. Paul’s Campus and executive director of the WNY Impact Foundation, works with individuals who are struggling with grief and loss. According to Biegner, the traditional ways to grieve are unavailable. People...
Medical staff, first responders and frontline workers quickly became the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. While caring for patients with COVID-19 and providing necessary services in the community, many essential workers have experienced mental health challenges....
The coronavirus lockdown has disrupted most facets of everyday life, including mental health counseling and support services. Mental health providers that are members of the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition quickly adapted to video technology platforms to continue...