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...

The following is an excerpt from Michael Billoni’s acceptance speech for the Courage to Come Back Award from the Mental Health Advocates of Western New York on March 11, 2020: I thank God and my angels every day for the miracles since my near-fatal bicycle accident...

Ken Houseknecht, Executive Director, Mental Health Advocates of WNY Get enough (and better) sleep. Most people need 7-8 hours every night. Unplug from technology an hour (or more) before bedtime. Don't sleep with your phone nearby. Try to go to bed and get up at a...

Fear, uncertainty, anger, sadness, and loneliness - these emotions are common as our community and country reacts to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t let stigma prevent you from reaching out for help. “The barrier to seek help is a lot...

Are you concerned that you or a loved one has a mental illness? Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following: Excessive worrying or fear Feeling excessively sad or low Confused thinking or...

It’s been more than twenty years since my younger sister, Beverly, died by suicide. It was 1993, I was 20 years old and my life was going well. I lived in an apartment with a best friend and I was doing well in college. I used to go to sleep with a smile on my face....

One person dies by suicide every five hours in New York State and suicide is the state's 12th leading cause of death. “Suicide is the ultimate outcome of stigma,” said Jessica C. Pirro, LMSW, Chief Executive Officer, Crisis Services and Vice-Chair of the Erie County...

Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition, and many people consider the New Year is the best time to make positive changes. Common New Year’s goals range from getting more exercise, improving finances, to eating healthier. University of Scranton psychology...

It’s time to deck the halls and trim the trees - the holidays are in full swing. Joyful time with family and friends can often be overshadowed by unrealistic expectations and financial concerns that can have a negative impact on our mental health. This year, add...

November is the month we celebrate veterans and express our gratitude for their service and sacrifice. They often face significant mental health challenges when they complete their service or return from deployment. Stigma may prevent them from sharing their struggles...

Veterans Day is celebrated this year on November 11th. This is a day to recognize and thank the veterans that have served our country. As a USAF veteran myself, that served in Vietnam during a very tumultuous time in our nation's history, it is especially meaningful...

“You’re a strong black woman, just deal with it.” “Pray about it and everything will be fine.” These are two phrases that were preached to me from a very young age. I would bet my last dollar that if I stop any African American woman on the street and ask her, she has...

Peer Support Specialist Leslie Saunders says that stigma is rampant within the African American community. “With the efforts, at best, we are just touching the surface,” he said. Many people feel shame and choose to try to get better on their own. They attempt to...

As a Buffalo firefighter for the past 24 years, Dan Milovich has witnessed trauma, injury, and destruction, and is often in dangerous situations. Firefighters, like other first responders, often keep their emotions bottled up and may struggle with mental health...

I’ve started and erased this story at least a half-dozen times. It’s not that the words don’t flow, it’s just that I get anxious talking about my anxiety because I get anxious about nearly everything. Far too much of my life has been wasted leaving terrible thoughts...

For some young people, going back to school is an exciting time of new challenges and having fun with friends. But for other students, it can be a stressful period of change resulting in serious mental health challenges. Starting at a new school, entering a new grade,...

In 1965, U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran Patrick Welch was seriously injured in Vietnam, spending two years in the hospital and experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for 20 years before seeking help. He self-medicated with alcohol, experiencing...

Exercise. This simple word conjures images of extremely fit, athletic young people in very tight-fitting clothing, and this is unfortunately the image that can stop people who are dealing with mental health issues from going to the gym. Thankfully, there is a reliable...

Mental health concerns are becoming more prevalent in older people, yet the stigma of mental illness often prevents them from seeking help. Baby boomers are aging and this population group is exploding—it’s estimated that by 2030, one in five U.S. residents will be...

Homelessness on the streets is all too common. For Maura Kelley, who describes herself as having many mental health diagnoses, stigma affects every aspect of her life. Kelley’s journey has taken her from homelessness, hospitalization and suicide attempts to owning a...

Mental illness is on the rise among adolescents with one in five young people living with a mental illness. A 2016 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported that 12.8% of U.S. adolescents had at least one major depressive episode. While these...

Stigma affects individuals with mental health issues in all aspects of their lives – personal relationships, family life and in the workplace.According to N.A.M.I. (National Alliance of Mental Illness), eight out of ten workers with a mental health condition say shame...

New Year’s resolutions often focus on losing weight, saving money or being more organized. It is also a perfect time to focus on your mental health and educate yourself about mental illness.One resolution is to take our Pledge to End Stigma. Separating the truth from...

Words matter. The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition is working to end the stigma of mental illness and educate the community about how we speak about the issue.

Veterans Day 2018 has come and gone. I am pleased with the last Newsletter edition that featured information on Veterans and hope that it may offer support for those veterans that may be struggling with their adjustment to civilian life.

Festivities, family reunions and joyful celebrations are all part of the holidays, but for many people, the holiday season can also bring anxiety and depression.

November is the month we honor the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. Often experiences they have while serving our country can result in mental health challenges when they return home.

The 18th year of Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place October 7th – 13th and the focus is stress. While stress is something we all may experience in our lifetime, when it becomes difficult to manage it can negatively impact our mental health. Mindfulness is a...

Children of all ages, in the Buffalo Niagara region, are headed back to school this week and while anxious feelings are normal and expected during times of transition or change, it’s important for parents and caregivers to make this transition as smooth as possible...

A study out of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts suggests that having a baby in the summer could be linked to higher rates of postpartum depression. Of the hundreds of thousands of women who suffer from a postpartum mood disorder, only 15 percent of them...

In recent years there’s been more focus than ever before on mental health and the way mental health illnesses can affect our everyday lifestyles. One of the many remaining questions about mental health is this: do mental health...

For children, teens, and college students, summertime is associated with freedom from school and positive emotions. However, summer can also be a time where certain mental health issues need to be tended to even more than usual. Out of school...