IN THE NEWS: NAMI FRANKLIN COUNTY

• Bipartisan push on mental health crisis that COVID worsened April 13, 2022
  A major effort to overhaul mental health care and substance use treatment in the U.S. is gaining traction as Congress and the Biden administration work on overlapping plans to address concerns across dividing lines of politics, geography and race. Top goals include responding to the mental health crisis among youth, increasing the supply of professional […]
• Here's Why Breaks Are So Important When You're Working From Home April 8, 2022
  If you’re working from home after spending months, or years, working in an office, you may find it hard to take breaks. “When working from home, it can be a little hard to figure out what a break looks like,” says Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director of NAMI. "In an office, breaks can be […]
• Researchers identify new genetic link to schizophrenia April 6, 2022
  Researchers have found variations in a small number of genes that appear to dramatically increase the likelihood of developing schizophrenia in some people. Ken Duckworth, NAMI CMO, a nationwide advocacy group, said the study is an important development in the neuroscience that underlies schizophrenia. But he said it is difficult to predict how soon such […]
• CDC Survey Finds the Pandemic Had a Big Impact on Teens' Mental Health April 5, 2022
  A new survey reveals that girls in particular were affected by the social isolation of the pandemic. The stress and adversity of the pandemic were not limited to just adults; teens and children felt it too. "It's no secret that kids are going through a lot right now. Knowing how to spot the signs of […]
• 988 is an urgently needed national lifeline for mental health support, but will it be ready? April 1, 2022
  The long-term vision is that someone experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal ideation can dial 988 to reach a local call center for support or to dispatch a mobile crisis team. Many of the 180 local call centers across the country struggle with funding. “Mental health has been underfunded for decades — we get […]
• Digital Mental Health Startups for Kids Are Raking in Cash, New Data Shows. It Won’t Be Enough to Fix the Crisis March 31, 2022
  Virtual health care has exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and new data indicates digital tools targeting the behavioral health needs of children and teenagers are no exception. While clinicians and health executives say these tools could offer some solutions for young people, they also come with challenges. It’s important to establish long-term relationships for children’s […]
• Pandemic heightens focus on mental health care as new hotline number launches March 30, 2022
  In advance of the July launch of 988, mental health experts worry about workforce capacity issues and the ability to provide 24/7 crisis care. "Fortunately, most [states] are taking this as an opportunity and are working towards increasing their Lifeline call centers within the network," said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO. "But when somebody calls in, […]
• What Is 988, the New Mental Health Crisis Hotline? March 30, 2022
  The hope with 988 is that those who are in a mental health crisis will be able to be receive fast and safe help. "We believe strongly that people who are in a mental health crisis deserve a mental health response, not a criminal justice response," says Jennifer Snow, NAMI national director of government relations, […]
• Mental Health Providers Are Busier Than Ever. Here’s How to Find One. March 29, 2022
  Finding a therapist — let alone one who is a good fit — can take time and determination, especially during the pandemic, when many therapists report they cannot keep up with demand and must turn away patients. If there is a crisis, do not wait. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has information on various […]
• Report finds US children have elevated anxiety, depression March 24, 2022
  For an on-camera interview, Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director at NAMI, discusses the increased ER visits by young people or suicidal thoughts and behavior, and the lack of mental health providers to meet the increased demand for children in need of mental health care.
• Despite Pandemic-Era Drop, Suicide Threat Remains March 23, 2022
  (CW: Suicide) The decline in the nation’s suicide rate during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic may suggest advancements in preventative programs and treatment, but stakeholders contend a closer look reveals a complicated picture — one that raises questions on why the decline did not occur evenly across racial and ethnic groups. Dr. Christine […]
• The New Mental Health Crisis Hotline Could Save Lives—and Cost Them March 23, 2022
  Even though Congress created 988, Congress didn’t fund it. Right now, when people experiencing a mental health crisis call 911, most of the time they end up in a hospital or in jail. “More than 2 million people each year with a mental illness are booked into our nation’s jails and prisons. It’s a huge […]
• How to Navigate Online Mental Health Resources March 23, 2022
  After stopping my anxiety medication too quickly, I needed expert assistance quickly. I have good health insurance, but finding an appropriate professional became a lengthy, frustrating process. The lack of current or reliable online information for mental health was a big problem, even for me — and I’ve worked in health care. In 2021, a […]
• A new 9-1-1 for mental health is on the way March 21, 2022
  “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform part of the mental health system that for far too long has been underfunded and under supported,” said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO. “There’s a lot to happen between now and calling it a success.” Last week, bipartisan legislation was introduced to provide federal funding and guidance for […]
• ‘We Have Essentially Turned a Blind Eye to Our Own Children for Decades’ March 21, 2022
  The psychiatric staff at Children’s National saw a change with COVID — common issues are amplified with mild depression leading to major depression. Across the country, only about 10% of hospitals have pediatric psychiatric services and only about 7% provide inpatient care, resulting in children waiting in the ER for beds, sometimes for weeks on […]
• A General Fights to Destigmatize Mental Health Issues: ‘There’s a Shame if You Show Weakness’ March 20, 2022
  “Members of the military have to function at a very high level and that takes a toll,” said Sherman Gillums Jr., NAMI Chief Strategy Officer and retired Marine officer. “We are taught to mask anything that is wrong with us, to adapt and overcome. Military culture looks at asking for help as a liability, from […]
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Their Mental Health March 18, 2022
  As a parent talking about emotional or mental well-being isn't always easy. The key is to ensure children feel comfortable expressing their feelings and getting help when they need it. "It's important to know that showing that you're concerned about their behaviors will not make things worse; it'll help acknowledge what they've been thinking and […]
• New Federal Bill Would Boost Funding for 988 Mental Health Crisis Line March 18, 2022
  The 988 Implementation Act builds on the 2020 legislation that designated 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. That bill authorized states to add surcharges to the monthly telephone bills of consumers to help fund the line but provided no other funding to states to run it. So far, according […]
• The suicide lifeline will soon be 3 digits: Is the country ready for the switch to 988? March 17, 2022
  Legislation in more than two dozen states has passed or is pending to fund 988 services or study funding, according to NAMI. "Currently, as a country, we're not ready for this rollout," said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI Chief Advocacy Officer. "There's so much demand out there and so many elements to knit together to really prepare […]