When Someone is Suicidal, Choose Support — Not Guilt

September 16, 2020 By Serena Sackett I had been thinking about it for days — dying. Then, while taking a clinical first responder training for work, they coached me to identify a loved one of someone who is suicidal, then focus…

How to Be with Sadness

September 14, 2020 By Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW The thought of going to a funeral used to terrify me. Walking into a room filled with sadness and grief evoked an intense desire not to go. Anxiety was all I could feel as it masked…

Tips for Getting an Insurer to Cover Mental Health Treatment

September 11, 2020 By Cari Schwartz, Esq. Dealing with your insurance company to get mental health treatment covered can be confusing and complicated. I work at a law firm that represents people with mental health conditions when their…

Suicide Prevention: Saving Lives Now and Beyond

September 09, 2020 By Katherine Ponte, BA, JD, MBA, CPRP Suicide is a public health crisis. Suicide rates rose 25% in the U.S. from 1999 to 2016. In 2018, nearly 50,000 people died by suicide, around 11 million seriously thought…

Making the Most of a Psych Ward Stay: Strategies from a Psychiatric Nurse

September 04, 2020 By Chris Bonine When the hospital doors close behind you for the first time, it often feels more like the beginning of a prison stint than the start of a journey to recovery. The immediate deprivation of personal choice…

My Friend Is Suicidal: What Should I Do?

September 02, 2020 By Taylor Bennett Suicide isn’t an easy topic to think about, let alone discuss — especially with someone you suspect is suicidal. But it is incredibly important that we do talk about it and get our loved ones…

From Patient to Survivor

August 31, 2020 By Carlito Cabelin My journey started during Game 2 of the 2013 World Series; starting pitcher was John Lackey for the Boston Red Sox. The game was on the TV in the hospital lobby. They were losing. This is my first of…

An Antidote for the Pandemic-related Mental Exhaustion You’re Feeling

August 28, 2020 By Komal Gulati “It’s nice to see all of you — virtually of course. How’s everyone doing?” It’s noon on a weekday. I’m in a Zoom meeting with a compassionate committee of individuals doing community…

How Early Intervention Impacted My Life

August 26, 2020 By Katharine Hartleb I remember the first time I experienced the feeling of not being able to get out of bed. Not because I was too tired, but because I was too sad. It was during a time in my life when I was coping with…

What Happens When Your Child’s School Reports Suicidal Ideation

August 21, 2020 By Kareem A. Jones, M.Ed. Most parents do not understand the legal obligations of school faculty when a student reports having suicidal ideations. While schools do differ on their policies regarding suicide, there…