Hillsborough County leaders, law enforcement unite for action with community groups
Hundreds of people, including community leaders, law enforcement, and leaders of the judicial system tackled deep-rooted issues Monday night.
BetterHelp to pay $7.8M for sharing mental health data with Facebook, Snapchat
Online therapy platform BetterHelp will pay $7.8 million for reportedly sharing sensitive mental health info with Facebook, Snapchat and other advertisers for profit.
St. Pete community leaders reflect on first two years of CALL program
St. Petersburg community leaders discussed Tuesday the first two years of a program that connects callers with mental health professionals instead of police officers.
American teens' mental health crisis: What's driving this?
A recent CDC report highlights what mental health experts have been ringing the alarm over: Teens, and specifically girls, are suffering.
Sen. John Fetterman checks into hospital, cites clinical depression
U.S. Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Wednesday night to receive treatment for clinical depression, according to his office.
US teen girls experiencing record-high levels of sadness, violence, and suicide risk, CDC says
Overall, girls fared worse than boys across nearly all measures, while the CDC report noted “ongoing and extreme distress” among LGBQ+ teens.
Suncoast Center serving 22,000 a year as one of the largest community health centers in Pinellas County
It’s one of the largest community health centers in Pinellas County serving some 22,000 people a year. Suncoast Center is a not-for-profit organization that believes treatment works, and its goal is to meet people where they are to help them become the best version of themselves.
Former firefighter helps first responders deal with professional trauma
The tough situations firefighters deal with on a regular basis can leave permanent scars that a former firefighter is hoping to heal.
New legislation pushes to extend PTSD benefits to 911 operators, crime scene technicians
Crime scene technicians and 911 operators hear and see the worst of humanity, and these tragedies aren't easily forgotten. While 911 dispatchers and civilian crime scene investigators work alongside sworn first responders, they are left out of receiving PTSD benefits.
Veterans in mental health crisis can now get free emergency care at any facility
In Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Polk counties alone, more than 100,000 veterans call central Florida home. As of Tuesday, those in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency healthcare at no cost.
Study: Children who habitually check social media may experience major brain changes
Researchers said habitual social media checking in teens is impacting their brain development at a time when they're already going through "significant structural and functional reorganization."
Pediatric mental health ER visits increase rapidly in the US, new study finds
Pediatric mental health emergency room visits are increasing rapidly in the United States, according to a study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.
St. Pete's CALL program selected for the NFL's $200,000 social justice grant
The Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) program is receiving national recognition. It was selected to receive $200,000 as part of the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative.
Psychologists struggle to provide needed care as demand for mental health services increases
The American Psychological Association found that since the start of the pandemic, the demand for mental health services continues to increase while psychologists are struggling to provide needed care.
'Just pick up the phone': Mental health experts raise awareness during the holidays following recent suicides
Clara Reynolds from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay says this is the busiest time of the year for their call center. "While this is considered the happy holidays, the most wonderful time of the year, that is not the case for many of us."
More children showing up to hospitals with suicidal thoughts, new report finds
As more people open up about their mental health, a new report found an increase among children nationwide thinking about suicide and attempting suicide, including in the Tampa Bay area.
Having a strong sense of purpose in life may help you live longer, study suggests
The study found an association across race/ethnicity and gender, but women may benefit slightly more from the health-protective benefits of having a sense of purpose.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson opens up about mental health: ‘You gotta ask for help’
"As guys, we have a tendency to not ask for help. Ego gets in the way, and we start stuffing things deep down in our guts, which is not a good thing," Johnson said.
Lived trauma drives Crisis Center of Tampa Bay CEO's passion for helping others
*This story contains descriptions of self harm and suicide.* The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay assists people who are in crisis. Their training is one piece. Having lived through trauma, grief and crisis, and being able to relate to the caller goes even further.
Binge eating disorder looks different in the brains of boys and girls, study finds
The study findings may help future efforts to better understand the origins of eating disorders and how they differ between sexes, researchers said.