September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to spotlight this issue in Tennessee and across the country.

Almost 1,300 Tennesseeans took their own lives in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's almost 18 people per 100,000 residents - and of course, every suicide affects friends and family members as well.

Jeff Fladen, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter in Tennessee, says they work to enhance the lives of those affected by mental illness. He explained that it's important to know suicide isn't the answer and to seek help through the suicide-prevention hotline.

"We always talk about 'you're not alone,'" said Fladen. "People may feel very alone if they're depressed, or even if they're not depressed, but they don't see ways to end the pain or to feel better. Now, we have 988, so it's real easy - just call 988, and you will get to talk to somebody that can help."

The theme of this year's awareness month is "Together for Mental Health," focusing on the need for
more mental health resources.

Suicide is not just a growing issue in Tennessee but across the nation. The CDC reported in 2020 that nearly 46,000 people took their own lives.

Fladen said they're working on diverse outreach efforts within the Hispanic, African American and Asian communities, to help reduce the stigma of suicide and mental health issues in those communities.

"We also support things like the National Suicide in the Black Church Conference, which takes place in Memphis, Tennessee, every two years," said Fladen. "We have programming we offer every year that features diverse presenters. We want to help people see people that look like them."

According to NAMI, almost 5% of adults consider suicide at some point in life. Among high
school students, that increases to almost 19% - and 45% for LGBTQ young people.

Indiana families are preparing kids for back-to-school season, and mental-health experts say emotional readiness is just as important as school supplies.

Beth Trammell, a psychologist and professor at Indiana University East, said kids often carry anxiety into the new school year. She encouraged parents to help children identify those fears.

"We as parents or caregivers think, 'Don't worry, or don't stress.' Instead, we might want to say, 'OK, well, let's talk about what it is you're worried about. What is the worst thing you think could happen?' If we draw it out of them," she said, "it may give them space to kind of let that out."

Helping kids feel heard can reduce stress. But experts also urge balance, keeping mornings calm, easing into routines, and not overloading schedules the first few weeks.

Nicole Brady, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare, said mental-health support should remain a priority throughout the year.

"Though we want our kids to be involved in activities and be social," she said, "we have to watch their academic performance, their mood, those sleep patterns, and making sure that those are staying healthy."

Brady added that parents should talk regularly with kids, model healthy coping and seek help early if warning signs appear.


get more stories like this via email

After a legislative session which opened doors to expand mental health care services across Montana, a state commission said it is considering the Billings area to build the state's second forensic facility.

For people involved in Montana's justice system whom a judge has deemed not mentally fit for their own defense, there are 53 beds in the state's only forensic facility in Galen. The daily waitlist hovers at about 100 people.

Matt Kuntz, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Montana, said it is not meeting the immense need.

"It's just a really bad situation for the people that are in the jails, for the people that are caring for them, for the taxpayers," Kuntz outlined. "It just doesn't work for anybody."

At a recent commission meeting, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton said the state is identifying a location for a new facility. The department received nearly $27 million from the state in April to fund project planning.

Kuntz noted the Montana Legislature passed many bills this session centered on mental health care.

"We really were able to get big wins in access to outpatient care, access to crisis care and for people in need of forensic hospital," Kuntz explained. "Overall, it was really an amazing legislative session for Montanans with mental health conditions."

Other mental health legislation will boost school-based services, youth in residential care, the state's 988 crisis line and certified community behavioral health clinics.


get more stories like this via email

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed to support medical services.

Advocates said they are puzzled because the governor has championed the helpline for years, and lawmakers approved $3 million from a separate fund dedicated to mental health, which does not affect the deficit.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said it is still operating 24/7, for now.

"We're holding on for the next month or so," Pion-Berlin pointed out. "But we need the state to step up, or one of these well-off philanthropists who cares about having that immediate help for emotional support, which is so vital."

Advocates are hoping funding can be restored via a budget trailer bill in the next few weeks. People can call or text and reach the helpline's trained counselors at 877-427-2736. The free helpline has connected with more than 120,000 people since its inception five years ago, and the website CAParentYouthHelpline.org has reached a million more.

Pion-Berlin noted a study in the Journal of Technology in Human Services found a call to the helpline can quickly ease parents' suffering and feelings of isolation.

"The research said that 85% of the callers in less than 30 minutes feel more positive, more hopeful and able to address their issues," Pion-Berlin reported. "There is no other service or pill I know that can do that in 30 minutes or less."

Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups to steer parents and kids through emotional crises of all kinds.