Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it does build mental health literacy, helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. The next training is February 8-9, 2012.

Facebook is announcing a new service that harnesses the power of social networking and crisis support to help prevent suicides across the nation and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker. Read More.

Videos from MHA-NYC's annual Michael B. Friedman Policy Lecture are now available. Videos feature the full remarks from speaker Sherry Glied, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who discusses "Behavioral Health in the Era of Health Reform" as well as the full commentary by Michael Hogan, PhD, Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health, Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and Thomas Farley, MD, Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Read More>>

As part of our mission to reduce the stigma of mental illness, we are pleased to report that The New York Times published our response to a recent OpEd entitled, "Putting The Caped Crusader on the Couch." Read the letter.

What You Can Do is series that gives viewers the power to take small steps to solve big problems. Each episode illuminates a pressing social issue and shows what viewers can do if they only have one minute to give. For their latest episode, producers approached the 9-11 Healing and Remembrance program, managed by the Mental Health Association of New York City, to spotlight the help offered through the hotline and the wide range of resources available on the program's website:
www.9-11healingandremebrance.org.

View the video (it will only take about a minute): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDaU44p91M

The lack of widespread, harmful psychological impacts from 9/11 spotlights several issues and provides important recommendations.   It is noteworthy that the original calculations were identified as "people at risk for development" and not necessarily hard numbers of people who "would develop" serious mental disorders as a result of 9/11 trauma. It also speaks to the fact that close to 5,000 crisis counselors who provided the type of mental health service most closely aligned with what is now called Psychological First Aid-long endorsed by the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC)-were dispersed throughout New York City and surrounding counties. These counselors provided a supportive presence, information about distress responses, coping tips, and varied resources to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers through Project Liberty, the mental health program funded by FEMA.  Read More.

For many people, anniversaries, holidays and other special days can remind them of the impact a disaster such as 9-11 has had on their lives. As we approach the tenth anniversary, the 9-11 Healing and Remembrance program has suggestions to help people understand their feelings and get through what could be a challenging time for many.  Read More

April Naturale, Director of the 9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program, is interviewed by DNAinfo on the impact the program will have on people affected by 9-11 as they participate in 10^th anniversary events. Focusing on the 24/7 hotline available, Naturale discusses the trauma-related emotions that many Americans may be experiencing. Read more:

The three recent New York Times articles discussing improvements in mental health options for veterans highlights the strides made by the Veterans Administration while underscoring the need for additional resources by federal, state, and local governments. Read More.

We applaud President Barack Obama's decision to reverse a long-standing policy of not sending condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide while in a combat zone. As the President correctly stated on Wednesday afternoon, it's time to "remove the stigma associated with the unseen wounds of war." (Read on)

Recently, the Wall Street Journal link discussed Sheila Birnbaum's, new Director of the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund, decision to exclude mental health coverage. MHA-NYC believes that the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund should recognize the entire range of trauma, illness and disability caused by the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Read our letter to the editor here.

MHA-NYC's 2011 Gala, "A Decade of Courage: Building the Future." On June 1st, our commemorative event honored NYC's 9/11 First Responders at Tribeca Three Sixty. Emceed by Marcia Kramer of CBS 2, MHA-NYC honored Joseph Pfeifer, Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness at the New York City Fire Department, for his contributions to NYC disaster preparedness and his response during 9/11. French filmmakers Jules Clément and Thomas Gédéon Naudet and Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano were special guests for the evening. To see images from the event, click here.

Depressed Older Adults:  Education and Screening, co-written by Director of Public Education Lisa Furst, LMSW (with Jacquelin Berman, PhD) received a glowing review in PsycCRITIQUES, the American Psychological Association's Review of Books.  The book highlights a collaborative model of outreach, psychoeducation and depression screening currently being used in New York City senior centers.  To read the review, click here.  To learn more about the book, click http://amzn.to/ix5CF3.

The Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York hosted its fifth annual conference, Geriatric Mental Health:  Overcoming Obstacles and Seizing Opportunities on May 13, 2011.  Over 200 participants from the fields of aging, mental health, health care joined expert presenters, panelists, policymakers, researchers and consumers for an exciting day of learning and networking.  Highlights of the conference included a keynote address by Frederic Blow, PhD, of the University of Michigan and a policy panel of national, state and local experts on the trends affecting geriatric behavioral health as well as twelve interactive workshop presentations.  Thanks to all of our presenters and to all who attended!

The Huffington Post featured the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as one of the top ten mental health experts to follow on Twitter. Follow the Lifeline at @800273TALK. Read more

Events will be organized around New York City throughout the month of May to raise awareness of the importance of mental health to the well-being of children and adolescents.  To view events, please click here.

Huffington Post article by Kimberly Williams, Director of the Center for Policy, Advocacy and Education, reviews the mental health needs of returning veterans and what New York State can do to help them. The VA and civilian providers need to be prepared to meet these needs. Read more:

MHA-NYC is co-sponsoring the Mental Health First Aid Instructor Course, a training of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, from March 14-18 in New York City.  This course will train participants to provide education in Mental Health First Aid, an evidence-based practice, to community members and professionals.  For more information about the training, visit here or contact Susan Partain via email or at 202.684.7457 x23

Lifeline Marvel Comics has released Captain America: A Little Help, a free digital comic book that tackles the issue of suicide prevention and features the Lifeline number. You can access it here.

MHA-NYC mourns the loss of those killed in the recent events in Arizona and expresses our sympathies and support for all those affected. Kimberly Williams, Director of the Center for Policy, Advocacy and Education, provides a thoughtful framework for responding to mental illness in the face of this tragedy. Read more:

Kimberly Williams, Director of the Center for Policy, Advocacy and Education, reviews the issue of mental health care in long-term health care policies. Investing in mental health early can make a significant difference to New Yorkers and caregivers.