APA Blogs
317 Results
What are School Mental Health Programs, and Why Are They Important?
As children and adolescents returned to school this fall, they did so in what the Surgeon General has labelled a crisis in mental health. Even before the pandemic, around one in five children had a mental health disorder. Meanwhile, nearly 50 million children attend public schools across the nation. About half of those schools perform mental health screenings, and 42% provide mental health services. States across the nation have recently passed laws to ensure more provision of these services in schools.Â
Suicide and Self-Harm: Cultural Connections May Help Protect Hispanic/Latino Youth
Suicide is a growing concern among the Hispanic/Latino population, especially among youth. Research finds that aspects of Hispanic/Latino culture and their associated familial and community connections may help in preventing suicide
American Psychiatric Association Offers Resource on Responsible Reporting on Suicide
News reports of suicide are unfortunately common. How that reporting is done can influence the response and becomes part of the public health issue, according to a new resource from the American Psychiatric Association.
Service Dogs Can Be Invaluable in Helping People with PTSD
​​​​​​​Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects an estimated one in seven adults at some time in their lives and it affects a large proportion of military members and veterans. In addition to the variety of effective treatments available, people often also use complementary interventions, such as the use of trained PTSD service dogs. These service dogs perform specific tasks that help address PTSD symptoms, such as applying pressure to alleviate anxiety and nudging to interrupt flashbacks
Returning to School Safely: Managing Anxiety and Fears about COVID-19 and Gun Violence
The start of an academic year can bring fear and uncertainty for many, this year concerns may be compounded by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent gun violence-linked mass casualties. Incidents of school shootings and gun violence have a devastating impact far beyond those directly affected. We are left with several unanswered questions and the lingering fear of future events. As schools reopen, the questions many families now face are: Is my child safe at school? How can I protect my child from the COVID-19 surge AND school shootings? Fortunately, reliable information and useful resources can help address these concerns.