Mental Health

Video counseling at school was never an option before the pandemic, but an analysis by AP has found the service is now so prevalent it exists in 16 of the 20 largest school districts, including several in Florida.

Florida lawmakers have filed proposals that would allow Medicaid beneficiaries with “serious mental illness” to avoid a practice known as step therapy in receiving medications.

Peer Support Space Director Yasmin Flasterstein said the goal is to give people a safe place to vent, share their feelings, and get solutions to their storm-related anxiety.

In the year since the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline changed to 988, one South Florida nonprofit has seen a 50% increase in calls. Lack of affordable housing and the pandemic are among the drivers.

Last year, 64 police officers were fatally shot in the line of duty. There were 160 who took their own lives. Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez now stands as a tragic example of where mental health and policing intersect.

The three-digit number was launched to make it easier for people in crisis to access help. Crisis Center CEO Clara Reynolds says the spike in calls suggests mental health challenges persist for many.

Some Central Florida mental health providers are getting more calls for help from undocumented people after sweeping immigration reform was signed into law last week.

If a pregnant person is struggling with mental health and considering suicide, several states' laws, including Florida's, specifically say the "life of the mother" exception does not apply to them.

Residents who spend more than 30 percent of their paycheck on rent are shown to experience higher rates of anxiety and depression, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine.

Missouri K-12 teachers would be banned from talking about being gay with students without first getting parents' permission under a pending bill. LGBTQ rights activists asked lawmakers Tuesday not to pass the legislation during a public hearing at the Capitol, while supporters argued parents should be informed about those conversations. The proposal goes farther than a Florida law dubbed by critics as "Don't Say Gay." The Missouri measure would limit discussions on gender identity and LGBTQ issues unless school staff are licensed mental health care providers. Republican state Sen. Mike Moon's bill is among several filed across the nation this year that are similar to Florida's new law.

President Biden will give Americans a progress report on his four-part Unity Agenda, which he announced at last year's State of the Union address.

There are plenty of factors in life that contribute to happiness. But could keeping in touch with your loved ones be the most important?