Many youth in the juvenile justice system face very difficult life circumstances, such as poverty, unstable households, mental health issues, disabilities, and low educational achievement. Just as disheartening, these incarcerated youth also have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their peers. Several years ago, Native Americans for Community Action, Inc. (NACA) in northern […]
School
Resources for Dealing With and Responding to Mental Illness
Many people don’t know how to provide comfort or respond appropriately in times of need or crisis. Instead of listening and taking the time to provide a constructive response, they jump to conclusions. They say the first thing that comes to mind, or in other words, they react. This can be unhelpful, or possibly even […]
Safe and Successful Youth Initiative in Massachusetts (SSYI)
Youth violence presents significant challenges across the U.S., disrupts communities and economic development, increases health care costs, and decreases property values—not to mention the human impact not only physically but mentally also. In 2010, Massachusetts was the most violent state in the Northeast—the MA Public Health Council reported 1,667 homicide victims between 2001 and 2010, […]
Value of Peers
Peer support encompasses a range of activities and interactions between people who share similar experiences of being diagnosed with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both. This mutuality called “peerness”—between a peer support worker and person in or seeking recovery promotes connection and inspires hope. Peer support offers a level of acceptance, understanding, […]
Black and African American LGBTQ+ Youth Report
In 2017, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation partnered with researchers at the University of Connecticut to conduct a groundbreaking survey of over 12,000 LGBTQ youth and capture their experiences in their families, schools, social circles and communities. More than 1,600 Black and African American LGBTQ youth responded to the survey. This resource presents data […]
The Behavioral Health Barometer, Volume 5
The Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, Volume 5: Indicators as measured through the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, is one of a series of national, regional, and state reports that provide a snapshot of behavioral health in the United States. The reports present […]