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With millions of Americans seeking mental health care, we often forget therapists are humans, too. They are used to hearing about trauma, death, and life struggles but are not immune to facing those same challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase of fear and death was paramount, leaving many to seek help. But many mental health professionals cannot meet the demands of their jobs. With workforce shortages and an overwhelming increase in clients, therapists are burnt out. A new survey by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted by The Harris Poll, found some alarming disparities.

In a survey of 750 behavioral health workers, more than 60% experienced moderate or significant rates of burnout. For Black mental health professionals, the struggle is even more real. Only 4% of therapists in the U.S. are Black. They are used to filling the gaps and holes in a broken healthcare system not built for Black folks. Three therapists across the country said they feel the added pressure to show up for their clients because they know there are not enough Black therapists.

But what happens when Black therapists are burnt out?

Read more at SeattleMedium.com.

As part of continuing efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase access to mental health and substance use resources, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today launched FindSupport.gov, a new user-friendly website, designed for the general public, to help people identify available resources, explore unbiased information about various treatment options, and learn how to reach out to get the support they need for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol.

FindSupport.gov helps people navigate through common questions when they are at the start of their journey to better behavioral health, such as how to ask for help, how to help others and how to search for a health care professional or support program that meets their needs. The website provides information on how to find treatment and support based on insurance status, including Medicaid, Medicare, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care, TRICARE, private insurance, and no insurance. And FindSupport.gov features resources on how to set up an appointment so that when people meet with a health care professional, they can feel confident that they are taking the right steps.

The concept for FindSupport.gov was developed by HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to research showing that people were looking for an unbiased, trustworthy source of information on how to get support for mental health and substance use issues.

“Improving access to mental health and substance use services for the public remains central to SAMHSA’s mission and vision,” said SAMHSA Administrator Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. “By launching this new web resource, we are improving the customer experience of government programs and services by making often confusing but important information easy to understand and act on for all Americans. At SAMHSA, we are thrilled to host this resource that will help people find the support they need.”

Read more at SAMHSA.gov.

Noting the mental and behavioral health challenges on Guam, the non-profit organization Todu Guam Foundation sought out-of-the-box strategies and action. Lena Calvo Rodriguez, president of the Todu Guam Foundation, told KUAM News, “Through our mental health program, we have seen the need for innovative therapy. We’ve really done our research to bring the best to our island.”

The Todu Guam Foundation, in line with their Mindcare project, which launches in the coming months, recently obtained Guam’s first transcranial magnetic stimulation device.

“Being able to have this machine in our center is really something we’re excited about,” she added.

The brainsway deep TMS device was made possible through a USDA grant and is widely used in several stateside hospitals, outpatient centers to treat depression with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and even smoking addiction. “Through the Governor’s Stabilization Program, we were afforded the grant that helped us execute our CARES program into the public school system. With that we were able to really see the need in this area,” she said.

TMS is accepted by the U.S. Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and national health maintenance organizations and is a treatment technique that uses a magnetic field to influence brain activity. It’s non-invasive and can help when other treatments are not effective.

Read more at KUAM.com.

The Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) awarded an additional five-year contract to increase access for behavioral health and wellness support to all students and staff at Bureau-funded schools and programs. Initially designed to increase access to services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program provides virtual counseling and on-site crisis services.

“The Interior Department is committed to creating positive, safe and culturally-relevant learning environments,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “I am proud of the hard work by the Bureau of Indian Education to ensure that Indigenous youth have the support they need in a culturally relevant and supportive environment for their physical, mental and emotional well-being.”

The BIE’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Program provides students and staff at all Bureau-funded schools and programs with Indigenous focused, evidence-based and trauma-informed behavioral health and wellness supports. Services are tailored to meet the unique and diverse mental, cultural, spiritual, emotional and social needs of Indigenous communities served by BIE.

“Our schools play an important role in the lives of students, faculty and staff, and tribal communities,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “By providing these resources, we will help our students and BIE team succeed inside the classroom. Even more importantly, we will help promote the mental and physical well-being of entire communities.”

Services include tele-behavioral health counseling focused on providing short-term, solution-focused, and culturally sensitive virtual counseling, a BIE-specific 24/7 crisis hotline, and onsite crisis support. The program’s clinical team is primarily staffed with Indigenous clinicians, who have direct experience serving Native communities.

Read more at InidanGaming.com.

Addiction, depression, and PTSD are some issues that veterans may deal with after their service. American Legion posts around the country teamed up for the “Be the One” campaign to assist veterans who may find themselves battling mental health issues.

“Be The One” is an initiative to encourage American Legion family members, veterans, service members, and others to take action when they believe a veteran needs help.

In 2020, there were about 6,000 veteran suicides in the country, 200 of which occurred in North Carolina. Veterans Affairs data from 2020 indicates that approximately 16.8 veterans die by suicide every day. That’s why groups like the American Legion are leading a nationwide effort to reduce the number and encourage others to “Be the One” to take a stand.

“One of the important things that will be shown in this seminar are the signs of someone that may be on the edge and if you can recognize the signs of danger, you can help them,” said Carl Votik, post commander at American Legion Post 550.

John Hacker, the commander at American Legion Post 68, says it’s past time to take a stand.

“The American Legion is trying to make awareness to the community about the issue and what they can do to help raise awareness and prevention of veteran suicide,” Hacker said. “We just want to raise awareness. A lot of people I talked to aren’t aware that we’re losing 17 to 20 veterans a day. And recently we’ve discovered more women veterans, and so that people aren’t aware of. So it’s making them aware of what’s going on.”

Read more at WECT.com.

Therapy and mental health have long been taboo in communities of color. A systemic lack of access to resources and information has created an immense stigma. However, the consequences of maintaining a “hush-hush” approach to mental health can be devastating, as it supports patterns of dismissing mental health concerns and even ostracizes those who struggle with mental health issues.

Common themes about therapy heard in communities of color are, “a therapist won’t understand what I’m going through,” “I can’t trust a stranger with my personal business,” or “I can handle things myself.” These fears may come from real experiences with discrimination and culturally insensitive helping professionals, who have further contributed to cycles of mistrust and misinformation. Hesitance to be vulnerable with strangers has historical backing. Many Black people have shunned public and even private forms of vulnerability to keep from being seen as weak. The pressure to be seen as strong originated as a means of survival. However, this mindset can be a barrier to getting much needed help, perpetuating cycles of dismissing, judging, and often alienating people struggling with mental health issues.

With social media making it increasingly easier to share experiences and resources regarding mental health struggles, we are experiencing a significant cultural shift toward healing. People from many generations, especially millennials and gen Z, are taking positive steps toward destigmatizing mental health. There are calls to recognize generational trauma and break generational curses so that future generations do not need to suffer in silence as many before us have.

So what does therapy look like? At its core, therapy requires acknowledging a problem or an issue, a desire for change, and reflection. Therapy is a conversation with someone trained to listen empathically, help you understand your own experience, and provide a place for you to find peace and healing. In therapy, you can confront problematic behaviors, challenge your beliefs and schools of thought, take action steps toward change, and learn to accept what cannot change. Therapy can be a safe place to process generational trauma and explore your identity as a person of color.

Read more at Life-Insight.com.