Push on to boost mental health support for first responders

Outdoor therapy, like hunting trips, rock climbing clinics and weekend hiking adventures, is helping veterans reduce symptoms of PTSD and work through other mental health issues. Several veteran-run groups, like Heroes’ Harvests, have emerged to connect local veterans to these programs and they’ve also begun organizing to pass supportive legislation like the Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act, which pushes for the VA to provide veterans with the option for outdoor therapy.

Amongst an increased need for mental health care, Monadnock Family Services is offering group therapy to children to get them in for some level of care as staff shortages make offering individual therapy too difficult. The American Psychological Association found that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy for most conditions — as well as more efficient. Monadnock Family Services offers a variety of groups depending on a patient’s interests and identity, like groups for those who enjoy hiking to groups for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

People call CMSD’s Rapid Response Team when crises occur to mobilize support services to help students and staff dealing with trauma or mental health crises. The Team has more than 200 staff members, including counselors, psychologists and nurses stationed in schools, as well as partnerships with outside mental health agencies that work within the school district. The Team has provided support on 950 different occasions including students struggling with suicidal thoughts, grief counseling and reports of students experiencing physical or sexual abuse at home.

ACCESS Open Minds connects youth and young adults to mental health support, including therapists, caseworkers and peer navigators to help them get the care they need. One of ACCESS’s main goals is to bridge the gap between the complexities of the mental health care system and the community. By creating these youth wellness hubs and connecting people with the appropriate services, ACCESS has decreased the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits and increased the number of people getting mental health care.

Centers like Brattleboro Retreat are emerging to provide specialized recovery programs for healthcare workers battling addiction. Programs offered are similar to those at standard recovery centers, except here healthcare workers are surrounded by their professional peers, allowing them to find community and express vulnerability.

Nuci’s Space aims to prevent suicide by providing a safe space for people of all ages, particularly youth, to connect and play music. They also offer affordable practice spaces and mental and physical health care services for participants, including affordable counseling.

Minds United Football Club hosts weekly sessions for people to join together and play football, while also addressing their mental health and well-being. Minds United, and similar sports clubs, aim to create a “we-agency,” providing people with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves that allows them to feel empowered and supported. Sports groups like Minds United foster community among people who may be experiencing loneliness or mental health issues and are in need of a healthy outlet, particularly for men who face significant mental health stigma.

The three-digit mental health crisis hotline — 988 — allows peop;le in crisis to get in touch with a counselor immediately. Since launching a year ago, the state’s 12 crisis centers have received more than 280,000 calls. Due to increased need, crisis centers are making plans to expand their services by hiring more staff and developing Spanish language services.

Black Men Heal Yoga is a free yoga class that provides a safe, healing space for Black men looking to explore tools like meditation, mindfulness and movement to combat stigma and take care of their mental health. Black Men Heal Yoga is funded by money raised through social media. 10 classes have been held so far, with more than 50 men being served and about $2,000 in donations being raised.

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANi) offers free programs that provide mental health first aid and suicide intervention. MANi provides virtual counseling facilitated by trained, volunteer professionals as well as in-person offerings like conversation cafes and other group talks that aim to sensitize and educate people about mental health. In the last four years, MANi has provided direct support to over 40,000 people, the majority of which are between the ages of 10 and 25.