By Yancy Padilla, Graduate Intern, Division for At-Risk, Behavioral Health & Community Resilience, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
When disaster or tragedy strikes, individuals and communities are stressed, they need help fast, and recovery may take a long time. The community’s behavioral health resources – which may have already been strained – are going to be in greater demand than ever and there are often challenges coordinating services.
By Joseph Powell, Former President of the National Leadership Council on African American Behavioral Health
In addition to being reluctant to talk about behavioral health, there are many other barriers that the African American and African Heritage communities face that have an impact on mental health.
Access to services and to culturally appropriate care is especially difficult for AI/AN populations, and is greatly complicated by provider shortages, lack of resources for self-care, cultural and language barriers, and others.
By John Kelly Ph.D., School Psychologist, Commack High School with Erin Reiney, MPH, CHES, Health Resources and Services Administration
In my 27 years as a school psychologist, I have seen an increase in how many students and families are concerned about bullying. I have witnessed first-hand the damage it can cause –not only to the children being bullied, but also to those who witness bullying, and even to kids who bully.
By Mary Wakefield Ph.D., R.N., Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Jannette Dupuy Ph.D., M.S., HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care
Because behavioral and physical health problems are often connected, delivery of behavioral health services by health centers can reduce stigma and discrimination and improve overall health outcomes.
