Veterans in mental health crisis can now get free emergency care at any facility
In Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Polk counties alone, more than 100,000 veterans call central Florida home. As of Tuesday, those in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency healthcare at no cost.
Study: Children who habitually check social media may experience major brain changes
Researchers said habitual social media checking in teens is impacting their brain development at a time when they're already going through "significant structural and functional reorganization."
Pediatric mental health ER visits increase rapidly in the US, new study finds
Pediatric mental health emergency room visits are increasing rapidly in the United States, according to a study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.
St. Pete's CALL program selected for the NFL's $200,000 social justice grant
The Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) program is receiving national recognition. It was selected to receive $200,000 as part of the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative.
Psychologists struggle to provide needed care as demand for mental health services increases
The American Psychological Association found that since the start of the pandemic, the demand for mental health services continues to increase while psychologists are struggling to provide needed care.
'Just pick up the phone': Mental health experts raise awareness during the holidays following recent suicides
Clara Reynolds from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay says this is the busiest time of the year for their call center. "While this is considered the happy holidays, the most wonderful time of the year, that is not the case for many of us."
More children showing up to hospitals with suicidal thoughts, new report finds
As more people open up about their mental health, a new report found an increase among children nationwide thinking about suicide and attempting suicide, including in the Tampa Bay area.
Having a strong sense of purpose in life may help you live longer, study suggests
The study found an association across race/ethnicity and gender, but women may benefit slightly more from the health-protective benefits of having a sense of purpose.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson opens up about mental health: ‘You gotta ask for help’
"As guys, we have a tendency to not ask for help. Ego gets in the way, and we start stuffing things deep down in our guts, which is not a good thing," Johnson said.
Lived trauma drives Crisis Center of Tampa Bay CEO's passion for helping others
*This story contains descriptions of self harm and suicide.* The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay assists people who are in crisis. Their training is one piece. Having lived through trauma, grief and crisis, and being able to relate to the caller goes even further.
Binge eating disorder looks different in the brains of boys and girls, study finds
The study findings may help future efforts to better understand the origins of eating disorders and how they differ between sexes, researchers said.
Dealing with loss during the holidays: BayCare offers free grief counseling sessions
BayCare will again offer its free Grief Matters Holiday Help online group course to help people navigate loss during the holiday season.
'Night of Reflection' in St. Pete helps those grieving loved ones, friends
Everyone has felt grief before whether from losing a loved one or a friend, and community members in St. Petersburg came together to talk about that collective loss Friday.
End of daylight saving time can mark the beginning of bouts of seasonal depression
For millions of Americans, daylight saving time can mark the beginning of bouts of seasonal depression. Often times it’s just minor but for some the feelings can be overwhelming.
Forcing a smile might put you in a better mood, research suggests
The new research, led by a scientist at Stanford, may tell us “something fundamentally important” about how human emotions work.
Seeing, listening to birds can improve mental health, study finds
In addition to helping people, scientists say they are also advocating for the protection of the environment and wildlife.
Study: Tampa Bay area residents missing work due to mental health
A new survey by Tampa Bay Thrives looks at the community’s perceptions, practices, and experiences related to mental health. Seven in 10 people said they experienced at least one poor mental health day during the past month, 10% of respondents reported missing work.
Clocking in more hours at a stressful job raises risk of depression, study finds
Researchers from the University of Michigan collected data from first-year medical residents and discovered that those who worked longer hours had three times the risk for depression.
Study: Pandemic may have altered personality, making young adults more neurotic, less agreeable
The research found that the pandemic made U.S. adults under 30 "moodier and more prone to stress, less cooperative and trusting, and less restrained and responsible."
APA: 27% of adults say they’re so stressed they can’t function
A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) looked at the range of stressors people have experienced over the past few years and found a majority of Americans say they have "a great deal of stress."



















