MENTAL HEALTH

Suicide deaths reached a record high in the U.S. last year. Data from the CDC shows at least 49,449 lives were lost due to intentional self-harm in 2022.One local woman is working to raise awareness for mental health with murals all across Jacksonville that direct people to get help. The latest mural is in San Marco Square and is one of eleven in the city.

"Bed rotting" is when someone decides to spend all day in bed -- scrolling through social media or binge-watching their favorite show. Younger people are embracing it as a form of self-care, but when can it turn negative for their mental health?

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The thought of death can trigger anxiety for most people. However, at one nonprofit, life and death are embraced.

After a brief decline in suicide rates from 2018 to 2020, experts say isolation from pandemic-related lockdowns and economic turmoil is causing the sharpest increase in suicide rates in 20 years.

One year ago, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline shortened its 10-digit phone number to a three-digit number to make it more accessible for those in need. Eight.

Teens use of Social Media could cause mental health issues. U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory report details depression and anxiety as result of excessive social media use.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, is calling for “immediate action” by tech companies and lawmakers to protect kids’ and adolescents’ mental health on social media.

Jacksonville school uses music classes to help children voice their emotions.

Medication and psychotherapy are first-line treatments for anxiety, but there are some things you can do on your own to ease the worry.

Not only can a little tidying up make our environment look better, it can also benefit our mental health.

For more information, watch the full video above.

Forgetting is a classic sign of cognitive decline. But not all the memory issues are irreversible.

It’s all about breaking the cycle and keeping people out of jail and cutting down on homelessness in Jacksonville — and saving taxpayers money at the same time. And a team of mental health and legal professionals believe they’re on the right track with a program that identifies and treats repeat offenders with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems.

Stress is something we can all relate to, and it can impact us in different ways each day.

The fear of gun violence in schools can leave students and parents with crippling anxiety. Three victims of Monday’s mass shooting at Michigan State University were laid to rest Saturday, leaving the school with a haunting fear moving forward, especially since it was the school’s first shooting.

Recently, there has been a lot of positive research coming out about video games helping to improve kids’ impulse control and memory. But when they come head-to-head against a traditional game, do video games come out on top?

Some health professionals believe it takes more than just a family doctor to live abundantly. Chinese medicine practitioners believe there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points in the body connected by pathways or meridians and that disruption of the energy flow can cause disease.

At Be Still Float in Riverside, the owner says you get serenity without side effects. Melanie Lawson gave it a try and shares her experience and how it might help you.

Almost 60% of U.S. high school girls reported feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2021, representing a 60% increase in these emotions among girls over the past 10 years, according to a newly-released survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Valentine’s Day is no big deal to some people, but to others, it’s a grand holiday to shower that special someone with romance and gifts.

Some agencies in Northeast Florida have mental health experts who go out with law enforcement to help de-escalate situations.

For many of us, we call first responders on our worst days. These days, they’re facing daunting tasks while dealing with staffing issues and high call volumes.

An hourslong standoff Thursday on Jacksonville’s Northside ended with police shooting and killing a man.

With just our cellphones we have endless access to disturbing videos. And that includes the recently released body camera footage of Tyre Nichols.

A program that partners Jacksonville Sheriff Office officers with licensed mental health professionals marked its three years of service in the community.

Shades of Blue was created by a woman who experienced a traumatic birth.

There is a quirky December holiday (Dec 8) called “Take it in the Ear” , which focuses on the value of listening.

There has been a steady increase in the number of children who are seen in emergency rooms for behavior health services, according to a study from the journal Pediatrics, and the increase started even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought record high demand for psychological services for children.

The old saying is that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about for your mental health? New research shows how some foods may just be the ultimate mood booster.

According to experts, checking in on your mental health is beneficial just like a physical health checkup.

How many emails do you get in a day? And how many of those are annoying junk emails? It may be time to clean up your inbox.

Volunteers from Jacksonville came together Sunday for the annual “Out of the Darkness Walk” for suicide and mental health awareness.

Help is on the way for the St. Johns County Fire Rescue in the middle of what some are calling a mental health crisis.

Depression doesn’t only prevent someone from showing up to work, but it can also affect their performance at work.

Studies have found racial minority groups show higher levels of anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health disorders.

The results come as no surprise to Jane Manno, PsyD, psychologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Health officials are grappling with how people staffing the new national 988 crisis hotlines will contend with suspicion of the medical establishment in Black communities.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to relax, why not take up meditation?

The national suicide hotline will have a shorter phone number starting Saturday. Mental health officials said this will allow them to help more people.

An avid paddleboarder, Mike Shoreman was told he could never paddleboard again. But he didn’t pay attention to that edict and now is trying to make history.

The US Surgeon General says there is a “devastating” mental health crisis among American teens.

PTSD is prevalent in the Jacksonville area as a heavily military based town. A local branch to a national mental health outreach center for PTSD survivors is available in Jacksonville.

Mental health disorders in teens have soared in recent years – and the COVID pandemic has only made things worse.

Flagler Health Plus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning to mark the formal opening of the new CAIR Center in St. Augustine.

Locally, mental health experts just completed a study called the Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies the key health needs and issues in North Florida.

United Way of Northeast Florida, the Kids Hope Alliance and Duval County Public Schools announced Thursday a $5.5 million dollar grant for access to free mental health resources for Duval County students.

We know the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school made chilling posts on social media. There are a lot of people blasting social media for glorifying violence and adding to the threat our children face.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a news conference Wednesday that the suspected Uvalde shooter posted on Facebook shortly before the attack.

A local man who has been jumping rope across the country to raise awareness for those who have taken their own lives jumped his last mile Saturday in Jacksonville Beach.

Are there factors that can increase someone’s risk of attempting suicide?

5 things to know about neurodiversity and why it's becoming a hot topic.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday signed into law a bill aimed at bolstering the state’s dismal mental health care system by pressuring private insurers to improve coverage for mental health conditions.

Negative self-talk may seem harmless, but a study published in June of 2020 by the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Journal linked negative thought patterns to brain changes that could be associated with developing Alzheimer’s.

People in northeast Florida with ties to Ukraine are trying to stay strong for their loved ones.

With live feeds available 24/7, sometimes we can’t help but keep scrolling down our newsfeeds and timelines to see what’s going on.

The Safety and Crime Reduction Commission hosts the first Community Bus Tour in partnership with JTA to promote mental health awareness.

A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ukraine. It’s hard to watch and even harder to speak about, especially with children.

Commissioners will host Community Bus Tours in various neighborhoods.

We are in the middle of a mental health crisis. News4JAX is devoting this space to take a deeper look at the stigma that still exists around suicide, ways to talk with your kids about it, and resources all families can tap into if they need help.

We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.

First resonders across Florida will have access to peer-to-peer counseling.

Mental load: Are you familiar with that term?

The pandemic has brought to light many mental health issues. One that it exacerbated: hoarding. It reinforced some beliefs about the need to save items.

Have you ever heard of the term “Stockholm syndrome?” Wednesday marks a little history since the incident that led to its creation took place in Sweden.

The smile on full display from Simone Biles said it all: The U.S. superstar stuck the landing on her balance beam routine, her face lit up, and all at once, she embodied pure joy, a seventh Olympic medal, and likely some relief, having the weight of the world off her back, at least for a few minutes.

Therapy gave Danielle Gomez the tools she needed to navigate a particularly hard chapter in her life, after both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer within six months of one another; she suffered a miscarriage; and then got pregnant again.

Even if you haven’t been watching the Olympic Games like a hawk, you’ve likely heard the biggest news of the week: Gymnast Simone Biles, who is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, withdrew from the women’s team contest after her first rotation on the vault Tuesday, and then pulled out from the individual all-around competition the following day.

Every day, 130 Americans take their own lives. There are subtle and not-so-subtle warning signs of suicide that we should all know.

About three-quarters of all mental illness cases begin by age 24, and stigma is the number one reason why people don’t seek help. But two friends from the University of Michigan are trying to change that.

Kristen Aguirre, by all accounts, did everything right: She wanted to deliver the news, and work as a storyteller, especially for underserved communities -- and after college, she landed TV jobs in Quincy, Illinois; Flint, Michigan; and then Denver, working as a reporter and anchor. It seemed like nothing could stop her. Until she was blindsided by a ischemic stroke that hit the motor strip of her brain.

A pediatric psychologist explains why the pandemic has taken a toll on teenagers and how parents can help them cope.

It can be harder than ever to find time for yourself during the day now that many people work from home due to the pandemic, which means their professional lives can invade their personal space and schedule.

Researchers have coined the term “COVID-somnia” to describe sleep struggles during the pandemic, which appear to be on the rise.

Despite the pandemic, baseball fans across the country are gearing up for opening day. According to Scott Bea, a psychologist with Cleveland Clinic, the first crack of the bat, along with the start of spring, can really lift our moods. That the weather’s going to get better and maybe my team will make it to the World Series,” Dr. Bea said. He added, people who struggle with seasonal depression typically don’t start to feel better until the weather actually gets warmer and the sun is out longer. But for those of us who may just have the winter ‘blahs’ – the first signs of spring can provide a boost.

The following article touches on mental health as it pertains to those who have worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the real emotional stories we cover play out in the documentary above. Health care turned upside-downIn March 2020, the world was flipped upside-down, and because of that, there have been and continue to be many who have experienced difficult moments, some of which have led to real mental health crises. As a society, we’re constantly putting an emphasis on physical health, which is important, but somewhere along the way, it seems as though mental health was forgotten. This certainly wasn’t someone who suffered from mental health conditions or depression for years. Watch our entire special, What Lies Beneath: Managing Mental Health, above.

In 2018, singer Demi Lovato almost lost her life to a drug overdose, and now, she’s stepped forward to tell the world her story. Lovato’s new docuseries “Dancing With the Devil,” which you can watch on YouTube, explores the events that led up to her near fatal overdose. The docuseries not only covers Lovato’s prior mental health issues, but how she now processes her daily struggles. AdMany of us have known someone who has had difficulty with mental health, or perhaps someone who struggles with addiction. The first two episodes of “Dancing with the Devil” are available to watch on YouTube, and you can expect to see two more episodes coming out.

At Wolfson Children’s Hospital, there has been a 300% increase in behavioral health admissions since the pandemic began in early 2020. These measures can also make it harder for kids already dealing with mental health hurdles to stay on track. All calls are answered by trained mental health experts, and conversations are free and confidential. (If the situation is life-threatening, call 911 or take your child to the nearest Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center immediately.) Wolfson Children’s Hospital offers a wide range of behavioral health services, including the 24/7 Kids & Teens Helpline, for children of all ages.

It’s OK to be sad. Everyone feels "off" sometimes, whether that means, sad, angry or frustrated. Those are normal human emotions. But what about if you feel more than sad? Have you considered seeing a therapist?

This past year has many Americans focusing more on their mental health than ever before. Research has shown that music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood and mental alertness. Spotify even reported that in 2020 alone, listening time in their mental health categories increased by 50 percent. Here are the secrets on how to curate your own mental health playlist. And you don’t always have to listen to spa music to relax or rock and roll to hype you up.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Preliminary data from the Florida Department of Heath shows suicides were down in 2020 compared to previous years. But mental health experts warn that while the data paints an optimistic picture, addressing pandemic-related mental health issues remains a major concern. Since early on in the pandemic, state officials have expressed concern about how lockdowns, record-high unemployment and isolation would impact Floridians’ mental health. According to provisional figures released by the Department of Health, suicide deaths appear to have dropped last year. So we’re just looking to make a final confirmation on how the data is related.”While the provisional data suggests suicides were down last year, people are reporting more mental health issues in general.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the mental health of children in Northeast Florida, according to behavioral health staff at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Dr. Terrie Andrews, system administrator for Baptist Behavioral Health and Wolfson Children’s Behavioral Health, says her department has seen a 300% increase in the amount of behavioral health emergency admissions, a 40% increase in calls to the office and a 20% increase in new outpatients. In response to the massive spike, Wolfson Children’s Hospital opened a 24/7 helpline for kids and teens. “It’s a confidential helpline that is staffed around-the-clock by trained mental health experts,” hospital spokesperson Alexis Kirkland said. So, it’s a worthwhile investment.”Brown-Woofter said a strong system of mental health care has a ripple effect across a society affecting even the economy, which has also suffered under COVID-19.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and mental health experts are joining forces to help people with mental health issues. “The team is mostly proactive, seeking out individuals in need in our community and attempting to connect them with services,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The Sheriff’s Office receives funding for its program from LSF Health Systems, whose chief executive says it’s a program worth funding. Mike Schentrup with the Gainesville Police Department, which has had a co-responder program for two years now, said there are risks involved for officers and co-responders. “That mental health professional, they train on, ‘When do I just stay in the car?’” Schentrup said.”We know and we’re taught deescalation, and we’re taught that time is on our side.

But your gut instinct may be the key to diagnosing and treating depression. Stevens found those living with depression have different gut bacteria than those with a healthy mental status. When a person has too much of the bad gut bacteria that can cause whole-body inflammation, including brain inflammation, that can be linked to depression. But the gut bacteria can also lead to a treatment for depression. In fact, people with high blood pressure and depression have completely different gut bacteria than people with only depression or only high blood pressure.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida is facing a mental health storm as a result of the pandemic. The state’s Children and Youth Cabinet was told Wednesday the pandemic has also changed how people are receiving mental health treatment. We attribute it to on going engagement via tele-health,” Joiner said. First Lady Casey DeSantis, who chairs the Cabinet, has championed children’s mental health following Hurricane Michael. 1 question she gets from parents is how to identify mental health issues.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s child abuse hotlines saw a sharp drop off in calls while schools were closed due to the pandemic, but mental health calls increased. Florida’s First Lady and mental health experts from around the state are looking at ways to address the mental health problem, especially in areas with poor access to services. The Legislature included $100 million for school mental health in this year’s budget. Mental health experts said similar or even increased funding may be necessary for the coming year to respond to the long-term impacts of the pandemic. If you are struggling, please call the suicide hotline at 800-273-8255 or dial 211 to be connected with a local mental health care provider.

Children returning to school are dealing with more stress than usual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Some kids have physical complaints like stomachaches or headaches, but they only come when it is time for school. There are ways to help your child cope with stress. And once they’re calm, it’s a good time to teach coping skills -- a way to manage stress. Getting enough sleep, eating right, staying hydrated and keeping active can also help ease stress.

Court documents show hundreds of photos of naked children with adults were found on Hazouri’s personal laptop. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a harsh toll on the mental health of young Americans, according to a new poll that finds adults under 35 especially likely to report negative feelings or experience physical or emotional symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)PHOENIX – The coronavirus pandemic has taken a harsh toll on the mental health of young Americans, according to a new poll that finds adults under 35 especially likely to report negative feelings or experience physical or emotional symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. Twenty-five percent of young adults rate their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 13% of older adults, while 56% of older adults say their mental health is excellent or very good, compared with just 39% of young adults. The survey found that frequently watching, reading or talking about the virus is consistently linked with higher rates of negative mental health symptoms. And 55% of 18 to 34 year olds say they have felt difficulties piling up too high to overcome, compared with 33% of older adults.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says, its important to protect our mental health and help those who may be struggling. Dr. Allison Ventura, with UF Health Jacksonville, is encouraging parents not to be afraid to talk with their children about mental health and start a dialogue with them about how theyre doing. Oftentimes our first gut reaction is to want to fix, to solve and to get into that take action mode, Ventura said. But, as parents, really just sitting back and listening and understanding whats going on with your child and just letting them talk can really be the first step to having a good intervention and connection with your child to make sure were putting them in the right direction for help.Ventura also encourages parents to follow their instinct. I think parents are very intuitive and have really good gut instinct about when changes have happened with their children, so I think listening to your gut as a parent and saying, This is a change Im concerned about? Ventura said.

Forensic psychologist says 2 recently released videos expose flaws with mental health system. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new policy that allows for a quicker release of body camera footage capturing police shootings in Jacksonville is shining a light on mental health issues. Among other body camera footage recently released is the encounter a JSO officer had with 33-year-old Frankie Feliciano in July 2019. “Fifteen percent (of) calls that police respond to are involving a person with mental illness,” said Dr. Justin D’Arienzo, a forensic psychologist and Navy veteran who reviewed the raw body camera footage. “Could a mental health professional have averted that situation? Many mental health treatments cost big money, and many providers don’t take insurance so expenses are out of pocket.

In times of tremendous stress, how do experts say you can avoid falling into an unhealthy rut? They really need a little hand getting pulled out. So just interrupting that train of thought, said Dr. Nicki Nance, assistant professor of psychology and human services at Beacon College. The phone still works, Skype still works," Nance said. If you need to speak with a professional, many insurance plans are currently accepting teletherapy as a viable option for therapy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.