mental health services

A Mental Health Monday segment reports that veterans are using ketamine as a treatment for depression. The coverage highlights the drug's growing role in addressing depression among former service members, a group that faces elevated rates of the condition. The segment reflects wider attention to alternative therapies where conventional antidepressants have fallen short.

Lawmakers, veteran advocates and military families are marking Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, drawing attention to the ongoing crisis of suicide among US veterans. Events and statements highlight the need for continued mental health support, prevention programs and awareness of the resources available to former service members and their families.

The City of Springfield has approved $500,000 to build a resource map connecting residents with addiction and mental health services. The funding is intended to make it easier for people in crisis to find treatment and support in the area. The project reflects a broader push by local governments to direct money toward behavioral health access.

New Hanover County Government has announced a Public Input Session on mental health and substance use disorder scheduled for October 12. The session gives residents a chance to share feedback directly with county officials as local behavioral health services and community needs are reviewed. Details on the venue and how to participate are expected through official county notices.

GGZ Oost Brabant is hosting an open evening in Oss about mental health care, according to regional outlet Eindhovens Dagblad. The event gives residents a chance to learn about available mental health services and ask questions directly to providers. It comes amid ongoing attention to access and waiting times in Dutch mental health care.

Mental health providers and hospitals in Oregon are legally challenging a state mandate that requires them to prioritize treating criminal defendants found unfit to stand trial over other patients. Providers argue the rule strains already limited psychiatric capacity and leaves civilians waiting for care. The dispute highlights Oregon's ongoing struggle with capacity at the Oregon State Hospital and growing waitlists for restoration services.

Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey spoke out about staffing and service cuts at the Choate Mental Health & Developmental Center in southern Illinois. He raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable residents and local employment in the community. The comments add mental health facility funding to the issues shaping the Illinois governor's race.

Experts from the Defense Health Agency's Public Health branch are highlighting three priorities for suicide prevention across the US military: leadership engagement, secure storage of lethal means such as firearms and medications, and better access to mental health resources. The guidance, published via military health channels, stresses that commanders and supervisors play a key role in recognizing warning signs and connecting service members to support.

King County is laying the groundwork for a new crisis care center in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, scheduled to open in 2027. Reporting details how officials are planning staffing, services and operations for the facility, which is intended to give people experiencing mental health or substance use crises an alternative to emergency rooms and jails.

The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance will hold a fundraiser on October 14 dedicated to preventing suicide among firefighters. The organization works to raise awareness of behavioral health challenges in the fire service, where suicide remains a serious concern. Details of the event's location and program have not been widely reported yet, and coverage so far is limited to the announcement of the fundraiser itself.

The Tennessee Department of General Services has announced a change in plans for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga. Local outlet WDEF reported the announcement, but details of what the revised plans involve have not been laid out. The facility serves as a key psychiatric care provider for the region, so any shift in its future draws close attention.

Purdue's student newspaper, the Purdue Exponent, has published a guide outlining mental health resources available to students on campus. The roundup points students toward the support services they can access at Purdue, at a time when demand for campus counseling and wellbeing support continues to draw attention at universities across the United States.

A 2026 Mental Health and Aging Conference is being promoted by WBKO, a television station serving Kentucky, drawing attention to the overlap between mental health care and older adult services. Details on dates, speakers and registration have not yet been widely reported, but the event signals continued focus on mental health support for aging populations.

September marks National Suicide Prevention Month in the United States, with health organisations and local news outlets highlighting mental health resources and suicide prevention efforts. Coverage emphasises raising awareness, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and directing people to support services such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Reporting highlights the mental health consequences of climate change, including anxiety, stress and trauma linked to extreme weather, displacement and uncertainty about the future. The topic, sometimes called eco-anxiety, is drawing growing attention from health professionals and communities as climate events intensify, with calls for mental health services to be included in climate response planning.

New Hanover County is inviting residents to share feedback on its Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Fund and on how opioid settlement money should be used. The county is soliciting public comment as it decides priorities for the settlement proceeds, which are meant to address addiction treatment, recovery services, and related mental health needs in the community.

The Atlantic reports that weight loss companies are increasingly framing their products around mental health and wellbeing, using therapy-adjacent language to sell slimming services and drugs. Critics argue this blurs the line between genuine psychological care and commercial marketing, raising concerns that serious mental health issues are being co-opted to promote weight loss products to vulnerable consumers.

A new analysis finds that a majority of Oklahoma's behavioral health workforce works part-time rather than full-time. The finding raises concerns about the state's capacity to meet demand for mental health and substance abuse services, particularly in rural areas where provider shortages are already severe. The report is prompting discussion about recruitment, pay and retention strategies.

Young people are increasingly relying on their peers rather than professionals for mental health support, according to coverage from Wyoming News Now. The trend points to growing comfort in discussing emotional struggles within friend groups, as formal services remain difficult to access. Commentators link the shift to stigma, cost barriers and a shortage of youth counselling resources.

KATV reports on postpartum mental health support available to mothers in Arkansas, outlining resources for those experiencing depression or anxiety after childbirth. The report points families toward local services and information aimed at improving maternal mental well-being across the state.

Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to keep the Choate Mental Health Center in Anna open, pressing the state to maintain the facility's mental health services. The appeal puts the future of the southern Illinois institution at the center of a political exchange over state healthcare commitments.