Black Lives Matter. This is not a political issue, it is a human issue. It’s a mental health issue. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and are grateful for all those who are courageous and unapologetic in the fight for justice, power and healing.  

For many youth, this season is one of unexpected loss. In addition to social distancing and closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are experiencing additional upset and grief related to the unrest that surrounds us: racial injustice, violence and political turbulence.

From missing milestones of prom and graduation to the inability to come together with friends to process feelings and take action on social justice issues, students may be feeling unmoored and grieving a variety of lost experiences.

The following statement can be attributed to Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO, Mental Health America

"When We Normalize Racism And Bigotry, We Do Violence To Our Mental Health"

Learn how to THRIVE with MHA by integrating these tools into your daily life. At MHA, we share effective strategies to help individuals thrive during challenging situations. Now more than ever, we believe that these simple tools can have a powerful impact on your emotional wellness and help you build resilience going forward.

We've created an acronym to help you remember the tools to THRIVE:

MHA Vice-President of External Affairs Jenna Velez recently published an article about the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth in Behavioral Health News. Find a sneak peek below. 

Priming for Post-Traumatic Growth