Today is National Psychotherapy Day.

Established in 2012 by clinical psychologist Dr. Ryan Howes and fellow advocates, this day was created to raise awareness about the benefits of talk therapy, break down mental health stigmas, and advocate for accessible care.

We should use this day to reduce stigma, promote access and educate the public about talk therapy. Let’s normalize talking about mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and stress.
Let’s highlight barriers to treatment, such as cost and availability. Let’s also explain how psychotherapy helps build coping skills and improves emotional well-being.

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🗞 Chicago launches street psychiatry teams to bring mental health treatment to the homeless. Chicago has launched its first street psychiatry teams, bringing mental-health care directly to people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The teams will work in shelters, on public transit and in other community locations, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes psychiatrists, medical providers, social workers, substance-use counselors and peer specialists. The goal is to build relationships over time and connect people with treatment, housing and other support before they repeatedly cycle through emergency rooms, shelters or the justice system. Read more at CBS News

🗞 Eight US sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide, Navy says. The BBC reports that eight sailors connected to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its unusually long deployment, according to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. The disclosure comes after sailors’ families raised concerns about deteriorating mental health and difficult living conditions during the carrier’s roughly nine-month mission, which was repeatedly extended. Research cited in the article suggests sailors face particular psychological pressures at sea, including poor living conditions, noise, demanding schedules, and inadequate opportunities for sleep and recovery. Read more at BBC

🗞 ADHD linked to higher odds of 'every gastrointestinal symptom investigated'. A Medical News Today article highlights a large review suggesting that people with ADHD have higher odds of experiencing a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers analyzed 23 studies involving more than 1.9 million people and found the association across every GI symptom they investigated—but importantly, the research does not establish that ADHD causes digestive problems. Read more at Medical News Today

🗞 Milania Giudice Allegedly Had Suicidal Thoughts, Mental Breakdown Before Airport Police Call. The TMZ report describes a troubling airport incident involving Milania Giudice, who was reportedly experiencing a serious mental-health crisis after a recent hospitalization. Police were called to Tampa International Airport, and her representative later confirmed that Milania is receiving professional care and is surrounded by family and friends as she works through an extremely difficult period, including grief following the death of her best friend. Read more at TMZ

Mental Health: In Crisis? Call or Text 988

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press ‘1’ or Text 838255

Youth Helpline: 2NDFLOOR - (888) 222-2228

National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255)

Addiction: Start Your Recovery - (800) 662-4357

What’s the obsession behind Chiikawa? Chiikawa—the adorable Japanese character created by illustrator Nagano—has become much more than a cute internet phenomenon. The series follows Chiikawa and friends Hachiware and Usagi through everyday experiences that mix humor and friendship with anxiety, setbacks, work stress, and moments of vulnerability, which may help explain why the characters resonate so strongly with fans. Read More at CNN.com

MYTH: People with a mental illness should be isolated from the community.

FACT: Most people with a mental illness recover quickly and do not need hospital care. Others may have short admissions to hospital for treatment. Only a very small number of people with mental illness (less than 1 in 1000) need hospital care. Improvements in treatment over recent decades mean that there’s no need for the confinement and isolation that was commonly used in the past.

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Thanks, and Be Well.

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