Happy Friday!

Today is National Senior Citizens Day. Created in 1988 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5847, this day was designed to thank older generations for their hard work, wisdom, and community support.

We should also take this day to recognize their lifelong achievements, and raise awareness about health, economic, and social issues that affect them.

Missed a newsletter? Check out our archives!

Maryland Launches Court-Ordered Mental Health Care In Baltimore, Some Counties

Maryland has launched a new Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program that allows courts to order community-based mental health treatment for some people with serious mental illnesses who have struggled to stay engaged in care. The program is starting in some counties with broader statewide implementation planned, but it has already sparked debate over personal autonomy, ethics, enforcement, and funding.

Supporters say structured treatment could help prevent repeated psychiatric crises, hospitalizations, or incarceration, while disability-rights advocates worry that court-ordered care could undermine a person's right to make their own medical decisions.

Read More at MarylandMatters.org

US Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Prison Over Plot To Kill Treasury Secretary

Riley English, a Massachusetts woman who told police that she brought homemade firebombs to the US Capitol to kill US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, was sentenced to more than six years in prison. She stated that said was in the grips of a severe mental health crisis complicated by drug use when she drove to Washington, DC in January 2025.

Her defense argued that she was in a diminished mental state and deeply traumatized, while the court still held her accountable for her actions; the judge also acknowledged the difficult circumstances she had experienced and her progress while in custody.

Read More at The Guardian

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

10 Tips for Managing (and Reducing) Your Kid’s Screen Time

NY Times Wirecutter just dropped the ultimate parent tech survival guide! Their top recommendations include setting up parental controls on every device individually (iPhone's Screen Time and Google's Family Link are great starting points), using your router's admin app to schedule internet shutoffs at bedtime, and creating child-specific profiles on streaming platforms with PIN-protected adult content.

Perhaps the most important tip of all comes from their router expert: "The best way to help your kids stay safe on the internet is to talk with them and guide them so they can navigate the online world safely on their own." Tech tools are helpful guardrails, but the most powerful protection you can give your child is an open, ongoing conversation about what they're seeing, doing, and feeling online.

Read More at NYTimes.com

Question: Is mental health a good career field for the future?

Answer: Yes. Mental health is an exceptional field for job opportunity and long-term security. Driven by rising public awareness and expanded insurance coverage, the demand for qualified professionals vastly outpaces the available workforce.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for mental health, behavioral, and substance abuse counselors is projected to grow by 17% through 2034, nearly six times faster than the national average for all occupations (3%).

The Mental Minute is your #1 source for the latest mental health news, tips, key resources and product reviews. Our goal is to make mental health an everyday conversation.

Don’t keep us all to yourself. Sharing is caring - so share The Mental Minute with all of your friends!

Thanks, and Be Well.

— The Mental Minute