Happy Monday!

Today is International Kissing Day (or World Kiss Day). Established in the early 2000s in the United Kingdom, the unofficial holiday celebrates the emotional, social, and physical intimacy of kissing, reminding people of its value outside of mere social formality.

People typically mark the occasion by exchanging kisses with romantic partners or loved ones. Kissing is much more than a romantic gesture; it offers several proven physical and mental health perks including stress relief, immunity boosts and burning of around 2 to 6 calories per minute.

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Governor Newsom signed a new law giving judges greater discretion to deny mental health diversion to defendants, raising the bar from whether someone poses "an unreasonable risk" to whether their community treatment would "endanger public safety" — a distinction that could keep more people with mental illness in jail rather than receiving the treatment they need.

Supporters argue it protects communities from outlier cases; opponents warn it will disproportionately harm people of color and strip away a powerful alternative that helps defendants rebuild their lives free from a criminal record.

Read More: Gavin Newsom Signs Law Limiting Mental Health Diversion For People Accused of Crimes (CalMatters)

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul voluntarily checked into a mental health and trauma facility on the advice of her treatment team, later sharing on Instagram that she needed to "reset" and "get away," and that the experience helped her find a good antidepressant that's making a real difference. This comes after a year of legal battles, domestic violence allegations, cancelled TV projects, and intense public scrutiny — all while raising three young children.

Read More: Taylor Frankie Paul Reveals Rehab Stay For Her Mental Health (USA Today)

Florida leads the nation in recorded firefighter suicides with 182 documented deaths — and experts warn that number likely represents only 60% of the actual toll, since there is no mandatory national reporting system for first responder suicides. To put the trauma exposure in perspective: the average American experiences three traumatic events in their entire lifetime, while a professional firefighter experiences an average of nine in a single year.

There is innovative work happening in Greater Naples, Florida — bypassing waitlists with immediate digital access to care, and replacing the empty "are you good?" check-in with automatic trauma debriefings.

Read More: A Silent Alarm: Inside Florida’s Urgent Battle Over Firefighter Suicide (WINK News)

MYTH: Adolescents who get good grades and have a lot of friends will not have mental health conditions because they have nothing to be depressed about.

FACT: Depression is a common mental health condition resulting from a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. Depression can affect anyone regardless of their socioeconomic status or how good their life appears at face value. Young people doing well in school may feel pressure to succeed, which can cause anxiety, or they may have challenges at home. They may also experience depression or anxiety for no reason that can be easily identified.

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.

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Thanks, and Be Well.

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