Happy Friday!

Today is National Provider Appreciation Day, or National Child Care Provider Day. Established in 1996, today we recognize the dedication of childcare professionals, including teachers, nannies, and in-home providers. Let’s take a moment to highlight the vital role providers play in children's education and development, particularly for the many families where parents work.

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RFK Jr. announced a federal plan to reduce "overprescribing" of psychiatric medications, pushing for more holistic alternatives like therapy, dietary changes, and family support — while also promoting "deprescribing" when medications aren't proving beneficial. But top psychiatrists are pushing back, warning that depression remains the leading cause of disability worldwide, and with only about 40% of adults with depression receiving any therapy, the bigger crisis is undertreatment — not over-treatment.

The conversation around mindful prescribing is worth having — but please, never stop taking psychiatric medication without your doctor's guidance, as doing so can have serious consequences.

Read More: RFK Jr. Launches Plan To Address ‘Overuse’ Of Psychiatric Medications (CNN)

Who's really shaping your health decisions — your doctor or your Instagram feed? A major new Pew Research study found that 4 in 10 U.S. adults — and half of those under 50 — now get health and wellness information from social media influencers and podcasts, yet only 41% of those influencers actually identify as healthcare professionals, while 16% share zero credentials in their bios at all.

Women make up 64% of these influencers and are three times more likely to highlight their role as a mom as a source of expertise. This is a powerful reminder to always check who is behind the health advice you're scrolling past — because not all wellness content is created equal!

Read More: Moms, Coaches, Doctors, Entrepreneurs: Who Are America’s Health and Wellness Influencers? (Pew Research Center)

An influencer is an individual with the power to shape the attitudes, opinions, or purchasing decisions of others, typically by leveraging authority, knowledge, position, or a strong relationship with an audience on social media. They are often content creators, bloggers, or industry experts who drive engagement, brand awareness, or trends in fields like fashion, tech, and lifestyle.

Influencers differ from traditional celebrities in that their influence is often built on perceived authenticity and direct engagement with followers rather than solely on mainstream fame.

North Carolina lawmakers are pushing Senate Bill 550, which would require high school coaches to complete mental health training to recognize warning signs, respond to student crises, and connect athletes with professional care — at an estimated cost of just $30 per coach. The bill is backed by the heartbreaking story of April Simpkins, whose daughter — former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst — quietly struggled with depression before dying by suicide in 2022, with Simpkins saying a trained coach "could have saved my Chelsea."

Read More: ‘Coaches Can Change Everything’: NC Bill Would Require Mental Health Training For Coaches (WRAL)

Mental Health America (MHA) is the nation’s leading community-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental illness, and improving the care of those living with mental health conditions. Founded in 1909, it advocates for policy, provides education, and offers free, confidential screening tools.

MHA publishes the annual State of Mental Health in America report, which provides data on mental health disparities and access to care.

Read More: Mental Health America (MHA) | www.mhanational.org | Screening Tools

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