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Take care of your mental health this holiday season
BY DOROTHY DILLON The holiday season is a time many look forward to, but for others it can bring added stress, pressure and emotional overwhelm. The Martin County Health Department encourages our community to make mental well-being a priority during this busy time of year. Small, intentional acts of self-care can make a meaningful difference.
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Thrive Community Coalition: Giving a voice to the silent in suicide prevention
BY KAYLA STORMS As Suicide Prevention Awareness efforts take center stage this month, the Thrive Community Coalition is reminding Martin County that mental health is real — and silence can be dangerous. For too long, many have suffered quietly, feeling isolated or ashamed to speak up about their struggles. Thrive is working to change that.
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
BY MELISSA PATRICK KY HEALTH NEWS This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about suicide and educate the public on how to help prevent it.
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Emergency psychiatric unit fills urgent need for mental health care in Kentucky
BY VIKKI FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Since opening its doors on July 30, UK HealthCare’s Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing unit has already helped more than 1,800 people get the help they need. The goal of EmPATH is to decompress emergency departments and inpatient units and promote better outcomes through rapid treatment access in
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Study: Most high school students say they have had a traumatic experience
BY NADIA RAMLAGAN KENTUCKY NEWS CONNECTION New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show three of every four high school students nationwide said they have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, including witnessing domestic violence in the home, parental separation or physical and sexual abuse, among others. Research has shown the
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Health advocates say Amendment 2 would take money from school-based health and nutrition programs
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS LEXINGTON — Health advocates gathered in Lexington Oct. 16 to voice strong opposition to Amendment 2, saying if passed it would divert money away from much-needed school-based health and nutrition programs that are proven to improve student outcomes. Amendment 2 is a question on next month’s ballot that asks
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42 state attorneys general call for surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms
BY MELISSA PATRICK KY HEALTH NEWS Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that Kentucky is part of a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general who are calling for federal legislation to require a surgeon general’s warning on social media sites, similar to what is on cigarette and alcohol containers. “As state Attorneys General, we sometimes
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Men’s Health Month a reminder to schedule preventive screenings
BY MELISSA PATRICK KY HEALTH NEWS Men’s Health Month in June is a reminder for men to think about their health and consider making some screening appointments that could lengthen, or even save, their lives. Why is it so important for men to take care of themselves? For one thing, on average in the United
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Eight suicides in a month make for ‘mental health crisis’ in Pike County
BY STAN INGOLD WEKU Officials in Eastern Kentucky are dealing with what they are calling a “mental health crisis.” In Pike County, over the last 30 days at least eight people have committed suicide. To put that into perspective, the county had eight suicides in all of 2023, said Tammy Riley, the county’s public health
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School-based clinical social worker serves needs of students in moments of crisis
BY RACHEL DOVE MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County School District administrators have recognized that students need direct access to a professionally trained therapist in times of crisis. Thanks to a grant and partnership with Big Sandy Healthcare, a certified clinical social worker now spends her days addressing the emotional and mental health needs of
