Thank you to more than 600 local school (https://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org/school-champions/2018-school-champions/) and community (https://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org/school-champions/2017-community-champions/) champions. This year’s Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign (http://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org/) raised awareness of the importan ..

Problem gambling is not just an individual problem, but can disrupt entire families. Help is available and recovery is possible for families who are dealing with a gambling addiction. Warning signs there may be a problem: Preoccupation with gambling Unexplained debt or other financial problems Unaccounted for mood changes Isolation and withdrawal fr ..

The transition to adulthood can be lengthy and difficult for young adults. Data shows that in 2014, 32.1% of 18–34 year-olds lived in their parents’ homes (Pew Research Center). This is the highest point in 75 years, and likely due to a variety of social and economic reasons. For young adults with behavioral health challenges, the transition to adulthood can be longer a ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC Are you thinking about work 24/7? Do you find yourself checking email after the end of the workday or during the weekend? Is there no end to your workday? If you answered, “yes,” you are not alone. Overwork has become a common American phenomenon. Here are some interesting statistics: In a recent national survey, 5 ..

2018 is an important election year for Marylanders. In addition to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, many other national and state political offices are up for election. It is important to register to vote and then to exercise your right to vote. Primary elections are coming up – they will be held on June 26, and you must be registered to vote before June 5 to parti ..

Language matters. The language that we use to discuss substance use disorders can perpetuate stigma. And stigma against those with a substance use disorder can impact people’s willingness to seek help – for fear that they will be judged or discriminated against. Below are some examples of language associated with substance use disorders, and preferred terms that we can each ..

You might have heard talk lately about “ACEs” and wondered what it meant. ACEs is short for “Adverse Childhood Experiences.” Between 1995 and 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with Kaiser Permanente conducted a study about ACEs with more than 17,000 participants. In the study, they looked at ten identified “Adverse Childhood Experiences” Physica ..

With the help of more than 400 School Champions and 150 Community Champions registered to take part in the 2018 Children's Mental Health Matters! Campaign (http://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org), communities across Maryland will join us in raising awareness of the importance of children’s mental health this May 6-12. Visit the Campaign website (https://www.childr ..

On April 7, MCF celebrated 23 participants for completing our 14th annual Family Leadership Institute (FLI). This intensive 60-hour, six-weekend experience trains parents and caregivers to become more effective leaders and advocates for children with behavioral health needs locally and at the state level. Participants came from across Maryland, including Anne Arundel,  ..

The suicide rate among youth has been going up. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teenagers, surpassing homicides, which dropped to third. There are theories about why there has been such an increase in youth suicides (social media, cyberbullying, increased isolation), but no solid conclusions. Nonetheless, there are a number of steps that caregivers ca ..