Policy
APA Foundation's Mental Health Professionals' Guide to Their Role in the Criminal Justice SystemCommunity members with serious mental illnesses become entangled in the criminal justice system far too often. Once there, these individuals can suffer more harm and be re-traumatized by spending more time in the pretrial stage. As a mental health professional, you have an important role in supporting these individuals and ensuring they continue to receive treatment and stay connected to services. The Guide includes an overview of the criminal justice system and specific roles mental health professionals can play in supporting community members at different stages of the system. We want to provide everyone that reads this guide with the tools necessary to reclaim your community members from the criminal justice system. |
Become an AFSP AdvocateThrough our 25,000 voluntary Field Advocates, we are leading the way in mental health and suicide prevention advocacy with over 50 state laws and 13 major federal policies being enacted into legislation in the last few years alone. Most recently AFSP played a lead role in establishing 9-8-8 as a three-digit number for people in crisis. Sign up to join us! |
CTA Implement National Suicide Prevention StrategyThe Action Alliance, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) just released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. This resource seeks to advance progress towards full implementation of the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, which serves as our nation’s roadmap for suicide prevention. Developed in consultation with many public and private sector partners, and guided by scientific evidence and insights from people with lived experience, the Call to Action identifies six key actions ‘and corresponding strategies and priorities’ that must be taken now to reverse the upward trend of suicide deaths in the U.S. and save lives. |
Empower the Student Voice on CampusActive Minds offers recommendations for involving students in mental health policy decisions and programs that affect them, to create stronger campus communities. |
Healing the NationHealing the Nation is a guide for advancing federal policy for mental health and addiction. Here, people can find concrete policy recommendations that should be pursued to help families in our communities. You can download policy fact sheets on specific topics germane to mental health and addiction that can be used to take action on policy. |
Prioritizing Student Mental Health During COVID-19Active Minds provides twelve short and long-term recommendations to support college and university leadership with prioritizing mental health and helping the campus community heal and recover from the impact of COVID-19 and national civil unrest. |
RAINNRAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. |
Recommendations for Leave of AbsenceActive Minds suggests policies for mental health-related leave of absence and return from absence policies at higher education institutions that are lawful, flexible, easy to understand, and on par with leave of absence policies for medical/physical health reasons. |
Recommendations to Shape Mental Health on CampusThis report by Active Minds explains the impact of a peer-to-peer approach, provides examples of student-led strategies that are improving mental health outcomes on campuses nationwide, and gives recommendations for faculty, staff, administrators, and students regarding how to replicate this success on their own campuses. |
The Center for Workplace Mental Health Mental Health Parity InfographicMental health parity means that insurance benefits for mental health and substance use conditions are equal to coverage for other types of health care. This is an infographic explaining mental health parity for employers. |
Well Being Trust WebinarsA series of webinars that highlight mental health across the United States. |
#Vote4MentalHealth
From health care to the economy to criminal justice and more, mental health touches many of the issues that you might care about the most. When you cast your ballot, you #Vote4MentalHealth, whether you realize it or not. Across the country, people are voting on mental health in 2020. Every elected official – from the president and Congress to county commissioners and city councilmembers – has influence on issues impacting people affected by mental health conditions. Your vote matters. |