Mental Health and Mental Illness
Mental health and mental illness are topics that desperately need addressing, especially in our current climate. As crime victim advocates, we serve people with various levels of mental wellness, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do to best support someone when they’re experiencing challenges to their mental health. That’s why, for this month, we created a compilation of useful resources and trainings focused on mental health and mental illness, including resources focused generational health in Native Communities, the art of substance recovery, grief and loss, hoarding disorder, and more. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re looking for more!
The Impact of Houselessness and Food Insecurity on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People
Trevor Project
April 2025
“There is a common misconception that LGBTQ+ individuals are more financially well-off than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts, however, the opposite is true. 40% of LGBTQ+ young people reported a history of food insecurity, houselessness, or unmet basic needs. LGBTQ+ young people with a history of houselessness had over twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year than those who have never been houseless (24% vs. 9%).”
Managing Hoarding Disorder and Hoarding Behavior in People with Serious Mental Illness
SAMHSA and American Psychological Association
January 2025
This webinar reviews how to identify and manage hoarding behavior in adults with mental illness to improve their well-being. They discuss clinical definition and assessments for hoarding disorder, helpful interventions, harm reduction strategies, and more.
What to do with the Wounds that Time Does Not Heal?
SAMHSA
December 2024
“Although many experience grief in a way that decreases over time, there are others who do not. This webinar will help people to identify and learn about the supports that are available for those who experience extraordinarily intense and/or long-lasting grief.”
Generational Trauma to Generational Health in Native Communities
SAMHSA
September 2024
This webinar reviews the Tribal Opioid Response program that offer recovery services, community education, peer support, wellbriety, cultural reintegration, and more. Presenters also discuss ideas on how to implement programming, cultural considerations, and more.
Pronoun Usage and Mental Health Impacts of Pronoun Respect in TGNB Young People
Trevor Project
December 2025
“The use and respect of one’s pronouns are essential components of gender identity expression and affirmation for transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) young people. Less than half (46%) of TGNB young people reported that a lot or most/all of the people in their lives respected their pronouns. TGNB young people who reported experiencing pronoun respect reported significantly lower rates of a past-year suicide attempt (11%) compared to their peers who did not report pronoun respect (17%).”
The Art of Recovery
SAMHSA
September 2024
Panelists express a little about their journeys through recovery from substance use and their other roles. They talked about their art, work, and relationships after sobriety and how it changed. Their stories help aid in understanding how recovery is very individual but also collaborative and connection-based.
“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s connection with others.”
Improving Behavioral Health Care for Older Adults in the Criminal Justice System
SAMHSA
January 2025
This presentation talks about the behavioral health needs of the growing population of older adults in detainment. They talk about the earlier onset, greater frequency, and higher comorbidity of health needs of incarcerated older adults. Presenters also discuss opportunities in how the system can be improved to better support these adults.
How can advocates better support survivors within marginalized communities in addressing their mental health needs?
VAWnet
May 2024
This article discusses ways to promote mental health and support those with mental illness, including understanding mental health vs mental illness, addressing psychological effects of domestic and sexual violence, increasing focus on awareness and treatment for marginalized survivors, and more.
“Experiences of anti-Blackness, homophobia and transphobia, undocumented immigration status, history of incarceration or substance use disorder, and other factors can create barriers to accessing mental health support for survivors from marginalized communities.”
Substance Use Disorder 101
SAMHSA
January 2025
This webinar discusses the impacts of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), risk factors, stigma, the 3-stage cycle of addiction, and more.
Looking for more resources around mental health?
Looking for more resources around mental health?
Check out compilations of resources from last year: “Let’s Talk About Mental Health”