Author Archives for Ashley Vactor

Statement on Family Separation Immigration Policy

Vibrant Emotional Health condemns the separation of more than 2,000 immigrant children from their parents that has occurred by order of the Federal government, and demands immediate reunification of these children with their families. Ample research in the area of adverse childhood events demonstrates that forced separation of children from their parents causes immediate psychological… View Article Published on - June 22, 2018 5:39 pm Published by -

Ellen DeGeneres features Logic and Alessia Cara to discuss hit song, “1-800-273-8255”

Popular talk show host and philanthropist, Ellen DeGeneres, invited musical artists and mental health advocates, Logic and Alessia Cara, onto her show to discuss their hit song, 1-800-273-8255. The song opens up the conversation about suicide prevention and encourages individuals in crisis to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  Watch the interview and musical… View Article Published on - September 22, 2017 7:57 pm Published by -

The ‘Madman’ Is Back in the Building

“What do you wear the first day back to work after a 90-day leave of absence because of a psychotic break?” “This is the question I found myself asking a little more than a year after I joined the Legal Aid Society of New York. The last time my colleagues had seen me, I’d been… View Article Published on - September 21, 2017 5:53 pm Published by -

I Work At A Suicide Hotline – Here’s What It’s Like

“What if I said the wrong thing?” Women’s Health Magazine interviewed one of MHA-NYC’s crisis counselors about working at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and some of the thoughts that every crisis counselor encounters on the job. “I learned that it wasn’t my job to swoop in and save the day. I wasn’t there to… View Article Published on - September 11, 2017 7:06 pm Published by -

Inside the framework of the #BeThe1To 5 Action Steps

Imagine you’re on a pleasant, afternoon walk around your neighborhood. The sun is shining, but it’s not too hot; there’s a gentle breeze lifting any humidity off your skin, keeping you cool. You can smell freshly cut grass. You’re about ten minutes away from home and you walk this route almost every day. You originally… View Article Published on - September 6, 2017 5:51 pm Published by -

#BeThe1To save a life.

MHA-NYC President and CEO, Kim Williams, kicks off  National Suicide Prevention Month with an overview of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s #BeThe1To Movement #BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are… View Article Published on - September 1, 2017 4:20 pm Published by -

Rapper Logic delivers a powerful performance at the MTV Video Music Awards

Logic performed his single”1-800-273-8255″, named after the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, at the MTV Video Music Awards last night. The song’s message speaks volumes about those who may be struggling with suicide and depression. Logic was joined by artists, Alessia Cara and Khalid, who contributed emotional verses to the performance. The most impactful message… View Article Published on - August 28, 2017 7:12 pm Published by -

It’s been 80 years since the Golden Gate Bridge became a suicide destination

“This is where I get off” Harold B. Wobber, a WWI veteran, plummeted 260 feet off the Golden Gate bridge to his death on August 7th 1937. After Harold’s suicide, over 1600 individuals have followed in his footsteps by jumping off the bridge. Thus, making it the second-most popular suicide spot in the world. Currently, there is a construction… View Article Published on - August 7, 2017 8:27 pm Published by -

Are smartphones destroying this generation’s mental health?

Smartphones can be found everywhere in today’s society. According to a study conducted by Jean M. Twenge, “a 2017 survey of more than 5,000 American teens found that three out of four owned an iPhone.” The smartphone era is creating several changes in behaviors and attitudes when comparing generations. Reliability on multiple applications for talking/texting, dating, and driving is… View Article Published on - August 3, 2017 5:56 pm Published by -

Suicide-related searches surged after the release of ’13 Reasons Why’

Following the premiere of “13 Reasons Why” in March 2017, suicide-related search queries escalated by a whopping 19%, reflecting nearly 900,000 to 1.5 million more searches. Read more about this study here.     If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  is available… View Article Published on - August 2, 2017 2:13 pm Published by -