Author Archives for Comms Team

A Compassionate Presence in Times of Uncertainty: 10 Years of the Disaster Distress Helpline

By Lidija Hurni, M.S.Ed., LMFT Program Manager of the Disaster Distress Helpline Hope is the cornerstone of emotional recovery from disaster – hope that healing and rebuilding are possible. Since 2012, the national Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) has worked to instill hope in thousands of individuals by promoting a sense of safety, calmness and connectedness… View Article Published on - March 15, 2022 4:08 pm Published by -

Volunteer Opportunities in Disaster Emotional Care

Following major disasters, concerned individuals often reach out to the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) seeking volunteer opportunities in providing emotional support to survivors, responders, and others impacted by the event. Christian Burgess, Director of the DDH, a program of SAMHSA administered by Vibrant Emotional Health, offers an overview of how anyone with an interest in… View Article Published on - January 18, 2022 9:15 am Published by -

SAMHSA Notice of Funding

On December 20, SAMHSA announced further investment to prepare for the implementation of 988’s launch as the new dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The funding includes $105 million to states to build up staffing capacity, and $177 million to strengthen and expand the existing Lifeline network operations, infrastructure and capacity. As the… View Article Published on - December 22, 2021 6:12 pm Published by -

Practicing Wellness this Holiday Season

By Lisa Furst, Chief Program Officer at Vibrant Emotional Health The end of 2021 is rapidly approaching, and we are fully in the midst of the holiday season. We can feel so many things at this time of year – joy and excitement, pleasure and anticipation, love and goodwill. But even in the most ordinary… View Article Published on - December 20, 2021 4:57 pm Published by -

Single Source Funding Notice

On November 10, SAMHSA announced a Single Source Funding Notice which awarded $152 million to Vibrant Emotional Health in preparation for 988’s launch as the new dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Vibrant Emotional Health is currently preparing its response and we look forward to sharing information with the crisis center network and… View Article Published on - November 11, 2021 9:27 pm Published by -

Vibrant’s Statement on the Derek Chauvin Verdict

It is gratifying that George Floyd’s murderer will know accountability, and his family may receive a small measure of peace. We know that there is so much more we must do to achieve justice in our nation. Justice would mean that George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, Ma’Khia Bryant and so many others would be… View Article Published on - April 21, 2021 7:10 pm Published by -

Vibrant’s Statement on Racism Against the AAPI Community

The murders of eight people in Georgia, six of them Asian American women, are shocking and horrifying. And while investigators have been quick to dismiss the notion that this violence was racially-motivated, we know better. These murders are emblematic of the racism and violence faced historically by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in… View Article Published on - March 19, 2021 4:00 pm Published by -

Supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health

This page is regularly updated with new resources and information. Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders have the lowest help-seeking rate for mental health services of any racial/ethnic group. This may be due to the many systemic barriers to accessing mental health care and quality treatment, such as the disparity between the high demand… View Article Published on - March 19, 2021 2:55 pm Published by -

Supporting Black Mental Health

This page is regularly updated with new resources and information. According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness, and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the… View Article Published on - February 19, 2021 5:26 pm Published by -