However, public mental health will be a relatively new idea to many of those practicing public health, especially the idea that mental health and mental wellbeing should be at the heart of all we do in public health, and that there can be ‘no health without mental health.’ In arguing the case for public mental health, statistics relating to mental illness are important.Mental illness or disorder is very common. These are teams of mental health care professionals who work with people in severe distress. Public mental health is fundamental to public health in general because mental health is a determinant and consequence of physical health as well as a resource for living.

Ways to Care for Your Mental Health

public health mental health resources

This support helps veterans transition positively back to civilian life. StrongHearts offers culturally-appropriate, anonymous, and confidential services available 24/7 nationwide. They strive to promote holistic health and positive growth in our local communities and the nation at large. We R Native is a comprehensive health resource for Native youth, by Native youth, providing content and stories about the topics that matter most to them.

public health mental health resources

START Program

public health mental health resources

Digital mental health treatment approaches, like counseling delivered via telehealth technology or adjunctive cognitive behavioral therapy “homework” through an mHealth application, have the potential to mitigate, though not eradicate, mental health provider shortages and improve clinical outcomes by making it easier for patients to engage with treatment. Although research on the effectiveness of the increasingly wide range of digital health approaches for mental health is nascent, growing evidence suggests that digital mental health services—which can range from treatment via telehealth technology to universal prevention via mindfulness smartphone applications—can be effective.58, 59, 60, 78, 79, 80 Growing research demonstrates clear links between oppression—which is defined as prolonged cruel and unjust treatment and comes in interrelated forms, including but not limited to interpersonal, systemic, and structural—and mental illness.56, 57, 58 Chronic stress caused by oppression leads to neurobiological changes that increase the risk of mental illness.59 Interpersonal oppression involves interactions among people in which individuals use oppressive behavior, including violence https://www.apha.org/initiatives/national-public-health-week/themes-and-facts/2023-mental-health and more subtle but harmful behaviors like microaggressions.

public health mental health resources

Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment Program’s primary mission is to prevent suicide and mental health distress by identifying issues veterans encounter when returning from service and proactively providing access to benefits and services. Native American Lifelines applies principles of trauma-informed care to provide culturally centered behavioral health, dental, outreach, and referral services. As a grassroots non-profit, we offer comprehensive support, including refugee resettlement, counseling, outreach, education, and various social services. PureSpark uses social media and our web interface to provide resources and daily coping mechanisms that would otherwise be out of reach for someone who is unfamiliar with the mental wellness system. They are a mental health liberation movement creating change through decolonial education, collective care, and activism.

public health mental health resources

Delivering unparalleled patient care

Different models instruct helpers assess safety, provide emotional support, and connect individuals to services. We present it here because it is often used alongside manualized interventions for individuals requiring further support. In addition, we provide an overview of Psychological First Aid (PFA); although it is not a multi-session intervention, it is widely used alongside the interventions described here. However, the current overview is limited to the characteristics and findings in RCTs to focus on the implementation conditions under which the evidence for these interventions was generated.

public health mental health resources