- change is here*
- Posts
- ☎ 988, a college crisis, and Amazon gets in to mental health
☎ 988, a college crisis, and Amazon gets in to mental health
We have revamped our weekly(ish) newsletter, now delivering the latest in mental health news, resources, and other internet goodness as part of our continued commitment to change minds about mental health.
Love what you see? Share it around!
Want to see something else? Let us know here.
CW: Some articles below do mention suicide.
Tech + Business
There’s an ever-growing demand for mental health services in the US, but for most people, it’s still challenge to find a traditional in-person therapist. Mental health apps have surged to attempt to fill that gap and Amazon is getting in the game by partnering with Ginger, a digital mental health platform that offers 24/7 access to mental health coaches and therapists. Ginger will now be available as an optional add-on for companies that use Amazon Care.
A startup cofounded by Selena Gomez, Wondermind, is raising funds at a valuation of $100 million as it looks to capitalize on a boom in the mindfulness trend. Serena Williams’s venture fund, Serena Ventures, led the $5 million early-stage round, which was joined by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital. Brent Saunders, the former chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company Allergan, also took part.
Early offerings at Wondermind include social-media channels and a newsletter, which offers “a roadmap for overcoming stigma, shifting your mindset and feeling supported,” according to its website.
Advocacy + Policy
988 is finally here, the nation’s Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The new number, which officially launched July 16, is part of a $282 million government effort for suicide prevention and crisis care services. The 988 number was designated by Congress in 2020 to be operated through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has been in existence since 2005.
Learn all you need to know here.
Patients treated in emergency departments for mental health crises say they’re being left out of conversations about violence in health care settings and worry that, without their input, the solutions being considered at the state level could make the situation worse.
DeJear, who is running to unseat Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in November, said as she's traveling the state and listening to Iowans talk about their struggles, she's hearing from people who have visions for improving their communities but need more state investment. She said "Iowa is worth the work" and that she wants to represent those Iowans in part by boosting funding to areas like mental health care and public schools.
Work
When looking for their work fam, Gen Z’s list of ‘must haves’ includes flexibility to work from the office and remotely, mental health initiatives as well as meaningful work and culture.
And accommodating this growing list is become increasingly important. Gen Z workers are expected to more than triple to 87 million people by 2030 in countries like Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US of A, accounting for a whopping 30 percent of total employment.
Schools
As colleges enter the latest football season the mental health crisis is becoming more evident. In a May study, the NCAA stated the rates of mental exhaustion, depression and anxiety among college athletes continue to be 1.5-2 times higher than before the pandemic and some are taking action.
Aaron Taylor, a College Football Hall of Famer from Notre Dame and CBS Sports college football analyst, has dealt with mental issues since age 9. He stands as an outspoken advocate of #SameHere, a global mental health movement.
Selin Ciltas is on a quest to increase mental health awareness and resources for students. She’s focused on pushing for change in Florida’s public schools and has created an online petition that calls for more than the current five hours of required mental health instruction time in schools.
Sign the change.org petition here.
And here is what we’re watching/reading/listening to
Watching
Earlier this month, John Oliver discussed the cracks in our broken mental health care system, some of the inadequate ways we’ve tried to fill said gap and how much work is left to do.
In Future Tense, Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary argues that the pervasive anxiety-as-disease story is false—and it’s harming us. Sh claims that far from a sickness or malfunction, anxiety is an advantageous emotion that evolved to protect us and strengthen our creative and productive powers. It’s a spicy take but one we’ve enjoyed exploring.
But seriously wtf is going on at work (specifically office work often referred to as knowledge work) and has the pandemic provided an opportunity to redefine both the physical office and what work means in our lives? Listen to the latest episode of The Ezra Klein Show ‘Is the Remote Work Revolution Flopping, Succeeding, or Both’?
That’s all for now! We’ll be back next week (or so, maybe). In the meantime check out our resources page, follow us on social, and tell us what you think!
Reply