What is the Baker Act Meaning?
The Baker Act is a law in Florida that was created in 1972 to establish legal procedures for the involuntary examination and treatment of individuals with mental illness. This law was put in place to prevent the indiscriminate admission of individuals to mental health institutions and to ensure that people are only admitted to such […]
What is an Intervention?
An intervention is a pre-planned meeting between concerned individuals, often family members or close friends, and a loved one or friend struggling with addiction. The goal of an intervention is to motivate the loved one to seek help in overcoming addictive behavior. This article will go over what is an intervention and additional aspects around […]
How COVID Has Impacted the Mental Health of College Students
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives around the globe in a myriad of ways, ranging from the inconvenient to the devastating. Isolation, job losses, school closures, disrupted routines, family problems, and loss of in-person support systems have all contributed to an increase in mental health issues, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and both domestic and […]
Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month
Every May, organizers of Mental Health Awareness Month seek to raise awareness about mental health, aiming to fight the stigma associated with mental health conditions, provide support and resources for those affected by mental illness and advocate for policies that increase treatment resources for those in need. First observed in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month […]
Celebrating Nurses Week: Why Nurses Are Heroes
Healthcare workers continue to work the front lines of a fight no one could have predicted a year ago. But this is nothing new to nurses or other health care heroes, who have fought throughout the decades to save lives during earlier epidemics, wars, disasters, and the countless health challenges that affect individuals and their […]
Recognizing Alcohol Awareness Month This April
About 95,000 Americans die each year from alcohol-related causes, making it the country’s third most preventable cause of death, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Alcohol use contributes to over 200 different diseases and injuries, increases suicide risk, fuels risky or violent behavior, and tears apart families. The more people […]
Celebrating National Social Work Month 2021
Every March, we celebrate National Social Work Month to highlight the outstanding contributions that social workers make to individuals, families and communities. We take time to recognize and applaud the work of our nation’s almost 700,000 social workers who help people overcome stigma and adversity to achieve a better quality of life. This year, the […]
What is Driving the Increase in Adolescent Mental Health Issues?
Adolescent suicide, depression, and other mental health disorders were serious issues long before the onset of the global pandemic. Now, a year into the pandemic, experts are releasing statistics showing the drastic rise in mental health issues in all age groups, including adolescents. A pre-publication, peer-reviewed report in the journal Pediatrics found significantly higher increases […]
Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of Turning Point of Tampa
As we celebrate our 34th anniversary, all of us at Turning Point of Tampa proudly continue our mission to provide high-quality, 12-step based recovery programs that are affordable and effective for the treatment of addiction, eating disorders, and dual diagnosis. It is humbling to reflect on the thousands of people who have entrusted us to […]
Family Support Through Process Addiction
Process addictions are behavioral addictions rather than drug or alcohol addictions. Individuals who have an overwhelming impulse to engage in a specific behavior even when it results in negative consequences may have a process addiction. Examples of process addictions include compulsive behavior related to gambling, sex, shopping, gaming, pornography, exercise, work, and eating issues. As […]
What are Employee Assistance Programs?
Many employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to provide free and confidential counseling services for employees experiencing personal problems. Employee problems may be related to work, relationships, health concerns, financial or legal issues, substance abuse, depression, or other issues. The employer pays for EAP services, often in conjunction with health insurance plan benefits. Even though […]
Invest in Yourself by Taking Care of Your Mental Health
From time to time, most of us face unusually stressful situations in our lives, whether because of illness, grief, unemployment, financial or legal problems, or another factor. Experts link prolonged or unmanaged stress to a variety of physical and mental illnesses, which can damage health, relationships, and quality of life. Chronic stress can be deadly. […]
Rise in Teen Suicide and National Bullying Awareness Month 2020
Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) find suicide to be the second-leading cause of death for persons aged 10–24. The suicide rate among this age group increased by 56 percent between 2001 and 2017, with the greatest increase between 2013 and 2017. While suicide rates have been steadily increasing across […]
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
In 1981, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) created a Day of Unity, designed to increase awareness of domestic violence. The movement to expand awareness grew, and in 1987 became a month-long observance. In 1989, Congress formally declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Events during October seek to raise awareness of domestic violence, […]
Ending the Stigma of Mental Health and Addiction
Individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders continue to be unfairly stigmatized by those who do not understand these are chronic, treatable conditions. Suffering from one or both of these disorders does not mean the person is dangerous, at fault for their disorder, or, in the case of substance use disorder, too weak to […]
National Yoga Month 2020
From increased strength, flexibility, and balance to a reduction in stress and anxiety, the physical and mental health benefits of yoga are well documented. In 2008, hoping to inspire the public to embrace a healthier lifestyle through the practice of yoga, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designated September as National Yoga Month. […]
National Recovery Month 2020
National Recovery Month has been observed every September since 1989. Its purpose is to educate the public on how treatment services can change lives for those with substance use and mental disorders and to recognize and honor those in recovery. The theme for 2020 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections,” focusing on the […]
Florida Legislative Roundup: July 2020
In June, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills into law, impacting such areas as healthcare, schools, environment, law enforcement and addiction treatment and care. Some of these new laws are detailed below. Governor DeSantis also approved and signed the state budget for fiscal year 2020-2021, totaling $92.2 billion. The new budget allocates a total […]
Managing Parental Stress During COVID-19
The negative consequences of COVID-19 echo far beyond a public health crisis. Staggering unemployment rates, widespread social isolation, school closures, activity cancellations, unavailability of support networks, and disruption of cherished routines continue to affect people globally, with stress as a common byproduct. A recent Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents, and Children in Epidemics) survey found […]
Celebrating Pride Month
June has been designated a month of celebration in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community for decades. This month, LGBTQ individuals and allies come together to celebrate the strides that have been made toward equality and acceptance for LGBTQ individuals. During Pride Month, participants across the globe unite to celebrate […]
How COVID-19 is Affecting Our Country
COVID-19 continues to cause great loss around the globe, including the loss of loved ones, livelihood, financial and personal security, and more. Some of these losses may have long-lasting and possibly permanent effects. Loved Ones Dying Alone One of the most wrenching losses for many of us is the inability to be physically present with […]
Grief and Resiliency During COVID-19
The coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, continues to cause loss around the world. Whether it is a loss of life, a job, financial or emotional security, freedom, physical closeness to loved ones, or the comfort of our daily routines, losses like these cause feelings of grief. We may think that because […]
News from NAATP
The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is a professional society whose members advocate for excellence in addiction treatment and better access to those services. Since 1978, the NAATP has sought to “provide values-based vision, leadership, services, and advocacy for a professional field that is evolving in terms of clinical method and business structure.” […]
Florida Legislative Roundup for April 2020
In January of this year, many Floridians watched their legislature closely to see if they would tackle two pressing issues in the state: mental health and domestic violence. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission has consistently urged state legislators to increase funding for the Florida mental health system. A 2019 article published […]
