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A major effort to overhaul care for people in the United States with mental health and drug problems is gaining traction as Congress and the Biden administration work on overlapping plans to address concerns across dividing lines of politics, geography and race. Top goals include responding to the mental health crisis among youth, increasing the supply of professional counselors and clinicians, narrowing a persistent gap between care for physical and mental health problems, and preserving access to telehealth services that proved their usefulness in the pandemic. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 4/13)

As more states and school districts move to address children's mental health, some parents and activists are making school-based support programs a political flashpoint, saying they put school officials in inappropriate roles and could indoctrinate students in progressive thinking. The pandemic has created a greater sense of urgency around children's mental health, but statistics have been trending in the wrong direction for years, with sometimes tragic consequences for families and communities. (Owens and Snyder, 4/14)

The mountain state has a new hotline program dedicated to helping those struggling with mental health. With the signing of senate bill 181 being signed into passage by Governor Jim Justice, there is a new hotline for those seeking help with any mental health issues. The number is 988 and it is a part of First Choice Services. The program will have 30 people already on standby who are trained to help in any way possible. (Blahut, 4/13)

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the city council passed three ordinances on Wednesday that will allocate the city of Houston American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funding into behavioral health programs that are intended to assist the Houston Police Department when handling mental health crisis calls. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD has been leading the charge in assisting the police with mobile mental health intervention. CEO Wayne Young said the funding approved Wednesday will allow them to make the program 24/7. (Hernandez, 4/13)

Seven-year-old Lily Williams has a genetic condition called Phelan-McDermid syndrome that causes developmental and speech delays. With therapy and effort, the affectionate ponytailed youngster is playing with toys, potty training and using a device to say, “Hello,” and describe herself as “silly. ”The huge milestones are matched by big bills for the services Lily receives. They’re paid through the St. Mary’s County family’s private insurance and, until recently, with Medicaid funds. “She’s smart and knows what’s going on around her, but she’s locked in this body that doesn’t respond when she needs it to,” said her mother, Anna Williams. “There is something that can help her — and someone comes along and doesn’t want you to be able to access it.” (Cohn, 4/14)

Studies show an alarming number of veterans do not seek the services and support offered by Veteran Affairs Offices. But Marion County is trying to change that. A study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found nearly half of American veterans who need mental health care don’t get it. Often, these individuals find it difficult to ask for help but Marion County’s Veteran Services Office is trying to change the stigma. (Stone, 4/14)

Jatzael Alvarado Perez began struggling with life aboard the destroyer USS Farragut last year. The ship was in the process of getting ready to deploy, and a combination of the conditions aboard the Mayport, Florida-based ship and long stretches at sea were taking a toll on the 23-year-old sailor. "It's just not a good environment at all, it's not a healthy one for sure," Perez told Military.com in a phone conversation. (4/11)

Frank James posted several videos on Youtube in the days and months prior to becoming the suspect in the Brooklyn subway mass shooting on Tuesday. James has ties to Milwaukee where he recently lived on the city’s north side. Experts say acts of mass violence can often go hand-in-hand with mental health issues. While we don’t know James’ mental health history, we took some of his social media videos to a Milwaukee psychiatrist to identify potential red flags. (Jordan, 4/13)

Fifteen-year-old Jordyne Lewis was stressed out. The high school sophomore from Harrisburg, North Carolina, was overwhelmed with schoolwork, never mind the uncertainty of living in a pandemic that has dragged on for two long years. Despite the challenges, she never turned to her school counselor or sought out a therapist. Instead, she shared her feelings with a robot. Woebot to be precise. (Keierleber, 4/13)

With therapists in high demand and long waiting lists that make it challenging to find a provider, using a mental health app might seem like a tempting and relatively inexpensive way to get help. These apps claim to help with issues as varied as addiction, sleeplessness, anxiety and schizophrenia, often by using tools like games, therapy chatbots or mood-tracking diaries. But most are unregulated. Although some are considered useful and safe, others may have shaky (or nonexistent) privacy policies and a lack of high-quality research demonstrating that the apps live up to their marketing claims. (Caron, 4/13)