In 2022, the national suicide lifeline — 988 — launched, creating the first nationwide support for people struggling with suicidal ideation in the U.S. The free, 24/7 lifeline marked a major milestone for mental health support. However, on July 17, 2025, 988 officially stopped serving LGBTQ+ youth. Despite these services no longer being offered through 988, organizations like The Trevor Project have stepped up to fill the gap. Here are some other local and national emergency resources for LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has simplified processes for many, allowed them to automate unwanted tasks and helped them accomplish more in a day. Some also use AI chatbots as entertainment: to create funny images or to talk to when they’re bored. While AI certainly has value — I used it to proofread this article — people have started to use it for more complex tasks, like a stand-in for a mental health therapist. On the surface, this might seem like a good idea. However, relying solely on an AI chatbot to care for your mental health may do more harm than good.
When I was a child, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I thought I’d enter adulthood as a fully realized person who had themself together. I envisioned a strong and self-assured woman. Life didn’t quite go as planned. I was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during my sophomore year of high school. This diagnosis completely shifted the context of my life, including my future
I’m proud of my Filipino heritage and my identity as an Asian American, but I can’t ignore the role stereotypes and culture can play in delaying diagnosis and enforcing stigmas around mental health. I attempted to conform to these stereotypes not to be seen as “weird,” as there were already ways I didn’t fit the norm as a child. Looking back now, I realize that was another form of masking.
Wandering, also known as elopement, is when a child — or a vulnerable individual — leaves the safety of a responsible person’s care and/or a safe environment. They might run away from the grocery store, leave their school classroom or escape from their family home alone.
Congress is currently discussing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid programs. Some of these funding cuts may not seem unreasonable on the surface. However, less funding for these programs would be devastating to many individuals and families with disabilities.
Everyone wants to feel like they belong, but for many people with sensory processing differences, the world isn’t built with their needs in mind. Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells and crowded spaces can turn everyday experiences — like getting a haircut, visiting a museum or attending a game — into overwhelming challenges.
There’s nothing easy about having a child who is chronically ill. Watching them suffer is heartbreaking, and you likely feel that no one else understands what you and your family are going through. You’re probably exhausted from juggling doctor’s appointments, therapy appointments, hospital stays and caring for your child at home. Finding time for yourself, your significant other and your other children may feel next to impossible. But the truth is, you deserve care and time, too. You can’t pour from an empty cup, as the saying goes. Here are six tips to help parents of chronically ill children cope better.
I don’t remember all the words, but I remember my mom calling me the second day I was in the hospital. She asked if I had everything I needed, if the food was okay and if she should bring anything to make my stay more comfortable. She asked all the things a mother would ask, but what she couldn’t ask in the moment was, “Why?” I don’t think she could have brought herself to ask that; she was still in shock. I don’t blame her.
We all respond to sensory information differently. Maybe you find loud music overwhelming or can’t stand the feeling of wool sweaters. Sensory processing differences are common in people with autism, as well as those with anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other emotional/behavioral issues.In fact, as many as 1 in 3 people has a sensory processing difference. These differences affect how individuals react to sensory input.
Some are hypersensitive and feel overwhelmed or experience extreme discomfort when encountering loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, crowds and other sensory input. To calm their bodies and regulate their emotions, they likely feel the need to remove themselves from the sensory input. That can make ordinary experiences, like going to the dentist, getting a haircut or attending a sporting event, very challenging. People with sensory differences are also hyposensitive, or under-responsive, so they crave more sensory input.