Guest Post By:  R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
This October marks the second annual National Substance Abuse Prevention Month – an observance to highlight the vital role of substance abuse prevention in individual and community health and to remember those who lost their lives to substance abuse.  The Office of National Drug Control Policy joins President Obama in celebrating National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and encourages prevention efforts this month and all year long to ensure the health of teens and young adults.
Millions of Americans …

Written By:   Ingrid Donato, Branch Chief, Mental Health Promotions Branch & James Wright, Public Health Advisor, Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress and Special Programs
Today marks the beginning of Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.  Each year millions of children and youth experience the humiliation and devastating effects of bullying.  Bullying damages the physical, social, and emotional well-being of its victims. It also hurts the children who bully, as well as those who watch it happen. In fact, bullying creates a climate of fear, callousness, and disrespect for everyone involved.  SAMHSA is committed to reducing …

Written By: Pamela Hyde, SAMHSA Administrator 
Every day nearly 100 Americans die by suicide, and even higher is the number of people who contemplate suicide.  A study released this year by SAMHSA found that 8.6 million American adults experienced serious thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months.  Among children ages 14-18, 2.9 million had serious thoughts of suicide.
Suicide is a public health issue that touches the lives of millions of people across the nation, and each of us has a role to play in preventing it in our own communities.
On …

Cross-posted from blog.aids.gov
Written By:  Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
September marks the 23rd annual observance of National Recovery Month (Recovery Month).  Our colleagues at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) organize Recovery Month as an observance to educate Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable people with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live healthy and rewarding lives. The main focus is to celebrate the gains made …

Written By: Pamela Hyde, SAMHSA Administrator 

SAMHSA is proud to announce a new online campaign to promote the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, You Matter.  The campaign focuses on the positive message that the lives of young adults matter, even as they face trying times or difficult problems.

Through a blog and social media, You Matter aims to build awareness and trust in the Lifeline among young adults by providing a safe, online space where they can connect with the Lifeline. The campaign showcases hopeful peer-to-peer messages and also supports friends of young adults …