February 24, 2022

A Look Back, A Look Forward
Five Years of Advancing the Mental, Social, and Spiritual Health of the U.S.

A Message from Tyler Norris, MDiv, CEO, Well Being Trust

Sharpening our focus for the future

Five years since Well Being Trust’s founding, our nation is experiencing a prolonged inflection point.

On the one hand, rates of suicide, overdose, and mental health and addiction struggles continue to rise at record rates. People are suffering mightily. On the other, our understanding of the multi-causality of this suffering and our ability to implement effective solutions is growing apace.

There are sacred questions to be asked: Whither shall we go? What shall we wisely do? Who are we called to be, individually and together, in these times?

As a person of lived experience, who for 40 years has worked for healthy people and healthy places, I remain filled with hope and promise. There is much goodness to build on at every level across our great nation. How to work with these gifts, assets and notable momentum is at the heart of my message.

Read Tyler's Full Message

Community Microgrants: Making a Difference—One Person, One Neighborhood at a Time

Foster friendship and connection. Strengthen neighborhood bonds. Reduce social isolation and loneliness.

These are among the goals Social Health Labs is supporting by awarding a $1,000 community microgrant every month this year. The funding is designed to empower individuals who feel inspired to take action in their own neighborhoods.

The inspiration for the initiative springs from the experience of Kasley Killam, founder of Social Health Labs. Based on an afternoon social gathering of 15 millennials and 15 seniors in 2018, she found that local projects involving a small number of people in a large way can have ripple effects, ultimately reaching many more people than the number originally involved.

Read these inspiring stories about individuals and the community projects they are leading to foster friendship and connection, strengthen neighborhood bonds and reduce social isolation and loneliness.

Read 5 inspiring stories about strengthening neighborhood bonds

America’s School Mental Health Report Card

There is a mental health crisis happening in classrooms all across the country, and as we continue to live through this pandemic, we need to ensure young people feel supported at the place they spend so much of their lives — at school.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Inseparable, a mental health advocacy nonprofit, and a coalition of 15 other leading mental health organizations to form the Hopeful Futures campaign. We hope to shed light on how pervasive this crisis is, so we can push for school mental health reforms and ensure every child thrives.

The Hopeful Futures Campaign recently released “America’s School Mental Health Report Card,” a national report that grades all 50 states and Washington D.C. on their school mental health policies.

Each mental health report card also includes a range of policy solutions that states can take to have a positive impact on their students.

Read now to see how your state scores

Check out the new Well Being Trust Website

We recently updated our website so that it's easier for our readers to find information and resources related to the work that we are doing to advance the mental, social, and spiritual health of the nation.

The newly designed website is streamlined, has improved functionality, and easy access to essential up-to-date information on the state of mental health and addiction in the United States. Well Being Trust's new website will be updated on a regular basis with news and information, reports, resources and more.

Learn more about our History, Mission and Impact Strategy, check out our latest Resources and Reports, find out who we are talking to about mental health in our new Media Center, view Webinars, read our Blogs, and learn more about the Well Being Trust Team and more!

Click here to visit WellBeingTrust.org

A Special Focus on Black Mental Health
and Well-Being

Well Being Trust joins the nation in celebrating Black History Month and honoring the rich contributions and culture of Black Americans. As we focus on Black Mental Health and Well-Being throughout February, we are sharing resources that support Black mental wellness.

Check out our feature stories, blogs, and resources including:

How the Mental Health Crisis is Disproportionately Affecting Black Communities - In his weekly newsletter, Benjamin Miller, PsyD, president, Well Being Trust, shares information about the egregious disparities that Black communities experience when it comes to health and mental health outcomes. Read the latest from Dr. Benjamin Miller
Filling My Cup: 8 Black Executives on Tending to Their Mental Health - Our latest blog from Miriam Pearsall, MPH, executive fellow at Well Being Trust. Miriam shares practical tips and resources that Black executives use to tend to their mental health. View blog here
A Focus on Black Mental Health and Well-Being - Resources that support Black mental wellness. View resources

Save the Date for Upcoming Events

February 26, 10 a.m. to noon PT - Work2BeWell Virtual Teen Mental Health Summit. This free, teen-led event will showcase student voices, offer key breakouts to discuss mental health themes, and highlight clinically-vetted resources. REGISTER HERE (by Friday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.)
February 28, 2-3 p.m. ET - Reparations: A Path to More Equitable Economies. The Well-being In the Nation Network (WIN Network) is hosting a panel to explore reparations as a path to more equitable economies. REGISTER HERE
February 28, 6 PM ET - AAKOMA Project's first event of 2022. A conversation about suicide in the Black community. REGISTER HERE
June 14-16: Virtual NAMICon 2022 - NAMICon provides an opportunity to bring awareness, resources and solutions to a wider audience of people affected by mental health conditions — both nationally and globally. REGISTER HERE