The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is offering monthly mental health first aid trainings for the rest of 2025. Sessions will teach participants to recognize warning signs that someone is in a mental health crisis or struggling with substance abuse, provide support in crisis and non-crisis situations and connect others with mental health resources.

A study from Yale University has found a 62% increase in the number of young adults that have committed suicide since 2007. The CDC found that 1-5 high school students considered suicide in 2024.

About 1 in 5 women experience some negative feelings after the birth of a child or a mental health condition during pregnancy. About three quarters of these women do not receive any treatment, especially in underserved communities. Untreated mental health issues can lead to things like disrupted child bonding, impaired infant development, and even some serious health outcomes for the child and mother – suicide and overdose are among the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S., especially in the late postpartum period. Since its founding in 1977, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida has had a mission to provide quality healthcare that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial means or insurance status. We sit down with its Chief Medical Officer to have a conversation about women's mental health.

How do you develop a better mind frame? At Florida Gulf Coast University, one program utilizes compassion, kindness and empathy as tools for building better mental health.

Normal is Overrated is an annual event designed to help young people break barriers and improve communication about their own mental health and well-being and open up about their own personal challenges and the kinds of help they’ve received. We get a preview of this year's event that's happening on Sat., May 3 from 11am to 2pm at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers.

For 10 years, FGCU’s Contemplative Life community has been helping students learn to tackle life's challenges.The Contemplative Life course teaches students meditation, yoga and other skills that allow for greater mindfulness, stress management and emotional resilience. Dr. Maria Roca introduced the class – and what eventually became a community — to FGCU.

Every year, we move the clocks forward one hour for daylight saving time. While losing only one hour of sleep seems harmless, there are some health concerns that can arise.

In schools across Lee County, students are taking a stand against violence and promoting school safety through the Sandy Hook Promise’s Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) clubs. Local students, parents and faculty are joining forces to make their campuses safer.Launched by the Sandy Hook Promise organization in response to the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in 2012, these clubs are a part of a nationwide effort to ensure that school environments are not only physically safe but also emotionally and psychologically supportive.

Some people say there's a need for more mental health funding and awareness in Southwest Florida. And Lee County is taking some steps to try to do both.

Code Switch weighs in on preparing for difficult political conversations and when to draw the line and uninvite yourself from that family potluck.