A new policy guide to help community leaders combat mental health issues

The nonprofit advocacy group de Beaumont Foundation and the Well Being Trust just released a policy guide for leaders looking to help their communities address mental health problems. As more people report struggling with mental health in the wake of the pandemic, the comprehensive guide offers both short- and long-term recommendations. Among the short-term recommendations is working to de-stigmatize mental health and to normalize the fact that people have been adversely affected by the pandemic. The policy guide also includes strategies for particularly vulnerable groups, including frontline workers, older adults, and people of color. For older adults, for instance, recommendations include having volunteers provide training for technology to enable older people to stay in touch with friends and family to avoid isolation.