Call to Mind: Fostering New Conversations About Mental Health

Mental illness is the leading cause of hospitalization for America’s military service members. Anxiety conditions and post-traumatic stress disorders lead the list of diagnoses.This episode explores the mental health needs of people serving in the military, and of veterans. We hear about how combat and non-combat military duty can impact mental health. And we explore the unique resources and support available to service members and veterans.This episode was originally reported in 2025.Learn more about Call to Mind at calltomindnow.org.

Every day, queer teens and young adults are challenged by the politicization of gender identity and sexual orientation and the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. And the mental health consequences are alarming. A staggering 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth 13 through 24 report to have seriously considered suicide, and 14 percent have tried to hurt themselves, according to a 2022 report from The Trevor Project. Considering LGBTQ+ youth face continued fights around their identity, what are mental health concerns specific to queer youth? And what support is necessary for LGBTQ+ teens and young adults to best take care of their well-being amid a national political climate that’s working against them?This episode was originally reported in 2023.Learn more about Call to Mind at calltomindnow.org.

Black women and girls experience discrimination, microaggressions and stereotypes every day. Living with daily racism has a profound impact on the mental health, well-being and lives of all those coping with it. This episode explores the unique mental health burdens of Black women and girls in the United States. Through interviews with mental health providers and people sharing their personal stories, we’ll explore the effects of racism and how care systems can shift to better help Black women thrive. This episode was originally reported in 2024.Learn more about Call to Mind at calltomindnow.org.

Today we're sharing an episode of another podcast we think you'll like. Speaking of Psychology, from the American Psychological Association, is an audio podcast highlighting some of the latest psychological research with the goal to help listeners apply the science of psychology to their everyday lives. This episode explores what it means to rely on AI companions for emotional support, and how this new technology may affect human relationships. Host Kim Mills is in conversation with Ashleigh Golden, Psy.D., and Rachel Wood, Ph.D.Find more Speaking of Psychology podcast episodes.Learn more about the American Psychology Association.

Over the past decade, police in America have shot and killed 1,939 people who were in the middle of a mental health crisis. That’s 20% of all police killings in that time. Those deaths helped fuel a movement. Instead of armed police, more than half of the country’s largest cities now send specially trained social workers and EMTs. This new generation of first responders handle 911 calls involving mental illness, substance use disorders or suicidal thoughts. Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch is a special episode made in partnership with the Tradeoffs podcast. This episode takes listeners to Durham, North Carolina, to meet people who have reimagined the city’s crisis-response system.Learn more about Call to Mind at calltomindnow.org. For information about Tradeoffs and reporting related to this episode go to tradeoffs.org.