Mental Health Good News

Stories about people and organizations making a difference for mental health — and fighting the stigma around mental health

On the left, a senior woman sits beside a younger woman in front of a puzzle on a table as they both smile. On the right, another senior woman wearing sunglasses raises a glass in cheers as college students to her right and behind her pour wine.

Dutch nursing home offers free rent to college students in exchange for their time and companionship

A nursing home in the heart of the Netherlands is giving college students free housing. All they ask is that the students lend their time, and friendship, to their senior neighbors.

Two photos side-by-side. On the left, a Black man takes a selfie with a squirrel eating a nut from his hand. On the right, a squirrel sits in a tree

TikTok's 'squirrel whisperer' spends weekend guarding wildlife from tree removal: 'Protect what brings you peace'

Derrick Downey Jr. has built his platform on loving the squirrels in his neighborhood. When the city stepped in, he stepped up.

Mental Health Awareness Month Depicted As An Illustration of a Person's Mind

29 Ways To Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We’ve gathered a list of ideas to help you celebrate, honor, and de-stigmatize the stories of mental health in your life and community.

A crowd of people in Grand Central Station in New York City

Interactive map crowd-sources 'neurodivergent-friendly' spaces across New York City

A project of KultureCity, the map of “Neu York” aims to help neurodivergent individuals feel more comfortable navigating the busy city.

Ilana Glazer smashes a vase in a purple rage room

Ilana Glazer, Calm host free rage room for moms: 'We don't need calm; we need community'

Mental health app Calm joined famously funny mom Ilana Glazer to initiate the “Not Calm Moms” club. Here’s how to join.

A bench with a colorful crocheted sign reads "happy to talk"

Autistic artist works with city to implement 'happy to talk' benches, combatting loneliness

Oliver Chan invites community members to join him for a chat on a bench, or at a local “Chatty Cafe.”

Woebot makes the case for AI therapy in new TED Talk: Therapists can't be there 'for those 2 a.m. panic attacks'

Woebot creator Alison Darcy: “Most people aren't getting in front of a therapist, and even if they are, they're not there beside you as you live your life.”

Two photos side-by-side. On the left, a man — Rob Scheer — holds up a large blue duffle bag in an office, smiling. On the right is a pile of colorful backpacks

After living 'life in a trash bag,' man donates 200K backpacks to restore dignity in foster youth

Rob Scheer’s experience in foster care — along with the stories of his own adopted children — inspired him to make a difference for all young people in need.

A prescription pad with a pen on a blue background

'StoryRx' initiative prescribes storytelling for older adults: 'Boosts survival odds by 50%'

Participating hospitals see storytelling as medicine — and their patients do, too.

A photo collage of a solar farm, a plant, a penguin, a car driving away from a cloud of smoke, and a solar wind farm

Good News This Week: March 22, 2025 - Penguins, Satellites, & Basketball

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

A vending machine carrying naloxone and xylazine test strips sits in an outdoor courtyard at Father Joe's Villages of San Diego

San Diego vending machines aim to curb 'tranq' overdoses in homeless shelters

Along with offering naloxone, these vending machines provide life-saving test strips, in an effort to decrease accidental overdoses.

A discarded needle sits on a city street

A large majority of homeless people in California are not actually illicit drug users, study finds

The study, published in JAMA last month, examined the relationship between homelessness and substance use.