Mental Health Good News

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

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.

A photo collage of a tiny home pallet, an offshore drill in the middle of the ocean, a pile of children's books spread out on a shelf, a river and trees, and a 3D-printed inflammable home

Good News This Week: February 22, 2025 - Homes, Ramps, & Rinks

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

Three book covers side-by-side: The Language of Kindness, The Kindness Method, and Be Kind

5 books about kindness that inspire compassion and empathy

This short list of books — spanning memoirs, biographies, and self-help journals — inspires empathy and compassion.

New tiny home 'recovery village' designed to promote sobriety in homeless residents

The low-barrier community will provide shelter to residents for up to 24 months as they work to maintain sobriety.

A group of people stand outside of a former Days Inn hotel, which is being converted into an establishment called The Monarch Apartments for people facing chronic homelessness

Former Days Inn given new life as housing project for homeless folks: 'We can get 40 people off the street at one time'

The facility will have 24-hour on-site supportive services.

A mockup of the Watt Service Center and Safe Stay facility in Sacramento, California

California establishes 'innovative' new homeless campus: 'Heck of a lot cheaper than letting someone stay unsheltered'

The new Safe Stay campus will include 225 cabins, 75 emergency respite beds, health services, job training, and more.