Mental Health News Updates - Feb/March

CW:// Suicide and Climate Related Disasters

In this mental health news update, we cover the 21 states with proposed or passed laws restricting gender-affirming care, public art engagement, and its mental health benefits, research reviews on the impacts of natural disasters and disaster fatigue, and we close with a very interesting did you know segment about the secret powers of people who nap.

Advocacy Alert - Support Relief for Turkey/Syria

• UNICEF is on the ground in Turkey and Syria helping children and families in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes.
• The Turkish Red Crescent is accepting donations and providing nutritional services and blood supplies for those affected or wounded by the earthquakes. 
• Humanity & Inclusion plans to expand its team in Syria to help provide mental health and rehabilitation services and will be deploying some rehab specialists to Turkey aid emergency care victims.
• Mercy Corps is working to aid those affected in northwest Syria, a place of limited infrastructure where 1.8 million people are living in camps after being displaced by years of armed conflict.
• Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are working with health authorities to provide medical aid. To donate, click here.
• The Syrian American Medical Society provides urgent medical care. You can donate here or by texting EarthquakeSyria to 71777.
• Social justice organization CARE International is working to assess the most urgent needs in the area. . Donate here.
• The Syrian Emergency Task Force is responding to the emergency by providing water, tents, food, blankets, medicine, and other supplies necessary. Donations are being accepted by SETF 
•  International Medical Corps is also accepting donations to make medical care and supplies available as p