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This week, the world mourned the deaths of designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, two well-known, successful professionals who, by all accounts, were living happy lives full of fame and fortune. If nothing else, these tragedies drive home the message that mental health does not discriminate and mental illness is a chronic disease […]

The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) has released budget testimony issued before Philadelphia City Council. The testimony reflects plans for fiscal year 2019, and a complete budgetary overview.

The City of Philadelphia announced the launch of a pilot encampment action plan for the Kensington area as part of the City’s latest efforts in combating the opioid crisis in Philadelphia. The City and partners researched best practices from around the country in addressing addiction-related homelessness. This pilot intensively engages individuals living under the Kensington and Tulip […]

On Wednesday, May 16, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services Commissioner David T. Jones participated in the IDEA Gala, an event where the University of Pennsylvania’s Your Big Idea Challenge recipients were acknowledged. Launched this past February, the Your Big Idea Challenge was designed to help therapists in community mental health organizations throughout […]

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) is pleased to have the Philadelphia Phillies host Mental Health Awareness Night on Monday, May 21, at 7:05 p.m. as the Phillies take on the Atlanta Braves! Join us for an evening at Citizens Bank Park and […]

Heat-related illnesses (HRI) are the leading cause of extreme-weather deaths in the United States. In fact, HRI causes more deaths than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods … combined! On average, 675 deaths from extreme heat events occur each year in the United States. With the summer months on the horizon, DBHIDS is preparing for […]

The Philadelphia Autism Project, housed at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, will host an art exhibit at Philadelphia City Hall to highlight individual experiences of Philadelphia and what this city means to them.  The art show is also an opportunity to increase autism awareness and celebrate neurodiversity. This Art in City Hall exhibit, “Philadelphia: A […]

Continuing the established trend of Philadelphia being a leader in mental health awareness, in December, the city surprised 25,000 people trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). This achievement makes Philadelphia the city with the most trainees in MHFA. “This milestone for Mental Health First Aid trainees represents a monumental feat,” said DBHIDS Commissioner David […]