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1. The article reports that Vermont is suing Meta, alleging that Instagram, a social media platform owned by Meta, is designed to be addictive and harmful to the mental health of young users. The lawsuit claims that Meta is aware of the risks posed by Instagram but continues business practices for profit, leading to a mental health crisis among teens. The Vermont Attorney General's Office seeks a permanent injunction against Meta, citing violations of the state's Consumer Protection Law and requesting civil penalties for each alleged violation.

2. The provided source appears to be a news article reporting on Vermont's lawsuit against Meta concerning the alleged negative impact of Instagram on the mental health of young users. As with any source, it's essential to consider potential biases and goals. The article seems to be reporting factual information about the lawsuit and its claims.

3. The source, detailing Vermont's lawsuit against Meta regarding the alleged harmful impact of Instagram on young users' mental health, is valuable for understanding legal actions addressing social media's potential adverse effects. It provides specific claims and legal arguments that can contribute to raising awareness about the broader issue of social media's impact on mental health, potentially helping to persuade people to care about the need for responsible platform practices and user well-being.

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By Sarah Mearhoff, VTDigger

MONTPELIER - Vermont is suing the tech giant Meta, alleging that the company designed its social media platform Instagram to be addictive and otherwise harmful to the mental health of young users.

Standing before the Vermont Superior Court in Burlington on Tuesday afternoon, Attorney General Charity Clark told reporters that her team had filed the lawsuit against the owners of Facebook and Instagram just minutes before. Clark coordinated with more than 40 other attorneys general across the country who also sued Meta on Tuesday in state and federal court.

"We are suing to hold these corporations accountable for Instagram's contribution to the mental health crisis that is gripping teens across the country," she said Tuesday.

Vermont's 117-page lawsuit alleges that Instagram has detrimental impacts on young users' mental health, that usage correlates with social media addiction, sleep deprivation, poor self-image, feelings of loneliness and even the desire to self-harm. Citing a 2023 advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General's Office, Clark said that excessive social media use in teens is suspected to impact neurological development in young brains, and can lead to diagnosable medical conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, eating disorders, sleep disorders, addiction and suicidal ideation.

Meta knows that Instagram poses these risks to young users, Clark said on Tuesday, but has continued business as usual - and, she said, even lied to the public about the app's safety for children - in pursuit of profits.

"In short, Instagram is addictive and harmful to youth," Clark said. "There is a mental health epidemic happening among teens across this country. Meta is contributing to that epidemic, and we are here today to hold them accountable."

Most of the 42 attorneys general participating in the coordinated legal effort opted to sign onto one joint lawsuit in federal court. That effort is led by the attorneys general of Colorado and Tennessee and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of California. Clark's office was one of eight that instead opted to file their own lawsuits in state court. It also conducted its own independent investigation of Instagram's practices in Vermont.

Clark's office hinged its legal argument on the claim that Meta violated Vermont's Consumer Protection Law by engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices - namely, by lying to the public about the safety of Instagram despite knowing its adverse impacts on young users.

In a written statement responding to the lawsuits filed in Vermont and other states on Tuesday, Meta wrote that they in fact "share the attorneys general's commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online," but were "disappointed" in their approach.

"We're disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path," Meta wrote.

In its state court suit, the Vermont Attorney General's Office requested a permanent injunction against Meta, prohibiting it from engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices in Vermont.

It's also seeking civil penalties of $10,000 for every one of Meta's alleged violations of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. Each violation, the office argued, should be defined as "each instance in which a Young person accessed the Instagram platform in the State of Vermont."

Asked how many teens in Vermont are Instagram users, Assistant Attorney General Jamie Renner did not offer a specific number, but pointed to a Pew Research Center study that found in 2022 that 62% of teenagers nationwide between 13 and 17 years-old report being Instagram users.

Of course, Instagram is far from the only social media platform with a large teenage user base. The same Pew Research study found that 67% of teenagers nationwide use the short video sharing platform TikTok.

Asked if her office is pursuing similar litigation against other social media platforms, Clark cited her office's policy of neither confirming nor denying ongoing investigations, but left the door open to speculation.

"I do think it's already public that states are looking at TikTok, so I can acknowledge that, but I can't say anything further," she said.

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Vt. sues Meta over teen mental health - Addison Independent

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Vermont is suing the tech giant Meta, alleging that the company designed its social media platform Instagram to be addictive and otherwise harmful to the mental health of young users.

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Cox asks lawmakers for $193M to address homelessness, mental health crises

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Cox asks lawmakers for $193M to address homelessness, mental health crises

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1. Utah Governor Spencer Cox is urging lawmakers to allocate over $193 million to address homelessness and mental health issues, citing significant gaps in the existing system. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 includes funds for emergency shelter space, affordable housing, an alternative to the criminal justice system, housing preservation, and the enhancement of the state's behavioral health workforce. Governor Cox emphasizes the immediate need to tackle chronic homelessness, end unsanctioned camping, and proposes changes to mental health licensure to meet the demand for behavioral health care workers.

2. The provided source appears to be a news article reporting on Utah Governor Spencer Cox's budget proposal to address homelessness and mental health. As a news source, it can be valuable for understanding the governor's initiatives and priorities. To assess its usefulness, reliability, and potential bias, cross-referencing with other reputable news outlets or official government sources would be beneficial. The article's goal seems to inform the public about the governor's proposals and the urgent need to address homelessness and mental health issues in the state.

3. The source, detailing Utah Governor Spencer Cox's budget proposal to address homelessness and mental health, is helpful in understanding the state's initiatives and priorities in tackling these pressing issues. It provides insights into the proposed funding allocations and the governor's emphasis on urgent action. This information could be valuable in conveying the importance of addressing homelessness and mental health to a wider audience, emphasizing the state's commitment to making significant investments in these critical areas.

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Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

WEST VALLEY CITY - Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is asking lawmakers for more than $193 million to address homelessness and mental health, which he said will help fill "significant gaps in the system" that cause too many people to fall through.

The governor announced the request as part of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, the rest of which will be released Tuesday. He spoke Monday at the Atherton Community Correctional Center in West Valley City, highlighting his request for $128 million for emergency shelter space, $30 million for deeply affordable housing, $10.6 million for an alternative to the criminal justice system that would direct individuals to treatment, $10 million for housing preservation and $8 million to bolster the state's behavioral health workforce.

Another $7 million would go homelessness prevention in general.

"For all the good that is being done, there are still significant gaps in the system, and too many people are falling through those gaps," Cox said. "Too often, those who have serious mental illness or addictions are ending up in jail for a night and then released right back onto the street instead of getting the help that they need."

He added, "We can and we must do better."

Cox also announced what he called a "historic" agreement between state and local leaders to address homelessness as a statewide issue.

The recommendations will need to be approved by the Utah Legislature during its upcoming general session, which begins in January.

"There's great interest in this work," Cox said when asked if he's spoken with legislators about his proposal. "I don't know if ... they'll want to adopt every single part of the proposal, but I think we'll get most of it done, and they know this is a top priority for them as well."

Emergency shelters

Cox's proposal includes funds to address homelessness at several levels by trying to house people in the first place, and by providing treatment and services to help people get back on their feet.

But the "immediate crisis" in Utah is chronic, existing homelessness because "there simply aren't enough beds in the current emergency shelter system," the governor said. While the state grapples with long-term solutions, Cox said the $128 million he requested for emergency shelter space would help stabilize the current system and ensure there is shelter for those who need it.

He joined state and local leaders last month in announcing a plan to crack down on unsanctioned campsites when there is shelter space available, and reiterated Monday his belief that "we have to end unsanctioned camping in this state. It cannot be allowed to happen."

Cox said he has personally seen people being attacked in public places and said there's "too much lawlessness on our streets."

"We've seen too many other great cities in this country that have fallen prey to this pernicious result where people are suffering indignantly on the streets and citizens do not feel safe going onto those same streets," he said.

Gov. Spencer Cox talks with Pamela Atkinson, adviser to the governor, at Atherton Community Treatment Center in West Valley City on Monday. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

Utah's need for mental health care

Cox said the state also needs to do more to address mental health issues, which is a distinct concern among those experiencing chronic homelessness. He said the state needs about 8,000 additional behavioral health care workers to meet the current demand.

The $8 million he requested for mental health care includes $3.3 million for paid internships, student loan forgiveness and training incentives; $2.9 million in ongoing funding for rural receiving centers and two additional mobile crisis teams, as well as money to fund a pilot project to increase behavioral health licensing opportunities.

He said he would like to see Utah meet its need for mental health professionals "as quickly as possible" but acknowledged that current licensing requirements are making it difficult.

Unlike the medical field - where high school graduates can begin training to work as emergency medical responders - the field of psychology is limited to those with graduate degrees.

"We're doing it all wrong," Cox said. "This is a major flaw in licensure in our state. If you look at the medical profession ... at every phase, there is something that you can do in that field. That is not true in psychology and psychiatry. We think that's a mistake."

He said he believes "there's a workforce out there, we're just not allowing them to do the work," saying he wants the Legislature to consider revamping the way the state issues licenses to practice in the mental health field. Cox didn't offer a specific proposal for changes and noted that those with less training wouldn't be able to do as much as those with higher levels of education.

The governor said licensure changes are a "top priority" and issued a word of warning to trade associations if they oppose the changes "for protectionist reasons."

"It's going to be a very bad day for you," he said. "So, you can be part of the solution or you can be part of the problem. ... This is about tens of thousands of Utahns who can't get treatment right now because it takes five months to get into a psychologist or a psychiatrist. ... This is unacceptable."
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly stated the amount of funding requested by the governor for homelessness as $186 million instead of $193 million.
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Most recent Utah homelessness stories

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Cox asks lawmakers for $193M to address homelessness, mental health crises

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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is asking the Legislature for $193 million to fund affordable housing, behavioral health care and emergency homeless shelter space.

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Rosalynn Carter leaves a legacy through her mental health advocacy

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Rosalynn Carter leaves a legacy through her mental health advocacy

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1. The article discusses the passing of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, highlighting her significant contributions as a mental health advocate both during and after her husband Jimmy Carter's presidency. It emphasizes her focus on mental health and the elderly, her criticism of media coverage, and her lasting impact through initiatives and institutions promoting mental health awareness and support.

2. The article appears to be a useful source for understanding the significant role Rosalynn Carter played as a mental health advocate and her impact on awareness and support initiatives. It provides factual information about her accomplishments and contributions. The reliability seems reasonable, given the nature of reporting on a public figure's life and work. The article's goal seems to be informative, honoring Carter's legacy and emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness. Without information on its alignment with a specific political bias, it appears to be presented in an objective manner.

3. The source, detailing the life and impactful advocacy of former first lady Rosalynn Carter in the realm of mental health, is valuable for understanding her contributions. It enriches the research by providing insights into her initiatives and the institutions she established to promote mental health awareness and support. This information is instrumental in conveying the significance of mental health advocacy, and specifically Rosalynn Carter's legacy, to a broader audience, fostering understanding and support for mental health causes.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Former first lady Rosalynn Carter will always be remembered as a great advocate for mental health both before and after her husband, Jimmy Carter, served as president.

And those in the mental health community will be feeling the void left by her death Sunday.

Throughout her husband's political career, she chose mental health and problems of the elderly as her signature policy emphasis.

When the news media didn't cover those efforts as much as she believed was warranted, she criticized reporters for writing only about "sexy subjects."

As honorary chairwoman of the President's Commission on Mental Health, she once testified before a Senate subcommittee, becoming the first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt to address a congressional panel.

She was back in Washington in 2007 to push Congress for improved mental health coverage, saying, "We've been working on this for so long, it finally seems to be in reach."
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She said she developed her interest in mental health during her husband's campaigns for Georgia governor.

"I used to come home and say to Jimmy, 'Why are people telling me their problems?' And he said, 'Because you may be the only person they'll ever see who may be close to someone who can help them,'" she explained.

Even before the White House, she was a member of the Governor's Commission to Improve Services to the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped when her husband was governor of Georgia.

And once they were in Washington, she helped bring about the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980.

In 1985, she launched the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy at the Carter Center to bring together representatives of mental health organizations nationwide to focus and coordinate their efforts on key issues.

In 1996, she created an annual Georgia Mental Health Forum to focus on helping Georgia build a healthier mental health care system.

The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force, which she chaired, identifies policy initiatives for the Carter Center Mental Health Program and annual symposia.

Through the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, she addressed the concerns of those who take care of people suffering from mental illnesses and other chronic illnesses and long-term disabilities.

As an author, she wrote "Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers" and " Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis."

Her mission has inspired mental health institutions across the country, especially here in Augusta.

"Seeing that the pioneers before me, were, you know, paving the way is awesome. And we want to continue to do that," said Charley Willis, Co-Director of Georgia Family Crisis Solutions and Counseling.

They offer counseling, therapy, classes, many online services, mental health advocate events, and much more.

She says everyone should be advocates just like Rosalynn was and that she is part of the reason why they do what they do today.

"Mental health awareness is so important, especially for our friends and our loved ones, because it's the silent killer. People won't speak up when they're hurting, when they have anxiety or depression, or when they're ashamed about what they're going through. Our past, you know, plays a lot of who we are today," she said.

Even though there is more support today, getting help and checking on your loved ones is still just as important.

"Stigma still exists, because there are still some barriers that aren't being reached, you know, financial issues, people have all kinds of things that keep them keep them from getting help, even their family, you know, friends, just their surrounding areas," said Willis.

Even if you don't think you need it, it doesn't hurt to get extra help.

Ronald Willis, Co-Director of Georgia Family Crisis Solutions, said: "If you're going to the doctor for a physical checkup, every year, I go to a therapist for a minute checkup. Because we want to be proactive and not reactive, we don't want to wait to something is wrong, we want to have prevented things in place to help us."

Rosalynn received many honors and awards for her support of mental health causes, including the 2018 Bill Foege Global Health Award, Volunteer of the Decade Award from the National Mental Health Association, the Dorothea Dix Award from the Mental Illness Foundation, the Nathan S. Kline Medal of Merit from the International Committee Against Mental Illness, the Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health from the Institute of Medicine, the United States Surgeon General's Medallion, induction in the National Women's Hall of Fame, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. She was an honorary fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

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Rosalynn Carter leaves a legacy through her mental health advocacy

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Throughout her husband's political career, Georgia's Rosalynn Carter chose mental health and problems of the elderly as her signature policy emphasis.

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The perils of people remaining indifferent to mental health are profound and multifaceted. Mental health issues affect individuals, families, and communities, leading to a range of challenges such as diminished quality of life, increased healthcare costs, and a strain on societal resources. Indifference can contribute to the perpetuation of stigma, making it difficult for individuals to seek help, exacerbating the severity of mental health conditions, and leading to more profound societal consequences.

While specific solutions may vary, sources often emphasize the importance of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and increasing access to mental health resources. Education campaigns that foster understanding and empathy toward mental health struggles can help combat indifference. Promoting open conversations about mental health in schools, workplaces, and communities can contribute to destigmatizing the topic and encouraging individuals to seek help without fear of judgment. Additionally, increased funding for mental health services, community support programs, and accessible treatment options are crucial elements in addressing the perils associated with indifference to mental health. By combining efforts to educate, destigmatize, and provide adequate resources, society can work toward a more supportive and understanding environment for individuals facing mental health challenges.

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It's all about understanding and taking care of our mental well-being. It's important to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. We should promote open conversations, reduce stigma, and provide support to those who may be struggling. There are various ways to support mental health, such as seeking therapy, practicing self-care, connecting with loved ones, and educating ourselves about different mental health conditions. It's also crucial to be kind and compassionate towards others, as we never know what they might be going through. As someone who goes to therapy, this topic interests me because a lot of people struggle with things that we may not know about. Which is why we should be more aware of how we act towards people and be more aware of other people's mental health.

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Three Reasons Everyone Should Care About Mental Health awareness.  

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Three Reasons Everyone Should Care About Mental Health awareness.  