The Raising Hope Center

09/02/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month. After being a Psychiatrist for over 40 years, it's clear to me that suicidal thoughts and brains work differently.

Amen Clinics has scanned hundreds of patients who have attempted su***de and many more who have thought about taking their own life. The SPECT scans of these patients revealed abnormalities in the brain, especially in these areas: 
* Temporal Lobes: Brain SPECT imaging shows that people with suicidal thoughts and su***de attempts often have abnormalities in the left temporal lobe. In an Amen Clinics study, we saw left temporal lobe problems in 62 percent of our patients who had serious suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 
* Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): After reviewing nearly 300,000 functional brain scans related to behavior it is clear that head injuries are a leading cause of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, PTSD, ADHD/ADD, substance abuse, psychosis, borderline and antisocial personality disorders, dementia, and aggression. Concussions and TBIs also increase the risk of su***de. When the brain has functional damage due to a head injury, it’s critical to heal the brain in order to overcome any mental health problems. At Amen Clinics, 40 percent of our patients have had a significant brain injury.
* Prefrontal Cortex: A large-scale study by researchers at Portland State University found that about 22 percent of people who died by su***de were legally intoxicated at the time of their death. Brain scans show that alcohol lowers function in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in impulse control, judgment, and decision-making.
* Anterior Cingulate Gyrus: People with overactivity in this area of the brain tend to get stuck on negative thoughts, which is one of the traits we see in people with suicidal thoughts and behavior.

09/01/2026

📅 Mark your calendars: 9/8 is ! Join us in raising awareness of the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and reminding people that support is available. This year’s theme, “988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough,” reminds us that you don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Learn more and find resources to participate: samhsa.gov/988Day

04/30/2024

Your emails matter to get this necessary law passed. Every child’s life matters. Click the below link to email NYS Leadership and voice your support of Kyra’s Law.

This will take you 15 seconds, and will help save the lives of other children from being court-ordered into harm's way.

01/24/2024

Can we talk about anxiety for a second?

Anxiety disorders increased 25% since the COVID pandemic. About 374 million people are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is pervasive and can manifest differently in people but is common even for people without a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

Educating yourself, promoting open conversations and creating a supportive environment are ways we can support our loved ones and ourselves.

01/21/2024

So many people suffer from depression but because they do well at work, always have a smile on their face and outwardly manage their responsibilities, their depression is not recognized.

This is why it’s important to check in with your loved ones. Depression can be invisible.

07/10/2023

We are holding a fundraiser in memory of children who have died due to abuse or neglect. Our guests will enjoy live music, dancing, dinner, and raffle prizes. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to the Long Island chapter of BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse). We want to make sure that....