Suicide Prevention Awareness Month for Children, Teens, and Adults
August 18, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
Every day, there are approximately 3,041 suicide attempts by young people in grades 9-12. Yet due to stigmas and taboos, this isn’t talked about nearly enough. There are too many people of all ages – children, teens, and adults – who face suicide and who could have received help.
To combat this “silent epidemic” of suicide, September has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. During this month, mental health advocates, suicide survivors, allies, and the community at large come togehter to spread awareness of the scope of this problem and... Continue reading →
Tips on Going Back to School
August 17, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
Heading back to school can be a stressful time, especially for students who struggle with emotional regulation and similar challenges. Even in normal years, many students face anxiety, depression, sensory issues, and other mental health challenges at the start of the school year.
However, this year is different:
- The last school year may have been traumatic as students had to adjust to at-home learning amidst the raging pandemic
- New COVID-19 protocols and guidelines can mean unfamiliar rules and processes
- Many students have become accustomed to staying at home, not going to school
Combined, these can make the 2021-2022 school... Continue reading →
Helping Your Adolescent Navigate the Summer
July 20, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
As summer break from school begins, and the world continues to open up after the pandemic, many teens are struggling to adapt to “life as normal”. Teenagers struggle with change as it is. When the pandemic began, the sudden loss of interacting with their school friends was hard. But at least there was some guidance from school, community, and government officials about what to do.
Now, with restrictions being lifted, there is virtually no instruction on how to go “back to normal” Despite the difficult, emotionally destabilizing quarantine and lockdown, we are all expected to navigate this change on our own. For teens who experience anxiety, stress... Continue reading →
Pandemic Effects: Social Anxiety
July 20, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
The pandemic disrupted every aspect of our lives. On their own, each of these changes might have been small. Shifting to remote work was challenging, for example. So were the many months of isolation and feeling nervous about whether a neighbor might be contagious. But combine all these changes together, and the experience quickly becomes overwhelming.
Though the world is beginning to open up again, the emotional and mental effects of the pandemic linger. More and more people – 49 percent, according to the American Psychological Association – report being... Continue reading →
Managing the Post-pandemic Return to Normalcy
July 20, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
The pandemic forced millions of people out of their routines. For many, this meant no longer having access to the coping strategies and structures they needed to maintain their mental health. Going to the gym? Taking a break to go see a movie? Even going to school or work? All unavailable in a moment.
This sudden transition felt paralyzing to some. All of us went into survival mode in our own ways. However, over time, we all adjusted and developed new routines. But once again, as the world reopens, another transition is upon us.
Unlike the onset of the pandemic, when we had little to no warning, we can now plan for a smooth, healthy transition into our new... Continue reading →
Pandemic Effects: Summer 2021- Safe and Fun Activities for the Family
July 16, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
School is out, warm weather is here, and more and more people are getting their COVID-19 vaccinations. The feeling of “normal” is slowly coming back to our communities. But many of us are left with questions and lingering uncertainty about when it’s okay to return to normal. Here’s why it’s important to engage in fun, safe activities this summer – and some ideas for activities your entire family can enjoy.
Why Returning to Normal Matters
As any parent who suddenly found themselves in lockdown knows, the pandemic took a toll on our mental health. Parenting on its own is hard enough, even in “good” times. Adding:
- Remote work
- School via Zoom... Continue reading →
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
April 21, 2021 Posted in: Announcement
Why is mental health important for overall health? According to the CDC, mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. Mental Health conditions, like depression, can increase risk related to chronic disease conditions, just as physical health conditions, such as diabetes and cancer, can impact one’s mental health. After the year of COVID-19 in 2020 and no real end in sight to the pandemic, gaining a greater understanding of the mental conditions that individuals are struggling with now has even more significance.
Why Mental Health Awareness Month?
How to Cope with Seasonal Depression During COVID-19
December 8, 2020 Posted in: News Release
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought major changes to everyday life. With new social distancing measures, lockdowns, and safety protocols, many people have needed to adapt to new routines. For some people, these changes have had a range of negative impacts on their mental health. In addition to stressors from the COVID-19 pandemic, people may also face seasonal depression at this time of year. The onset of seasonal depression typically starts in the late fall and early winter, and symptoms of seasonal depression persist until early spring. In the article below, we discuss the impacts that COVID-19 and seasonal depression can have on mental health. We also detail ways that... Continue reading →
Taking Part in National Recovery Month
October 1, 2020 Posted in: News Release
Far too often, people do not get the mental health treatment they need. People may go without treatment for a variety of reasons, including a belief that treatment will not work for them and that recovery is impossible. In such cases, the person's mental health condition typically worsens, and their condition may soon become unmanageable.
Each September, National Recovery Month aims to spread the message that mental health treatment does work and that recovery from mental health conditions is possible. A person's mental health condition does not have to define the... Continue reading →
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care With Behavioral Health
September 28, 2020 Posted in: News Release
Many people experience episodes of trauma in their lives, and those experiences often have lasting effects. One area of a person’s life that trauma can impact is the person’s behavioral health. In some cases, a person may develop behavioral health issues due to the ongoing effects of trauma. In other cases, a person may find that his traumatic experiences impact his ability to take part in behavioral health treatment programs.
Trauma-informed care is a behavioral health treatment approach where clinicians consider the possible impact of trauma on each patient. In this post, we discuss the foundations of trauma-informed care and how trauma-informed care can... Continue reading →