It just got much easier to get help for people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. On July 16, 2022, a national three-digit number rolled out that guides callers to support for suicidal ideation. The number, 988, will connect anyone who dials it to trained crisis counselors with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline who can help [...]
While social media can provide us with a way to connect with other people and learn new information, it is important to remember that online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat, and Twitter also have their downsides. One of these is an adverse effect on mental health. How Social Media Hurts Us You have probably [...]
The term ‘burnout’ has been primarily used to describe the condition of a worker becoming so overwhelmed that their performance on the job is adversely impacted. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that burnout can result from a variety of causes and affect many areas of life--not just work. Burnout During Covid Burnout [...]
Supporting a loved one with a mental illness can be utterly exhausting, and it may also be the only thing keeping the mentally ill family member or friend at home instead of in a hospital. Being the go-to person for someone who is in desperate need of support, advocating for them, and ensuring they stay [...]
Therapy is often done in an individual setting, with just the client and the counselor working together. Though this can be extremely helpful, group therapy is sometimes recommended instead or in addition to individual sessions. Benefits of Group Therapy The idea of sharing private information with a group of strangers can be intimidating, and it [...]
March is Self-Harm Awareness Month. It is not uncommon for people with mental illnesses to intentionally inflict physical pain on themselves. A variety of behaviors can be categorized as self-harm, and while some people only engage in one type, others choose more than one method of injuring themselves. Examples of Self-Harm The United States Department [...]
One of my dearest friends has known me since I was seventeen and another since I was in my early twenties. I have canceled plans with each of them more times than I care to admit, but neither of them ever holds it against me or refuses to make new plans when I feel ready [...]
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed to help people heal from traumatic events. Trauma & PTSD In prior blogs, we discussed that trauma is a difficult event or series of events that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope and that what is traumatic for one person may not be traumatic for another. Post-traumatic [...]
As adults, we have a tendency to see play as a frivolous, unimportant activity. When I was a case manager in the mental health system, I often heard parents complain that they didn’t feel their children were benefiting from therapy and other mental health services. “All they ever do is play,” parents would tell me [...]
In addition to dealing with struggles presented by mental illnesses themselves, those who have been diagnosed also face the perception that they are not “normal.” In fact, this stigma is based on a myth, as mental illnesses are actually very common. The Stigma of Mental Illness According to the National Institute of Mental Health: Nearly [...]
