Blog: Your resource for learning more about mental health

When we think of loneliness, there is a tendency to think of it as a relatively minor problem. We may think, offhandedly, “Oh, that poor man must be lonely after his wife passed away,” without stopping to think about the real, genuine ramifications of being alone. The fact is that loneliness can be a life-threatening condition, just as much as cancer or other physical illnesses. As one professor put it: “People who have more friends or deeper friendships live longer, health

“I think I should start seeing a therapist.” This is the starting point for countless individuals who have decided to set out on their road to recovery. Even getting to this stage can be a long, trying period full of indecision and anxiety – on top of the other issues the individual is experiencing. It’s a hugely important landmark. But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy from that moment on. For many, getting access to a therapist that is qualified, fits with your availability,

Matt’s story isn’t about a fix for mental health; it’s about the intentionality of a survivor. When a couple finds out they are going to have a child, it often comes with myriad emotions, doubts, and fears. Generally, this preoccupation is because you are aware of the enormous responsibility you are going to have in taking care of a brand new life. It cannot be overstated just how malleable babies and children are. They are little bundles of unfathomable potential and you, a

We are grateful to Nicole Rousseau , President of the Illinois Chapter of the Tourette Association of America , for providing information that informed this article. Not that long ago, an incident took place at the British Academy Film Awards ( BAFTAs). John Davidson, a man who suffers from Tourette syndrome, yelled a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. The result of this was widely varied. The New York Times placed the blame on the

The term “no contact” is trending, even reaching the attention of Oprah who recently did a segment on it. But let’s face it – there’s nothing new about making an intentional decision to stop communication with a person (or people) for a period of time, or even indefinitely. It has been used as a coping mechanism since time immemorial. The question is, does no contact help or is it an inherently unhealthy way to deal with strained relationships? Is no contact healthy? There

H.R. 1, commonly referred to as, the “ Big, Beautiful Bill ,” makes significant changes to both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Understanding these updates is important as they reshape eligibility requirements and state responsibilities. SNAP Changes Work requirements now apply to certain recipients, including veterans, former foster youth, individuals experiencing homelessness, parents with children over age 14, and adults ages 55–64

Watch Dr. Nancy Curatto in a webinar about pet loss grief. The connection between humans and animals can be as strong – if not at times stronger – than connections between humans. In terms of mental health, these bonds can be lifesaving. We spoke in the past about the idea of support pets , which can provid e a source of “connectedness, reassurance and normalcy” for people who are suffering from grief. The relationship between people and their pets is generally speaking posi

Listen to Eunice Atuejide on the MHAI Talks podcast in the Happiness is Free episode . Many children get stuck with labels such as being “difficult” or "stubborn." Often, this comes from a disconnect between how the child feels and the expectations of their local surroundings or environment. This internal conflict is sometimes known as “belonging uncertainty,” and the causes are difficult to pinpoint as they vary enormously with each individual. It could be triggered by a

Illnesses and disorders don’t always show on the outside. While not a universal truth, this is a good rule of thumb for almost all mental health related issues. People – especially men – often hide when they are suffering from depression. The dedicated employee might be smiling all day in the office, but secretly the workload is too much and they’re struggling . And then you have domestic violence, a topic so often shrouded in silence that we all know someone affected by i

Did you know that according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) , “anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the United States”? In fact, around 1 in 3 U.S. adolescents and adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Just think about it – in any given grocery store, cinema, school, or place of worship, a third of the people have or will likely experience anxiety. To put it in other terms, Mental Health America (MHA) repor

We have spoken before about the issue of stigma in mental health. Time was that this was the greatest obstacle to individuals getting the support they need. And while stigma can still be an issue – particularly in rural communities – it’s not as much of a problem as it once was. The American Psychological Association still claims that stigma is too high (and they are absolutely right). However, it also claims that 83% of US adults say that “they are generally comfortable t

It can be easy to forget that social media is still an exceptionally recent phenomenon. If you want, you could claim that social media goes back to May 24, 1844 with the invention of Morse Code . However, for the majority of us, the before and after period can be marked by one platform – Facebook. For the younger readers out there, Facebook probably already feels like the equivalent of black and white TVs compared to color ones for previous generations. Facebook changed it a

There is an old joke about an insurance boss who is happy with his employees and says, “You worked very hard this year. As a reward, I’ll give everyone a check for $5,000. If you continue working at the same level next year, I’ll sign those checks.” When it comes to mental health, this joke often feels all too true. And it’s certainly no laughing matter. Mental health insurance coverage If you search mental health insurance coverage, you will find that if “ mental health i

There’s no escaping the huge leaps forward in generative AI in the last few years. The technology has impacted in one way or another...

It came out of the blue. Sure, they had been going through a rough period. But there was no indication that they would take such an extreme step as to end their own life. Or was there? Suicide is an immensely challenging subject to comprehend. The severity and finality of the act often lead us to deny its possibility. Many of us struggle to accept that someone we love could consider this option. This denial contributes to the culture of silence surrounding the topic. Breaking

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from statistics and trends around the holiday season , it’s that traditionally “happy” occasions can...

As temperatures soar, we’ll be taking a well-deserved break to enjoy some family time. For many of us, that will mean barbeques,...

To view webinar on this topic, click here . Having a baby is undoubtedly a life-changing moment, especially if it is your first child....

When we talk about mental health, it is easy to fall into a negative cycle. This website has explored many difficult topics, including...

What will I have for dinner tonight? For many Americans, this question is less about choice than necessity. Food insecurity is...