Blog: Your resource for learning more about mental 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