The statistics on teen suicide are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, an average of 8% of American teens will attempt suicide. This makes suicide the second leading cause of death for kids aged 10 to 24. In fact, it is believed that more teenagers die from suicide than from cancer, pneumonia, birth […]
A Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression and Suicide Read More »
With 322 million people suffering with depression worldwide, it\’s not surprising to learn that in America, depression is among the most common mental disorders. The cause of depression is often simplified as a chemical imbalance in the brain, but the reality is that the disease is far more complicated. Scientific research has yet to completely
Why Did I Feel Fine Yesterday? The Causes of Depression Read More »
During this time of year, radio and TV ads would have us believe we should all feel merry and bright. Sadly, that’s not always the case. According to the National Institute of Health, many people experience depression during the holiday season. Some of the most common reasons people experience depression during this time of year are: Financial hardship –
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Most of us from a young age are taught how to be kind, considerate and compassionate toward others. But rarely are we told to show the same consideration to ourselves. This becomes even more true for individuals brought up in abusive or unloving homes. What is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion is taken from Buddhist psychology and refers
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Do a search right now on Amazon books on the topic of “Happiness” and you will be returned page after page of titles, all claiming to have the secret to finding it. Why our obsession with happiness? Maybe the better questions is, why does happiness seem to elude so many people? At one time, humans
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Harvard health reported that 10% to 18% of adults in the general population experience ongoing issues with sleep (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2019). This number is nothing when compared to the 50% to 80% of individuals with a mental illness that report chronic issues with sleep (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2019). It has been an
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You have probably landed on this page for a reason. You or someone that you love has probably had thoughts of taking their own life. Suicidal thoughts are more common than you would imagine. One of the greatest failures of the mental health profession is in creating a false sense of fear around discussing the
What is shame? How do we differentiate shame from humiliation, guilt, and embarrassment? What do you call that feeling when you walk into a room and someone points out that your zipper is down? What about that feeling when you lied about being sick because you just didn’t want to go to that birthday party?
A child’s behaviors can be a key indicator into how they are feeling and processing emotions. Any significant change should be noted and discussed with relevant individuals such as teachers, doctors, and other caregivers. Children have normal developmental phases in which they will challenge authority, act out, need more attention, as a few examples. Part
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Is your student ready for the mental health challenges of college? I imagine, you have taken them for their vaccinations. I don\’t doubt that you stopped at the drug store and grabbed a small first aid kit, some cold and flu medicine, the essentials. No doubt, you made sure their current prescriptions are filled and
Mental Health: Is your College Student Prepared? Read More »