September is a time to reflect on an issue that affects countless lives worldwide—suicide. Suicide Prevention Month, observed throughout September, serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing this pressing public health concern. Why does Suicide Prevention Month matter and how does it plays a crucial role in saving lives and promoting mental health? We’ll dive into that below. Raising Awareness Saves Lives One of the most critical aspects of Suicide Prevention Month is its power to raise awareness. Many people still struggle with the stigma surrounding mental health issues ..read more

In a world where strength is often equated with stoicism and vulnerability is seen as weakness, the mental health of men often goes overlooked. However, just like anyone else, men experience a wide range of emotions and challenges that impact their mental well-being. Challenges Faced by Men: Society's expectations often impose a rigid image of masculinity on men, forcing them to suppress their emotions. This societal pressure can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. Men may find it challenging to express vulnerability, fearing that they'll be perceived as weak. The struggl ..read more

Becoming a new mom can bring a variety of emotions: happiness as you’re welcoming your child to this world, excitement as you embark on a new journey, or even sadness at a drastic life change, but how can a new mom cope from postpartum depression and anxiety while taking care of her newborn? With the increasing news stories regarding moms resorting to harming themselves and/or their children after sudden mood changes, not many are wanting to discuss the effects Postpartum Depression can trigger. There’s this stigma that comes with the term Postpartum Depression - that it should be avoided and ..read more

Somehow, another year is already winding to a close and the holiday season is upon us. Despite this year’s reputation as the “most wonderful time of the year”, for many people, the holidays are a mixed bag. Even the merriest among us are familiar with that special brand of chaos and stress that this season brings as we hustle to keep up with an overflowing schedule and tick off the holiday to-do lists. And for others, this time of year reminds us of what we may be lacking in our lives, bringing up feelings of grief, financial strain, loneliness, and reminders of trauma of the past. These feel ..read more

Are You Experiencing Anxiety? It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time. Perhaps you get a bit nervous speaking in front of people or going on a job interview. But for some people, anxiety becomes a frequent and forceful occurrence that completely takes over their lives. Anxiety comes in many forms; for instance, panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety. It can often be difficult to tell if what you’re experiencing is “normal” or has crossed the line into a mood disorder.  If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or having trouble managing them, working with a therapist ..read more

Is the New Year’s resolution a thing of the past? When I was growing up, and even into adulthood, I heard people ask one another “what is your new year’s resolution” right before the new year was about to begin. And I, not knowing any differently, would always try to come up with something to change for the new year. This would go on for several days and often even weeks before the new year. As a student, I’d make a resolution to not procrastinate so much and that generally lasted a few months, if I was lucky! As a woman, I’d vow to eat less junk food, exercise more, lose a certain amount of w ..read more

These last few weeks have been a difficult beginning into the holiday season. In my community this year, though, there has been a lot of grief, loss, stress, and overwhelm. First there was the Borderline Bar shooting on 11/8/18 where 12 innocent people lost their lives.  Then that same night the fires (Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire) began to rage out of control. By the next day people were being evacuated from their home. They frantically tried to make sure loved ones were safe, while at the same time others were grieving because they lost someone dear to them in the shooting. A good majorit ..read more