The sparklers were lit, the ball has dropped, and we find ourselves in a brand new year, symbolizing a fresh start full of promise and potential. While some are calling 2022 “2020, two” (a tip of the hat to the pandemic’s longevity), we prefer to...
Each New Year comes with promise. It’s the chance to reinvent oneself, transform habits, and leave the past behind. However, studies suggest we are set up for failure before the year even begins. Psychology Today cites a University of Scranton study that found only 19%...
During the holidays, it feels like you can’t go anywhere without hearing familiar songs like “Jingle Bell Rock'' and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” (seemingly played on repeat) or seeing greens, reds, and poinsettias everywhere. Conversation turns to holiday planning, annual family traditions,...
In 2020, Michelle Obama sat down with Oprah Winfrey and was asked the meaningful question: “What do you appreciate most now about your body today?” Instead of singling out a specific aspect of her body, the former First Lady took the opportunity to lay out her...
For many parents, raising kids that have a healthy relationship with social media can be a challenge. Why? Because social media is ubiquitous. 4.48 billion people currently use social media worldwide, a number that has more than doubled from 2.07 billion users in 2015. As...
It’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but is it? Emotions are more intense during the holidays than other times throughout the year, and celebrating with family and friends brings about a diverse range of feelings. While many people experience joy and...
As it turns out, giving thanks is quite good for you. The act of feeling grateful - and actively appreciating these moments in your life - has been proven to improve physical health, boost mental health, increase empathy and self-esteem, and may even help you...
With daylight savings time squarely in the rearview mirror, we’ve moved into that gloomy time of year when the sun sets during early evening, the days are darker and chillier, and we spend more time than ever indoors. For many, this time of year is...
Part Two in a Series On October 19th, 2021, a variety of leading pediatric organizations including the Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children’s mental health. This emergency was brought on by challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic,...
Part One in a Series More than a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that Americans continue to struggle with their mental and behavioral health. Within our families and communities, there have been irreparable changes that continue to affect us, even...
Behavioral healthcare providers know there isn’t one definitive solution to treat the mental health needs of their clients. From their very first days on the job, clinicians working in mental and behavioral healthcare are prepared to do everything in their power to help their clients...
If your behavioral health practice is like most, you have been busier than ever this year. Today’s challenges are manifold: applying and enforcing safety measures, navigating the new world of virtual therapy, and facing a new need for services due to pandemic-related increases in anxiety,...
In the early morning of August 30th, the last plane carrying U.S forces left Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, bringing an official end to America’s longest war. For 20 years, American troops fought in the desert of Afghanistan, first searching for 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden,...
In the last year and a half, we’ve watched in awe as first responders like doctors, nurses, paramedics, and even coroners and medical examiners have stepped up to the incredible demands put on them by COVID-19. Most trained professionals could see the crushing wave of sickness...
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Why is it so important that we create awareness and take action? Because the data is alarming. Every day, approximately 130 Americans die by suicide. That is one person every 11 minutes. There is one death by suicide for...
For a variety of reasons, the 2020 Summer Olympics was vastly different from previous Olympic games. First, they were delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many athletes to train for much longer periods of time than they could have imagined. They...
September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month-- a time meant to raise awareness and open the dialog around suicide, while advocating for better mental health care. As part of this awareness month, September 5th-11th is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10th...
Part Six in a Series Within the United States, it’s an undeniable reality that within two decades, older adults will outnumber young children for the first time in our nation’s recorded history. As of 2018, there were more than 52 million adults aged 65 and over....
Children across the United States are heading back to school--many for the first time in over a year. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were seeing more students with emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other publications have...
40% of LGBTQ youth have seriously considered suicide in the past year. Over half of transgender and non-binary youth have considered suicide, and 20% have attempted it. The Trevor Project provides evidence-based support for LGBTQ youth through crisis services, peer support, advocacy and education. The organization...
Part Five in a Series Within the United States, many mental health and criminal justice experts believe that jails and prisons have become our nation’s largest psychiatric facilities. This may be surprising to someone who does not have frequent contact with the American criminal justice system,...
Every child gets scared or anxious sometimes. It’s normal for kids to be afraid of the dark, shy around new people, or nervous before a big test. It becomes an issue when fear and anxiety cause distress or interfere with everyday activities. Anxiety disorders in...
Do you like listening to podcasts? Mental Health New Radio has a new podcast series called “The Self-Care Chronicle with Dr. Marsha Brown – Mental Wellness for the Mental Health Professionals” that’s absolutely worth a listen for anyone working in the field of behavioral healthcare. Self-Care...
Part Four in a Series An interesting aspect of living in the United States is the incredible variety of religious and cultural traditions practiced by our 328.2 million neighbors. As our country has evolved, distinct customs have developed alongside it, creating new cultural traditions and religious...
It’s summer, and many parents are sending their children off to camp for a few weeks of swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and singing songs by the campfire. The excitement, however, is oftentimes mixed with anxiety – especially for a child who is leaving home for...
As a behavioral healthcare provider, you know all too well that running a successful organization involves much more than providing quality care for your clients. The reality is, you cannot provide effective care if you neglect the operational elements of your business which also require your time...
Part Three in a Series Within the United States, roughly 5.6% of the population identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. Despite being a relatively small population within the United States, the LGBTQ community is vastly overrepresented when it comes to mental and behavioral health...
An unfortunate reality is that many children experience devastating ordeals in their young lives. A close family member commits suicide. Parents get divorced. The child experiences abuse or neglect. These traumatic events are referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They are closely linked to...
What is population-based care and why should it matter if you’re a behavioral healthcare provider? In this podcast, "Understanding Population-Based Care", you’ll learn about this emerging healthcare model, how it goes hand-in-hand with value-based payments, and the impact it will have on your practice. According to...
Part Two in a Series When they sign up for active duty, military members know that they’re putting everything on the line to protect their country. But what they can not prepare for is the impact their service will have on their own mental health. For...
Several years ago I flew to Ghana, Africa on a mission trip. Spending a few days in a third world country jolted me into a completely different way of thinking. It helped me to see the world from a new lens and it has drastically...
Children in America face an unprecedented rise in chronic childhood illness, from allergies to autism. The current healthcare system is set up to treat acute diseases, but lacks the capacity for complex cases. In contrast, the whole child approach uses collaborative care, including physical, behavioral,...
First in a Series Since the beginning of 2020, we’ve seen the unemployment rate reach a staggering 14.8%. The resulting economic strain hasn’t just affected unemployment – it’s crept across almost every facet of our lives, including our access to healthcare. Many of the individuals experiencing...
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have increased significantly. For mental health practitioners, teletherapy has become an essential method for treating patients while keeping all parties safe and healthy. Although the technology was ready and available to easily deliver individual and group...
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness--it’s actually a sign of strength and confidence. Yet, so many people are reluctant to reach out for help with their mental health needs because of the stigma that is still (incorrectly) associated with mental health. Military...
Have you been feeling burnt out, frustrated, even angry that what you do daily is suddenly feeling like more of a burden than a joy? If you find yourself in a rut, here’s how you keep the passion ignited for what you do, while improving...
If you want your organization to thrive in the behavioral healthcare market, you must start thinking about value-based care now. As the focus shifts away from traditional fee-for-service (FFS) systems that pay for the amount of treatment, value-based payments (VBP) are becoming increasingly important to...
COVID restrictions and proximity to care are two reasons why more children with behavioral health needs are seeking telemedicine options for their care. But a virtual visit is very different from an in-person visit, especially for those with autism and ADHD. There are a number...
It's hard to believe we’ve been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for a little over a year now, and we’re all still grappling with what we need to do. Many school districts are still using virtual learning or hybrid models, extracurricular activities look nothing like...
Making self-care a priority is essential when you work in behavioral healthcare. Day in and day out, you help others navigate challenges in their own lives – which can take a personal toll on you. In addition to the work you do normally, COVID has...
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted much more than the physical health of people who have the virus. It has also impacted the mental health of many people, including those who are dealing with the illness, those who have lost a loved one, caregivers, and people...
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. According to data compiled by Mental Health America (MHA), a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization, suicidal ideation has been growing rapidly since the start of the pandemic. Here’s what...
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity to grow behavioral health services in communities across the United States. Now, the behavioral health community must rise to the occasion. It is make or break time, and the world is watching. It's up to behavioral health providers...
The need for quality behavioral health services has been heightened and highlighted during the COVID pandemic. The value and importance of behavioral health services have become part of the national conversation in recent months. It is clear that a therapists services are an essential part...
Part Two in a Series The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, greatly expanded both access and affordability for healthcare. Mental health was also addressed, under a portion of the ACA known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity...
PART ONE IN A SERIES The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, expanded healthcare access and affordability. A portion of the ACA, known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), strives to ensure that mental health and...
COVID-19 swept the United States in the spring of 2020. Seemingly overnight, businesses shuttered, schools closed, and everyone not deemed an “essential worker” began to shelter at home. While the economy is now reopening in an uneven state-by-state, and even city-by-city patchwork, the pandemic is...
Listen in on an incredible conversation with Hersch Wilson, a 30-year veteran volunteer firefighter/EMT, and author of "Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide to Thriving in Tough Times." Hersch offers insightful wisdom to help people thrive during stressful times. He shares his thoughts about how to...
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and the numbers have been increasing over the past few decades. Historically, attempts to predict and prevent suicide were based on self-reporting, which can be problematic because people may hide their suicidal thoughts....
A Home Within was founded in 1994 with a mission to heal the wounds of complex trauma and loss experienced by many foster youth. Local networks of volunteer clinicians provide individual, open-ended, relationship-based psychotherapy for young people who are, or previously were, in foster care....
Part Two in a Series The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, was enacted a decade ago. It has expanded access to healthcare, and made it more affordable for tens of millions of United States citizens. The Mental Health Parity and...
Part One in a Series Enacted in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded healthcare access and affordability for tens of millions of people in the United States. Part of the ACA is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)....