art Girl Mara Wilson Discusses Mental Illness

“I wish somebody had told me that it’s OK to be anxious,” says Wilson in the video. “That you don’t have to fight it. That, in fact, fighting it is the thing that makes it worse.” And in addition to discussing her experience, she also demonstrates a breathing exercise that she uses to help her[…]

Teens’ App Applauded For Helping Young People With Depression

“Some teenage girls are headed to the White House Monday to be recognized for an app they created. Their “Safe & Sound” smartphone app is meant to help teens struggling with depression and anxiety.” Listen to the story here Source: NPR.org, Morning Edition Image Source: NPR.org

Before Stage 4: An important call to action for the mental health of all Coloradans

“I want you to imagine for a moment what it would be like if Americans treated cancer in a different way than we do now. Imagine that instead of encouraging people to quit smoking and take other steps to prevent cancer, we just sort of crossed our fingers. Instead of telling people they need to[…]

Mental Health Care System Is Failing At Suicide Prevention, Advocates Say

“Currently only Washington state and Kentucky have adopted laws that require suicide prevention training be included in mental health education programs. It’s too soon to tell how effective those laws have been, but smaller scale efforts have shown great results. The Henry Ford Health System, a Detroit-based health care organization,found that suicide rates among its patients dropped by 75 percent[…]

There’s Nothing Selfish About Suicide

“People who say that suicide is selfish always reference the survivors. It’s selfish to leave children, spouses and other family members behind, so they say. They’re not thinking about the survivors, or so they would have us believe. What they don’t know is that those very loved ones are the reason many people hang on[…]

Can We Let Go of These Mental Illness Stereotypes?

“This post is for those who believe the stereotypes about mental illness. This post is for those who assume that mental illness means that one is useless, incapable of rational thought, unable to function in society, and devoid of a pleasant demeanor. I am here to confirm that mental illness does not always manifest obviously.”[…]

Seven Reasons Why the Mental Health Stigma Is a Killer

“One in four people – so on average, someone in the typical two parent, two children family – will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. Yet even though so many people are affected, mental illness carries a devastating stigma, which can harm sufferers in every aspect of their life. In[…]

You Are Mentally Ill Vs. You Have a Mental Illness: Knowing the Difference

“There is a big difference from being something and having something, and knowing that difference will help you better understand your mental health experience and help you better be aware of the unfortunate fact that others saying you are something only perpetuates isolation and stigmatization and impedes societies ability to learn about mental health.” Read[…]

Conor Cusack Speaks out About Mental Health and Depression

“Former Cork, Ireland Hurler Conor Cusack was lauded last October after he spoke openly and movingly about his battle with depression and subsequent recovery in a searingly honest blog post.  Cusack has since emerged as a pioneer for addressing mental health issues in Ireland and has become a regular public speaker around the country.” “Depression is[…]