COVID-19 and the Holidays Under normal circumstances the holiday season can be a tricky time to maintain physical and mental health. With COVID-19 keeping many people indoors and isolated, there are even more barriers to wellness. Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses the lowest risk for spread, however, many are finding it especially taxing to make
Talking about Discrimination and Making a Change Starting a conversation about racism is not easy, it can be uncomfortable and emotional. If you have the opportunity, plan ahead before engaging in conversation. With the current state of civil unrest, specifically regarding the Black Lives Matter Movement, it is important to have these conversations now more than ever. Acknowledge people maybe
Balancing Home and Work During the Pandemic As the world moves towards reopening, outings remain limited and most of our time will still be spent at home. Between sharing space and dealing with stress for long periods of time, tensions at home may be running high. Parents are looking for means to balance competing needs and encourage their family to
How to Talk to Children About COVID-19 Currently, reports of COVID-19 have saturated all forms of media. From social media to news sources on websites and television, the coverage of the pandemic evolves as the days progress. The impacts of the current situation have led to school and childcare closures, quarantines, and bare shelves in grocery stores. For children, this
Social Apps: Keep Connected While in Quarantine COVID-19 has people across the globe social distancing or quarantined in their own homes. With in-person social interaction limited, many keep connected with programs on their mobile phones, iPads, tablets, as well as computers. This technology is new to some people who find themselves in quarantine. Below are descriptions of just a few common social apps you may want to consider using: Skype is a program that you can use on your
Staying Safe During COVID-19 Avoiding public spaces and working remotely can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many survivors, staying home may not be the safest option. We know that any external factors that add stress and financial strain can negatively impact survivors and create circumstances where their safety is further compromised. In a time where companies
Buffering Effects of Cyberbullying Cyberbullying has been blamed for depression, anxiety, suicidal thinking, and tragically, suicide itself among youth. The social platform most commonly associated with cyberbullying is Instagram. Research shows that the more socially connected young teens are to their parents and the more they engage in school/ community events, the more resilient and resistant to the effects of
Moving Beyond “Just Coping” We are all different psychologically, so an event that creates acute stress for one person may not affect another. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your crisis requires toughening up or “pressing on” like you imagine others might. Stigma against asking for help can lead to needless suffering. Fact: Getting help earlier shortens the period of
Reducing Mental Health Problems in College One in four college students will experience a mental health disorder at some point when faced with the stress of academic and social challenges. The key challenges for college students are health problems, financial stress, relationship issues, and academic pressures. More than 50% of students will struggle with three or more of these stressors at
Online Gambling Addiction Addiction to online gambling is a growing problem. Research shows it predominantly affects teens and young adults, particularly men through the commercial gaming industry. Although online gambling addiction and traditional gambling addiction are similarly diagnosed, the anywhere, anytime, out-of-sight aspect of gambling via the internet makes it particularly menacing. Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is