Adult Mental Health

Caring for a loved one with severe and long-standing mental health issues can be challenging and emotionally draining—especially when traditional treatments fail to bring relief. Mental health is rarely straightforward. If you are navigating this terrain of seeking different solutions, here are a few practical steps to help you move forward.

We all go through hard times with stress being a normal, even positive part of daily life. But, what happens when the stress becomes too much for a person to handle? Recognizing when a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis is vital in getting them the proper care they need. Whether you’re experiencing it yourself or supporting someone else, knowing what a mental health crisis is, how to recognize one, and how to respond, can be life saving for yourself and your loved ones. 

April recognizes National Stress Awareness Month. While stress is a common topic in the workplace, it is often overlooked in discussions around caregiving – whether that is for new parents, an adult caring for an elderly family member, or a professional in the caregiving field. If you are looking for ways to support a caregiver in your life, here are some actions you can take to help ease their stress and be an important resource for them.

Love and kindness should go hand in hand, and random acts of kindness are scientifically proven to positively impact yourself and those around you. Making the choice to be kind and focusing on compassion, not just for others but for yourself, can have a huge impact on mental health.

The new year is in full swing, with this time of year being filled with optimism and hope, and feelings of a fresh start. It can also be a time of anxiety and uncertainty. To help yourself and your loved ones move successfully into the new year, we’re giving you tips on how to pack your theoretical suitcase filled with the good things for the new year. 

While winter can make us want to hibernate and stay home, there are days when we still must get out, run errands, and travel. In the Midwest, that means being prepared to drive on snowy and icy roads. Despite many of us being used to driving in the winter, drivers can still feel anxiety, dread, or even full-on panic at the prospect of driving in such conditions – or just driving in general, no matter the weather. For many who’ve been in car accidents or with an anxiety disorder, those feelings of dread and panic can be exacerbated. 

A year ago, I came across the Danish custom of “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-gah”). “Hygge” doesn’t have an exact translation in English. According to the New York Times article where I first came across the term, a close translation is “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” The feelings I experience in winter of safety, comfort, and community are in line with hygge.

Winter is the season of stillness. We are often under a constant barrage of “new year, new me” messaging. The idea of rebuilding ourselves and the pressure to make big changes is everywhere. This sense of "newness" feels contrary in a season where we should be enjoying the quiet and stillness of winter and the togetherness of the holidays. 

How can hope improve mental health? Studies on the science of hope began in the 1980s, and it was determined that hope is an action-oriented skill that can be learned, versus just something that you “feel.” In order to cultivate positive change in ourselves, in others, or society at large, restoring hope is the vital first step.

Recently, I posed the question, “In what ways has gratitude impacted your life?” to this group. Their answers were very similar and profound, and I wanted to share their insights on how a gratitude practice can impact your life.