Relaxation Techniques for Mental Wellness

• Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families

“Just relax.” While it sounds simple, it is often quite difficult to calm our minds and relax the tension in our bodies. However, the ability to relax and destress is important for maintaining mental health and can be very helpful for lessening symptoms of many mental and physical health conditions. For example, relaxation can improve focus and mood, improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and improve digestion.

Olympian Mindset: The Role of Sports Psychiatry

• Public awareness, Treatment

The journey to becoming an Olympian is as much a mental endeavor as a physical one. Behind every gold medal and record-breaking performance lies preparation, mental clarity, resilience, physical training, and sacrifices. Athletes face internal and external pressures from family and coaches to their self-criticism and strides toward perfection. These factors can ultimately lead to detrimental effects on performance. However, through optimizing their mental health and overall well-being, athletes

Move Your Mind: How Daily Physical Activity Boosts Brain Health and Mental Well-Being

• Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families

Most people understand exercise, and more broadly physical activity, to be beneficial to health from a physical perspective. In other words, it’s good for your heart, muscles, and potentially your waistline. What is often less appreciated is the importance of exercise to several aspects of brain health. Physical activity has been shown to be helpful in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric conditions, including reduced risk of dementia, reduced feelings of anxiety and depression (in individual

7 Check-ins For New Year’s Mental Health

• Patients and Families

And we’ve all been dealing with the ups and downs, losses, uncertainties and changes brought on by the pandemic. The start of a new year is a good opportunity for self-assessment with a brief mental health checkup.

New Survey Shows Increasing Loneliness, Including on the Job

• Patients and Families

Loneliness is a major public health concern and, according to a new national survey more Americans are saying they are lonely. Loneliness is associated with increased risk for both physical and mental health problems. The health impacts of loneliness are similar to that of other well-known health risks, such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and air pollution.

Coping with Isolation and Social Distancing

• Anxiety, Patients and Families

In these unprecedented, uncertain times when many of us are isolated, stuck at home and separated from friends and family, fear and stress are natural reactions.  With so much of what is happening out of our control, it’s helpful to focus on what you can do to take of yourself and your family. Keep in mind people react to stressful situations in different ways.  

Mental Health Resources for the Latino Community

• Diverse populations, Patients and Families

There are more than 60 million Hispanic/Latino individuals in the U.S., making up about 18% of the population. Latinos have experienced disproportionate economic, physical, and mental health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding Stimming: Repetitive Behaviors with a Purpose

• Anxiety, Autism, Patients and Families

One key symptom of autism spectrum disorders is repetitive behaviors, such as repetitive actions like self-stimulation behavior, or stimming. These behaviors can involve one part of the body, the entire body or an object. While they may seem distractive or disruptive, and while it may not be obvious to others, stimming often serves a purpose for the individual. 

Schools Out! Tips For Taking Advantage of Summer Break to De-Stress from the Hustle and Bustle of the School Year

• Children and Youth, Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families

It’s that time of year again when the days are heating up and the spirit of care-free living takes over as school starts to pause for summer break. Kids work all year with the end goal of summer always in mind. The questions often on parents’ minds are: What should I engage my kids in during the summer break? How do I make the most of the time with my kids?

Americans’ Pets Offer Mental Health Support to Their Owners, 1 out of 5 Pet Owners Has an Emotional Support Animal

They say in Washington, if you want a friend, get a dog. The results of an American Psychiatric Association Healthy Minds Monthly Poll released jointly with the American Veterinary Medical Association seem to align with that adage: Among the many mental health benefits of pets, nearly two-thirds of pet owners say that their animals offer companionship (65%), are a true friend (65%) and provide unconditional love and support (64%).

Stuttering: Challenging the Misperceptions

• Children and Youth, Patients and Families

An estimated 5% of people will experience stuttering in their lives. Stuttering starts in childhood and for most children the problem ends on its own by adolescence. But for about 25% of those individuals, it persists. For an estimated 3 million adults in the U.S., stuttering continues into adulthood.

For Most, Things Do Indeed Look Brighter in the Morning

• Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families

A new study examined how people’s mental health and well-being varies by time of day, day of the week, and season. They found people generally have the best mood in the morning and the lowest point at midnight. Seasonally, people tend to feel lowest in winter and best in summer.