One way that educators can promote mental/ brain wellness in school environments is by developing lessons that avoid bias and that include positive representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, history, and events.
Discrimination against LGBTQ people has specifically been associated with high rates of brain health disorders, substance use, and suicide. In fact, when compared to people that identify as straight, LGBTQ individuals are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition.
A simple way to support the mental/ brain health of students is to include a brief statement on your course syllabus. This helps promote help-seeking behaviors and demonstrates that instructors care about student well-being. We gathered some examples of mental health statements in high school and college syllabi.
Whether kids are facing trauma because of child abuse or loss of a family member or everyday anxiety about COVID-19, violence, and unpredictable routines, they need even more support now during turbulent times and constant social media stimuli. So, how can mindfulness help? Read the whole article here.
Mental health "helplines" are phone numbers to call in search of mental health help. Lists of these phone numbers are common among mental health resources. While it’s easy to list a phone number to call or text in these resources, it may be daunting to call this unknown number when struggling with a mental health challenge - when you actually need to use these resources. Nobody really talks about how this random phone number is going to help at all or what they can or cannot do. Let’s demystify the mental health helpline.
Over the past two years, as COVID-19 has drastically changed the education system and social options for students of all ages, student’s mental health and wellness has been greatly impacted. Students are suffering from depression and anxiety, and the solution goes beyond increased counseling services.
There are about 7 million disabled students in the US, making up 14% of national public school enrollment, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. According to University of Illinois at Chicago researchers, as of December 2021, teens with disabilities are up to five times more likely to suffer from mental, emotional, and behavioral health conditions than adolescents without disabilities.
Our bodies and brains are incredibly intertwined. The wellbeing of our body directly informs the quality of our mental wellness. We aren’t always the kindest to our bodies. One of the best things you can do for your body is to stretch, engage and realign muscles in a relaxed manner. Before or after exercise, a long day of sitting, or a day of standing – anytime is a good time to stretch.
Some people use the term “high-functioning depression,” but this is neither a diagnosis nor a clinical disorder. Many mental health professionals also disagree with the use of the term. Ultimately, the term is often used to say that a high functioning person can be suffering invisibly too.
Only one third of Black adults experiencing mental health symptoms are able to attain mental health care. Stigma, socioeconomic disparities, discrimination, and lack of cultural awareness are all contributing factors to this statistic. However, there are many resources in place to help with the search for adequate mental health care, specifically among Black communities.
It is an exciting and hopeful phenomenon to see the way mental health conversations have grown through social media, and especially Tiktok. For many people, Tiktok might be the first place they find someone who they identify with regarding their mental health struggles.
The benefits of meditation are endless, but can all be connected to the habit of slowing down and checking in. Meditation increases awareness of our emotions, our bodies, our connection to the world, on both conscious and subconscious levels.
Life happens. It's ok to feel down sometimes, especially during a global pandemic. But it's important to note the difference between a bad mood and clinical depression. Where bad moods will come and go on their own, depression should be treated and evaluated to alleviate symptoms.
The best way to ensure that you stay on track and motivated to make positive behavior changes is to account for challenges that may arise, both from your environment and lifestyle.
Americans are notoriously sleep deprived, but those with mental health conditions are even more likely to be yawning or groggy during the day. Chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of patients in a typical psychiatric practice, compared with 10% to 18% of adults in the general U.S. population. Sleep problems are particularly common in patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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You may have noticed that here at the Chase Bjork Foundation, we talk about brain health as opposed to mental health or mental illness. This is a conscious decision, with meaning behind it – not just relabeling to replace older terms. Yet, the terms are, in our opinion, outdated and no longer reflect the data- and evidence-based understandings that researchers, psychiatrists and others in the field have come to accept over the past 10+ years.
Tips for parents on how to help support children’s mental health and prepare kids for a successful school year after weathering COVID-19 lockdowns, remote learning, and social isolation.
Recent studies showed that 85% of Americans agree their child(ren) would benefit from mental health services and 67% believe mental health education – such as learning to cope with stress and dealing with social anxiety – should be provided to children in school