Mental Health

Summer Olympics 2021: The Pain of Not Making the Team

By Melissa Riddle Chalos With the Summer Olympics set to open on July 23, people around the world are entranced by elite athletic performance, and the extra year of waiting for the Toyko Games has only added to the anticipation.  Athletes in every sport spend most of their lives aspiring… Read More

Addiction Risk and ADHD: What’s the Connection?

By Clint Fletcher Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about 5% of adults and 6-9% of children worldwide. While the medical community used to believe ADHD rarely continued beyond childhood, longer studies have shown that for millions this disorder carries through to adulthood and continues to have consequences. A… Read More

How Do I Know if I Have Bipolar Disorder?

By Clint Fletcher Bipolar disorder may be one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders today. We’ve all heard of it, and if we’re being honest, we’ve all formed our own perceptions after seeing it portrayed in movies and on TV as individuals struggling with manic highs and dangerously… Read More

5 Ways to Respond to Depression

Depression has done nothing but rear its ugly head more than usual during the last year. It makes perfect sense, too. Most of us are scared, disconnected, and worried about the health of loved ones and ourselves. Read More

Millennials, Suicide, Overdose, and COVID-19

Millennials have been suffering from a health decline in recent years, experiencing higher rates of depression, suicide, and drug overdose than the previous generation. A number of factors have been implicated in this decline, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put them in the spotlight: Millennials are dealing with a poor job… Read More

The Digital Dilemma: Avoiding Online Pitfalls

By Anna McKenzie Without question, social media has increased our exposure to both the positive and negative aspects of social life. At their worst, these platforms have arguably created the potential for addiction as well as harm to our mental health. Likes, comments, and shares — seemingly indicating approval… Read More

Putting Social Media in its Place

Social media. It’s hard to imagine that there was ever a time when it didn’t pervade almost every aspect of our lives. Personal, professional and everything in between, social media is here to stay, so we’d better find a way to live with it. The question is, how do we master our use of social media, rather than letting it master us? Read More

Separating Fact from Fiction: Putting Peer Pressure in its Place

Peer pressure is a strong motivator. Wanting to be liked or fit in can cause you to push boundaries — sometimes without considering the risk to your safety or any future consequences. Those things are a small price to pay for acceptance, right? That kind of thinking is what keeps your parents awake into the wee hours. Read More

Scars: What Lies Beneath; Emotional Abandonment

When we think of trauma we most often think of incidents that are blatant and acute, visible and sudden, such as a natural disaster or a car wreck, mass shootings, or acts of terrorism. But some people experience trauma as more subtle and chronic that present in the form… Read More

Bullying and the Internet: A Synergistic Impact

By Dr. Claudia Black Today’s young adults, 18 to 26 years of age, are facing an escalating mental health crisis. One in five is suffering from a diagnosable mental, emotional, and behavioral disorder. Depression, substance abuse, social anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideation are experienced at alarming rates for those of this young age. Read More