Addressing Boys and Mental Health
With the recent rising rates of depression in the US, mental health is being recognized as a crisis in American youth. While mental illness is commonly thought to be associated with girls, statistics tell...
Category: Educate Yourself
Caffeine and Mental Health
Last month, I wrote about the comforting properties of hot beverages. I’d like to dig a little deeper into a component of some popular hot drinks: caffeine. There’s no doubt about it: caffeine is...
Queer Adolescents of Color
QPOC, an acronym standing for “queer people of color,” are minorities in several ways. Not only are they racial minorities, but they are also members of the LGBTQ+ community. This intersectionality – the ways...
Therapy: Myths vs. Reality
Interested in therapy, but not sure what to expect? Maybe you’ve heard some therapy horror stories, or seen some memes online that have deterred you from seeking services? As somebody who has seen a...
Have Your Coping Mechanisms Changed?
There is not a single universal coping mechanism that helps each and every person with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Instead, there are a multitude of options available for us to explore and...
The Realm of Calm
This poem/short story was inspired by one of my all time favorite books: I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. The Realm of Calm: I step into my room and gently close the...
Foster Care’s Effect on Mental Health
Those in foster care are seven times as likely to have a diagnosis of depression. They are also six times as likely to have behavioral problems, 4.6 times as likely to have anxiety, 3 times as...
The Mind-Gut Connection
It may seem weird that our thoughts and emotions can be linked to our stomach, but it turns out that they actually are! The gut-brain connection is a real thing! Our brains are constantly talking...
Professional Spotlight: Dr. Tammy Chung and Substance Use in Young Adults
The SOVA team recently had an incredible opportunity to attend a talk by Dr. Tammy Chung and interview her afterwards. Dr. Tammy Chung received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University and is...
How to Start a Conversation about Suicide
Trigger warning: suicide Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15-24 in the United States. However, there is still so much stigma around it, which prevents people from speaking...