by Moderator ★
January 26, 2017 in Social Media Guide
Twitter is an awesome place for mental health resources and information. Check out these recent tweets from some great organizations. We’ve linked their websites and twitter accounts below. 
Bell Let’s Talk
@Bell_LetsTalk
Active Minds, Inc.
@Active_Minds
If you’re looking to connect to other mental health twitter accounts, check out our post listing a few recommendations!
by Moderator ★
January 25, 2017 in Educate Yourself
Miley Cyrus made news and social media headlines awhile back by announcing that she identifies as pansexual. If you haven’t already looked it up, pansexual is described as “a sexual identity along with bisexual, homosexual, heterosexual, asexual, polysexual, queer and more. People use the term to describe being attracted to and falling in love with people of all and any gender, whether transgender, genderqueer, male or female. They are, to an extent, “gender-blind”.”
When you google for the definition of pansexual you literally get a picture of Miley! Nevertheless, some media folks are praising her “coming out” as pansexual as a healthy thing for LGBT youth to find community. In an article published on the website International Business Times. A.J. Walkley, a board member for BiNet USA, was quoted as saying “The more role models that youth can have and see themselves in as they’re growing up and coming to terms with their own sexuality, the better.” It is undeniable that the language we are using to describe sexuality is in constant flux at the moment, evidenced by the growing number of letters being tagged on to LGBTQIA… and as generations come and go and identities form and dissolve, it can’t hurt for young people to be able to find an identity that they can call their own, form community and support each other.
Sources: INDEPENDENT.UK
What are your thoughts on the social media and news discussion around this topic? Let us know in the comments!
by Moderator ★
January 24, 2017 in Educate Yourself
There are many different models and methods of looking at and explaining mental health. “Where Does The Pain GO?” was a conference series hosted by the Community Empowerment Association (CEA) in Pittsburgh that used this frame work to discuss ideas to help their community. The CEA website stated that the conference was created to “begin to better understand our conditions and the historical trauma that continues to play itself out in our day to day personal relationships. We also need a better understanding of how day to day life occurrences impact our physical, mental, and emotional well being.” You can read more about CEA at CEApittsburgh.org .
Afrocentrism is a paradigm based ideology that would reassert a sense of agency in people of African descent according to Dr. Molefi Kete Asante. Afrocentricity was founded in the 1960 to address black disorientation, decenteredness, and a lack of agency.
Photo Credit: matthewstanley via Compfight cc
During the conference the importance of changing the black narrative was discussed. African Americans must combat stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination in their daily lives and that can impact someone’s mental health. The CEA wanted to implement a plan to build up the youth in their area by creating a bond and unity using afrocentricity. It is important to help build up adolescents’ racial identity and create a strong community support system for this population. Because society doesn’t show much support for African Americans, it must be created. The thought behind this is that once a young person believes that they are important, loved and cared for they will then see that in themselves and manifest that in their thoughts, actions, and self-esteem.
by Moderator ★
January 23, 2017 in Be Positive
The term “mindfulness” is kicked around a lot lately. Trying to figure out what it means, and how it can help can be overwhelming. Here’s a short video that explains mindfulness in a simple, easy-to-digest way!
If you’re interested in learning more about mindfulness, check out our SOVA post about mindfulness. We also posted about how mindfulness can be empowering and the ways mindfulness can be used in our every day lives.
Have you tried mindfulness? What’s worked and what hasn’t for you?
by Moderator ★
January 20, 2017 in LINKS
Insideourminds.org features personal interviews with individuals that have mental health diagnoses. It is a sharing of anonymous experiences that these people have lived through.
Photo Credit: Robin Hutton via Compfight cc
Here are some excerpts:
My Illness is My Responsibility
“I think what a lot of people don’t understand about recovery is that it is hard work. I had to spend years working at this stuff to get to where I am. I worry that some people conceive of recovery as you do something, then it’s a switch flip. Suddenly you’re better! No, it’s more like… I remember reading this book about the difference between good swimmers and great swimmers. It’s not really raw talent, but rather the accumulation of many small behaviors. How long you can hold your breath, the angle of your legs, the aerodynamics of your body. All these slight alterations to do better. Recovery is similar: changing all of these small habits, then seeing an improvement.”
Battling With My Mind
“Sometimes I read Inside Our Minds interviews… and I’m like, “My problems are nothing compared to those things… Why do I even stress about this?” But, then I realize that none of it is in my control. I get perspective… how it can really get bad. It reminds me that I’m actually happy with what I have… and that’s what’s most frustrating. I know the solution to the problem, but I can’t just focus on that. My mind is constantly battling with itself.”
These are just a few interviews with individuals sharing their ups and down, knowing they are imperfect (as all humans are) and laying out their experiences in the hopes it might help someone going through something similar. In a way it is displaying how we all have to work through and deal with different problems but at the end of the day we are all just people trying to live the best lives we can.
If someone was interviewing you about your experiences, what would be important for them to know? Check out Inside Our Minds and tell us what you think!
by Moderator ★
January 18, 2017 in Educate Yourself
Photo credit: Leslie Schweitzer via Flickr
“Downward facing cat. Nailed it.”
There are many yoga poses that individually can be helpful, but an integrated, regular yoga practice, including meditation, can reconnect you with your true essence and your inherent wholeness. In that space of “being,” there is a release of attachment to our worries, problems, fears, or circumstances.
From Huffington Post
Here are five poses that can specifically help with depression:
Forward fold (Uttanasana). In Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says about Uttanasana, “Any depression felt in the mind is removed if one holds the pose for two minutes or more.”
Head-to-Knee Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana). This seated forward fold is calming for the mind, stretches the hamstrings and groin, and stimulates the liver and kidneys.
Cobra (Bhujangasana). This back bend can be done in stages. It expands the chest and gives elasticity to the lungs.
Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) . Bridge pose is a back bend that strengthens the legs, opens the chest, and stimulates the abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid. Supported bridge, done with a block under your sacrum, is a nourishing restorative version.
Supported Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana). Sirsasana is called the “king of all asanas.” Inversions turn your world upside down and give your brain cells a fresh supply of blood. Attention and presence are essential in this pose and thus a great way to pause your thoughts and renew your perspective. Restorative versions of sirsasansa, done with props, are an option as well.
Have you tried any other yoga positions that help with depression? Let us know!
by Moderator ★
January 17, 2017 in Educate Yourself
For young people with mental health concerns, school can be a negative space. Individuals with mental health concerns, like anxiety and depression, can come up against stigma from their classmates, and maybe even the faculty. There’s much that can be done to change the stigma that can be a part of schooling. We’ve mentioned before that learning and talking about mental health can be a powerful way to reduce stigma. Luckily, there are people working within schools to make change from the inside out.
http://standtogether.againststigma.org/
One program that the SOVA team has had the opportunity to learn more about is the Stand Together initiative. This Pittsburgh-area program is working in local schools to decrease stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders. The middle and high schoolers participate in workshops to “reduce negative attitudes, beliefs, and social distance between youth with behavioral health challenges and their peers.” The Standing Together website it full of wonderful resources related to mental health, including an awesome blog! Check out their website and let us know what you think! Keep an eye out for future articles (including staff interviews) about the Stand Together program!
In what ways could your high school benefit from an initiative like this? If you’ve graduated already, how would your high school experience been different without stigma?
by Moderator ★
January 16, 2017 in Be Positive
It’s difficult not to while watching this video compilation by America’s Funniest Home Videos. Enjoy!
Have any other video suggestions for those in need of a pick-me-up? Let us know in the comments!
by Moderator ★
January 12, 2017 in Social Media Guide
The urge to maintain an online presence can be exhausting. Sure, social media isn’t always negative, but there are important things to keep in mind about using social media that can prevent it from being a bad experience. For example, monitoring your self-esteem as you use social media. It’s important to be self-aware about the way social media makes us feel. If you use a particular social media site and you come away feeling worse about yourself because of it, it might be time to reconsider the use of that platform. If I log onto Facebook and become frustrated and unhappy about my life because I compare it to others, it’s important that I consider changing the way I use the site. This might mean changing how long I use Facebook, or who I am interacting with, maybe even considering if it’s worthwhile to use the site at all.
Social media can have a lasting impact on our self-esteem. Bustle.com posted an article explaining the ways that social media affects our self-esteem. Their list includes items like:
1) Social media can lead us to disengage from our real experiences. When we’re too busy worried
Photo Credit: Visual Content Flickr via Compfight cc
about getting the perfect pic of the view, we can end up missing the view itself.
2) Social media can bring about false connections with others. Because online interactions are not grounded in real-life, this can mean they lack the power that face-to-face exchanges have. This lacking can affect the way we view ourselves. Bustle points out that this doesn’t mean we can’t make valuable connections online, it just means we’re at risk of building false connections when there’s no face-to-face contact.
3) Social media can bring on a battle for likes. It’s very hard to not compare the amount of likes across people and content. It’s also hard not to makes those likes into a reflection of self-worth. The more likes, the better we feel. But what kind of affect does it have on you when you don’t get the number of likes you wanted?
All of these points are important to keep in mind while using social media. Is the reward worth the cost? Social media is a complicated thing. It’s important to be mindful of the way it makes us feel, and to make changes to be sure social media isn’t taking a hit on self-esteem.
What do you do to avoid social media hurting your self-esteem?
by Moderator ★
January 10, 2017 in Educate Yourself
A major part of adolescence and young adulthood is finding and keeping a job. When struggling with anxiety or depression, this can create obstacles to being successful in your work. Many questions can arise: What is needed to support your mental health? Should you tell your employer? If so, how much should I disclose? Recently, Time Magazine posted an article outlining tips for finding a balance between your mental health and your job:
Photo Credit: DiariVeu – laveupv.com Flickr via Compfight cc
If you’re interested in reading more tips, take a look at the article!
Do you have any experience with juggling a mental health concern and work? We’d love to hear any tips you have in the comments below!
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