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The United Way 2-1-1 Helpline

December 9, 2016 in LINKS

http://www.211.org/

http://www.211.org/

Have you ever needed help and not known where to turn to?  Are you unaware of resources in your local area?  A lot of people need resources but don’t know where or how to get them.  Have you ever heard of the 2-1-1 Helpline?

The 2-1-1 Helpline is the United Way Helpline that provides connections to local, on the ground services.  2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps people across North America find resources in their local area, and it operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  2-1-1 can assist people in finding resources in terms of dealing with human trafficking, crisis and emergency, disaster assistance, food, health, housing, jobs and financial support, reentry for the formerly incarcerated, and veterans support.  The Helpline can be accessed by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone or going to http://www.211.org/.

No matter what you are going through, there are people that are waiting to help you.  Go to www.211.org to find out more information about the local 2-1-1 in your area.

Have you ever used the 2-1-1 Helpline before? Let others know what you think of the service in the comments below!

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Likes, Comments, & Shares – Social Currency

December 8, 2016 in Social Media Guide

 

http://millennialceo.com/influence-social-currency/

Social media has connected the world unlike anything else ever has.  You can keep in contact with friends and family with ease as while as share individual experiences with the world.  Social media has undeniably changed how we all interact with one another, but can it also lead to negative outcomes?

Social media is often times used as a stage to compare your individual life with others.  Likes, comments, and shares can become an unhealthy form of social currency. Social currency is defined by Wikipedia as shared information that encourages further social encounters. Comparing your life to others can lead to feelings of isolation, jealousy, or the dreaded fear of missing out (FOMO).  In some cases, mental health issues can be associated with social comparison.

Looking at social networking sites as a collection of your memories and using it in a nostalgic way is a healthier use of this platform.  Instead of using social media as a place of constant comparison, try viewing it as an online scrapbook to look back and remember all the amazing things you have experienced with those you love and care for.

Read more about this in an article called Me, Myselfie, and I: The psychological Impact of Social Media Activity by Hannah Schacter

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I’m Not Clicking with My Therapist

December 7, 2016 in Educate Yourself

Photo Credit: Jake.Christopher. Flickr via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Jake.Christopher. Flickr via Compfight cc

You’ve decided to get professional help for the depression and anxiety you’ve been dealing with these last couple of months. After a few appointments with your new therapist, you feel like things just aren’t going well- you don’t feel heard or understood, you don’t feel like you’re getting the help you need, or maybe you sense a disconnect between you and the helping professional. Where do you go from here?

It can take a lot of courage to commit to going to therapy. And when things aren’t seeming to click with your therapist, it can be really disheartening. The good news is this is common for so many people. Finding the right fit can be a process, but getting the help you need and deserve is absolutely worth it!

Some people connect with their therapist right away, but this is not the norm. Often, it is a trial-and-error process. While it’s good to give the helping process a chance for a few sessions, you’ve got to listen to your gut if you feel like things aren’t working after giving it some time. You-as the client- are in control of the sessions! When things aren’t going well, it might be good to start by expressing your concerns to the therapist. Let them know that you aren’t getting what you need out of the sessions and make suggestions for how things could change for the better. Another option is to begin to look for another therapist, especially one that specializes in the care you need (anxiety and/or depression, grief and loss). A great website that has a lot of information on therapists is https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/

Do you have a story about finding the right fit for you in therapy? We’d love to hear in the comments below!

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The Winter Blues

December 6, 2016 in Educate Yourself

Now that we are in the midst of the winter season, it is important to think of ways to deal with the stress surrounding this time of year. For those in school, the semester is wrapping up meaning there’s finals and papers to think about before break. Stress can also be brought on by the various commitments many people have during the winter months. Sometimes, this season can be hard on the wallet as well. This time of year can also bring on feelings of loneliness and depression for some. Other factors like Seasonal Affective Disorder can lead some to feel stressed and depressed during the shorter, winter days. All of these things can add up to create what some refer to as the “winter blues.” By planning ahead, it is easier to prevent and lessen the stress and negative emotions that comes during this season for many. Here are some tips to do just that:

1)      Be in tune with your feelings- it’s important to be aware of your feelings and use self-care as much as possible

2)      Reach out for support- Because this time of year can be stressful and lonely for some, it’s important to depend on the people you trust to help. Or if school is overwhelming you, it’s worth it to ask for an extension on that final paper.

3)      Take a breather- Be sure to make some you-time. It might be difficult to fit it in to a busy schedule, but taking time to yourself can help by reducing stress and clearing your mind.

 

 

Find some more helpful tips at Mayo Clinic’s website or Time Magazine’s post about the winter blues.

Do you have ways to reduce stress during this time of year? Let us know in the comments below!

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“Like No One’s Watching You”

December 5, 2016 in Be Positive

This is a great song that captures the ups and downs in life and the importance of not giving up! Check it out!

What are your thoughts on the song?

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Healthy Peer Relationships

December 2, 2016 in LINKS

Relationships with peers are an important part of life. There are many different kinds of relationships young people can have with their peers –including friendships, dating relationships. But as 5436183836_192024e4ffwith all human relationships, issues can come up. We found a great resource page at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health to help with some serious issues connected to peer relationships including dating violence and bullying. This page also provides information for LGBT adolescents as well as ways to maintain healthy friendships. Check out the website, and let us know what you think.

 

 

Can you think of some other issues you’ve come across as part of your peer relationships? How did you work through the problem?

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Mindfulness

November 30, 2016 in Educate Yourself

Mindfulness is defined by PsychologyToday as a state of active, open attention to the present moment. When one is practicing mindfulness, there is a focus on present thoughts and feelings, but without judging them as good or bad. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that promotes living in the moment, rather than letting life pass by. A study found evidence that supports the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety and to prevent these disorders in healthy adults and children. Check out this video of young people talking about mindfulness and the ways its benefited them.

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 ever tried mindfulness? What is your opinion on it?

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The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016

November 29, 2016 in Educate Yourself

The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 is a bill recently created by United States Senate that makes great strides to strengthen the mental health system. The bill has not yet been voted on by Senate, but will hopefully get the chance to go to vote in fall 2016.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (PRNewsFoto/National Alliance on Mental Illness)

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (PRNewsFoto/National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Here are some of the key changes the bill would make to benefit the mental health field:

  1. The bill helps combat suicide in schools and communities by authorizing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program and extending the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act that provides suicide prevention for all ages and creates a national suicide technical assistance center.
  2. The bill increases the mental health workforce so more trained professionals are available.
  3. The bill strengthens community crisis response systems so that individuals going through a psychiatric crisis can get help before their situation worsens.

Because the bill is sitting in Senate awaiting vote, many mental health organizations are making a push to get people to contact their Senators to ask them to bring the bill to Senate floor and to vote in favor of the bill. If you’re interested in taking action, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has created a page on their website that breaks down how to email, tweet, and call your Senator to express support in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016.

For more information on this bill, NAMI also has more available on their website.

Do you think the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 would benefit you? If so, in what ways?

 

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For What It’s Worth

November 28, 2016 in Be Positive

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Tips for Dealing with Depression

November 25, 2016 in LINKS

Recently, we introduced Dr. Erika Forbes, a professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Now that you know a little bit more about her and the studies she conducts, we wanted to share some of the pointers she had for adolescents and young adults coping with depression.

Here are some tips to help deal with depression from Dr. Erika Forbes, Ph.D: Read the rest of this entry →

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