While the holiday season brings festivity, excitement, and cheer to many, it can be a terribly challenging time for those who are living through bereavement. The death of a loved one can turn the holidays from a time of joy into a time of mourning. Even those experiencing disenfranchised grief – perhaps following the loss…

It’s that time of year again, when we are “expected” to be social and gather with our friends and family. For some, that brings connection and joy, for others it’s a landmine fraught with complexities and frustrations. A very typical “go to” for most people is the use of defense mechanisms – a way our…

Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it’s often overlooked and misunderstood. Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness about mental illness and to reduce the stigma associated with it. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme is “It’s time to talk about it.” This encourages us to talk…

In 1990, Congress officially established the first full week of October as MIAW in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since then, each year advocates have worked together to sponsor activities, large or small, to educate the public about mental illness. Mental health is serious business, but that doesn’t mean we can’t…