Stress management is something that we know is incredibly important to our overall health. Those things that affect the mind and the heart, they also affect the body, and vice versa.
You have a friend experiencing a mental health crisis and you have no idea what to say or do. That can be scary, huh? Anna shares two simple steps to help support them:
Did they really just say that? Tish drops some truth about suicide and coffee shop talk!
"The barista forgetting the whip on your pumpkin spice latte is not a reason to talk about killing yourself. When suicide gets trivialized it makes it harder for people to take it seriously.. and nobody really needs the whip anyway."
Supporting someone with an eating disorder can be confusing, and even downright scary at times. It’s even worse when you don’t really know how to help. What do I say? How do I act? In most cases, it’s as simple as being there and showing support.
Researchers are unable to pinpoint a reason as to why mood disorders exist except for the fact that they’re a chemical imbalance. This is why it’s so important for people to know: no one made you like this. It is not your fault nor is it your family’s fault. It’s just how your brain is wired, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of!
Who decided that a cry for help is a bad thing? When someone talks about self harm or suicide, that is them trying to get attention. And we need to give them our undivided attention so that they can be heard and get the support they need.
Here's a simple thing you can do for anyone struggling with stress, anxiety or a mental health issues. It takes no money, some effort and only a little time. That's right, just listen. Take a moment to be there for them. Listen non-judgmentally and without an agenda. Do that, and you've just helped so much!
Sleep: It’s the one thing no one seems to get enough of. Did you know that almost half of surveyed Americans report not getting enough sleep? And even worse, most don’t actively try to get more on any given night. But why? It’s easy to get caught up in work, school, and life in general, but it is also very important to remember that your sleep habits can affect your mental health.
Mental illness can affect anyone. It's the stigmas about it that segregate and divide us.
Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities often deal with a range of mental health issues. These issues often stem from cultural stigmas, prejudice, and discrimination. These harmful stigmas can lead to homophobia, and victimization of LGBTQ individuals. Sadly, these stigmas can come from society, peers, and family members and even in the workplace and schools.
Start being grateful for the little things in life, like your morning cup of coffee or the easy commute home. By doing so, you might find yourself noticing more and more things to be grateful for every day instead of the difficult parts.
Around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 59 men have reported experiencing rape at some point in their lives, while about 1 in 20 men and women experienced other types of sexual violence. Among female rape victims, 51.1% of perpetrators were reported to be intimate partners, 12.5% were family members, 40.8% were reported to be acquaintances, and 13.8% were strangers. Among male victims, 52.4% of perpetrators were reported to be acquaintances and 15.1% were strangers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a type of anxiety disorder that typically develops after the experience of a traumatic event. PTSD is severely disruptive. People who suffer from PTSD may have nightmares, flashbacks, or fear that they are in danger even when no threat is present. These feelings are often brought on by triggers, things that bring back memories of the traumatic event. Triggers can be either internal (thoughts, feelings, memories) or external (situations, objects, words).People with PTSD may also experience guilt or anger about the event, which might lead to maladaptive coping behaviors such as excessive alcohol or drug use. While PTSD has been more recently associated with veterans of war, it can happen with any sort of traumatic event.
A serious health concern that often goes unnoticed is the alarming presence of mental illness on college campuses.
Caregivers are often people who are there to provide support and help for people who can’t live their lives under “normal” circumstances, or people who need others’ assistance to complete their day-to-day activities. Other than children or the elderly, the people who need help from caregivers are classified as the “chronically ill”. Caregivers exist to help people with chronic illnesses that create severe life impairment complete their day-to-day activities, and also improve their mental well-being. Caregivers come in all shapes and sizes, from all kinds of backgrounds or ethnicities, and provide care for many different reasons.
Comorbidity typically refers to a condition "existing simultaneously with and usually independently of another medical condition". This can be any combination of illnesses or conditions, whether mental, physical, or perceived, that almost always make the patient’s lives more challenging and worsen their life quality.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder that is classified by depressive symptoms that occur within the same season each year, usually winter. It is commonly thought that SAD is the result of biochemical imbalances that occur with shorter daylight hours lessening amounts of sunlight. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock or circadian rhythm that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule. A second, less common type of seasonal affective disorder occurs in the summer months in individuals who live in warmer climates. This type of depression is related to heat and humidity, rather than light.
In a first-of-its-kind study published in the American Journal of Affective Medicine in 20132, five researchers reported their conclusion that, across all major mental health issues (sorted here as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, general anxiety, major depression, eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, schizophrenia, and suicide), information searches about mental health issues on Google peak high during the winter months and drop to a significantly lower level during the summer.
Approximately seven million Americans have enrolled in public health insurance since the Affordable Care Act was initiated in 2013. Through the recently revamped Health Insurance Marketplace, nearly one million more Americans have gained health coverage since Thanksgiving.
As the end of 2014 approaches and important deadlines creep closer, we've provided ten things consumers should know about the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2015.
- United States' citizens, lawful nationals, and immigrants with an approved status are eligible to shop for health insurance using the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- The last day to enroll in Marketplace coverage that will begin as soon as January 1, 2015, is December 15, 2014. February 15, 2015, is the last day to sign up for public health insurance for 2015. Grace periods may be approved in rare circumstances (check here after January 1st). Members of federally recognized tribes or Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation (ANCSA) shareholders may enroll in Marketplace coverage any time of the year.
- Alas! Public health plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace do not deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
- Marketplace insurance plans are parity protected. What does "parity protected" mean?
- Financial requirements for mental health services must be equal to or lesser than those required for most medical services. For example, you cannot be charged a co-payment of $40 for an office visit to a psychologist and $20 for an office visit to a medical doctor if the sum cost for all of your used medical services totals less than $40.
- Insurers cannot put a firm limit on the number of treatment sessions that are covered in a health plan. Care is evaluated on a case-by-case basis for "medical necessity" according to criteria established by treatment and insurance providers.
- A single deductible now applies to both mental health treatment services and medical treatment services. Prior to the parity law, insurance plans could require patients to meet different deductibles for mental health services and medical services. A deductible is the overall amount patients pay out-of-pocket per year before health insurance makes any payments.
- More good news for mental health! All insurance plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace include mental health and substance use disorder services as an essential health benefit. An essential health benefit is part of a comprehensive package of services that must be covered in a health plan. In the individual and small group markets, both inside and outside of the Health Insurance Marketplace, essential health benefits are guaranteed.
- The other 9 essential health benefits: ambulatory services (outpatient services you can get without being admitted to a hospital); emergency services; hospitalization (e.g., surgery); pregnancy, maternity and newborn services (e.g., neonatal care); prescription drug services; rehabilitative services; laboratory services (e.g., HIV testing, blood work); preventative and wellness services (e.g., screening for alcohol misuse, blood pressure, depression, diet, tobacco use, etc.); and pediatric services (i.e., primary care for children).
- You may be eligible for savings on Marketplace health insurance depending on your income and household size. Individuals with annual incomes below $46,680, and families of four with incomes below $95,400, will generally qualify for savings. This chart will guide you in discovering if you or your family qualify for low-cost health coverage. Children may be enrolled in their parents' health plans, inside or outside of the Health Insurance Marketplace, until age 26.
- The Marketplace Call Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call to start an application, seek help completing an application, compare health plans, or ask a question.
- Click here to browse Marketplace insurance options for 2015. Enter your United States zip code and you will be taken to the unique "shopping site" for your home state. Before electing to enroll in a health plan, be sure to have all necessary documents prepared and gathered.
- For personalized, local help: Try here.
Learn more about insurance and the Affordable Care Act in our Learning Center.
The prevailing perceptions of “macho” masculinity and what it means to be “a man” in America have long overshadowed critical issues related to men’s mental health -- until now. NoStigmas wants to talk about you, guys!
We know that mental health issues do not discriminate by gender. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and other major mental health issues similarly affect both men and women. So why are men, on average, three times more likely than women to die by suicide?
Accurately recognizing the warning signs of a mental health condition is sometimes difficult, and sometimes men (and women) are not in-tune with their emotions. Men may feel added social pressures to be bold, confident, and stoic. Popular culture reinforces the image of the “masculine man” as powerful, courageous, competitive and successful.
While these traits are admirable, they are deserving of compromise. The social construction of masculinity is problematic because it does not leave room for anxieties, doubts, misconceptions or struggles. Reality tells us that life is full of little (and big!) anxieties and struggles. We want to help our men prioritize their mental health habits and manage their “emotional teaspoons”. Let’s #RedefineNormal and let our men know - You are not alone.
- DO talk to a loved one, a trusted friend, or a professional health provider at the first indication of a mental health issue. Talk to us, even! You can request a NoStigmas mentor here.
- DO maintain a healthy diet and engage in moderate physical activity 2-3 times a week. Watching your waistline and other key health numbers (like blood pressure and cholesterol) will also benefit your long-term health. Check out the 6 biggest trend shifts in fitness here.
- DO reflect on yourself. This is essential to self-management! Take time out of your day to think and reflect on present irritations, hopes and pleasures, and immediate or future plans. If a journal isn’t quite your style, try taking this step and installing this personal health template from Microsoft Office to your personal computer. It downloads directly to Microsoft Excel, and the rest is health history!
- DON’T consume excess alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. For men younger than age 65, alcohol consumption is considered moderate if individuals consume up to two drinks per day. One drink is equivalent to a 12 oz. beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or a 1.5 oz. shot (80 proof).
- DON’T mess with your sleep schedule. Our quality of sleep influences how much food we consume, our metabolism speed, and how well we cope with our stress. Check out these 7 steps to better sleep.
- DON’T use tobacco products. Smoking is among the unhealthiest vices known to man. To pick up a healthier habit, try these mediation tips for beginners.
Visit our Learning Center to learn more about men's mental health! Also, check out some other "manly" support systems: