Mental health is key to our well-being. We cant be truly healthy without it. It involves how we feel, think, act, and interact with the world around us. Mental health is about realizing our potential, coping with the normal stresses of life, and making a contribution to our community. It may be more helpful to think of good mental health as thriving. Good mental health isnt about avoiding problems or trying to achieve a perfect life. Its about living well and feeling capable despite […] Continue readingMental Health for Life
Youth and Self-Injury
People cope with difficult thoughts, feelings, or situations in different ways. Some people cope by injuring themselves on purposeand it may be the only way for them to feel better. Self-injury may seem frightening, but its important to look beyond the injuries and see whats really going on. What is self-injury? Self-injury means that someone hurts themself on purpose but doesnt intend to end their life. Common acts of self-injury include cutting skin, burning skin, hitting yourself to the […] Continue readingYouth and Self-Injury
Eating Disorders
Every day, we are surrounded by different messages from different sources that impact the way we feel about the way we look. For some, poor body image is a sign of a serious problem: an eating disorder. Eating disorders are not just about food. They are often a way to cope with difficult problems or regain a sense of control. They are complicated illnesses that affect a persons sense of identity, worth, and self-esteem. What are eating disorders? There are three main types of eating disorders: […] Continue readingEating Disorders
Feeling Angry
We all feel angry sometimes. Most of the time, we can deal with feelings of anger or irritability quickly. We may resolve the situation or look at the problem from a different perspective. However, anger can cause problems in our lives and the lives of those around us. Learn more about recognizing problem anger and taking action. What is anger? Anger is an emotion that tells us when something may be wrong. For example, we may feel angry when something is beyond our control or feels unfair, when […] Continue readingFeeling Angry
Getting Help
Some people worry about asking for help because there can be stigma around mental health problems. They may believe that asking for help means admitting that something is wrong. Some people worry about how others might see them. Asking for help means that you want to make changes or take steps towards your new health goals. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up and make changes. Getting help is part of recovery. Recovery can mean many different things. Some people see recovery as […] Continue readingGetting Help
Grieving
Loss is one of lifes most stressful events. It takes time to heal, and everyone responds differently. We may need help to cope with the changes in our lives. Grief is part of being human, but that doesnt mean we have to go through the journey alone. What is grief? Grief (also called bereavement) is the experience of loss. Many people associate grief with the death of an important person or pet. However, people experience grief after any important loss that affects their life, such as the loss […] Continue readingGrieving
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Frightening situations happen to everyone at some point. People can react in many different ways: they might feel nervous, have a hard time sleeping well, or go over the details of the situation in their mind. These thoughts or experiences are a normal reaction. They usually decrease over time and the people involved can go back to their daily lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder, on the other hand, lasts much longer and can seriously disrupt a persons life. What is post-traumatic stress […] Continue readingPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Postpartum Depression
Bringing a new baby into the family can be challenging at the best of times, both physically and emotionally. It is natural for new parents to experience mood swings, feeling joyful one minute and depressed the next. These feelings are sometimes known as the baby blues, and often go away soon after birth. However, some parents may experience a deep and ongoing depression that lasts much longer. This is called postpartum depression. What is postpartum depression? Postpartum depression is […] Continue readingPostpartum Depression
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. One of the biggest myths around the illness is that it isnt treatable. With the right supports, people can work or volunteer, be active in their own care, and contribute to their communities. What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects the way you understand and interact with the world around you. At the beginning of an episode, people may feel that things around them seem different or strange. They may start to […] Continue readingSchizophrenia
Stress
We all talk about stress, but were not always clear about what it is. Stress comes from both the good and the bad things that happen to us. If we didnt feel any stress, we wouldnt be alive! Stress may feel overwhelming at times, but there are many strategies to help you take control. What is stress? Stress is the bodys response to a real or perceived threat. That response is meant to get people ready for some kind of action to get them out of danger. But most of the threats people face […] Continue readingStress