Shared Links (weekly) Nov. 29, 2020
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
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Shared Links (weekly) March 7, 2021
Introduction to Tanya J. Peterson, Author of ‘Mental Health for the Digital Generation’
Toxic Childhood? 10 Lessons You Must Unlearn in Adulthood
Five tips to keep your children safe online
How To Be Intentional With Social Media Use
Nobody’s Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness
Here’s What Happens When Social Workers, Not Police, Respond To Mental Health Crises
Former Gymnast Sarah Klein Discusses Coach John Geddert’s Sex Abuse Charges
Sharing – Invest in childhood
We know that kids who can access mental health support during traumatic childhoods fare significantly better in every aspect than kids who are unable to do so. If we want to do something about not only the youth mental health crisis, but also future adult mental and physical health issues, one of the best things we could do is invest in support systems for children.Â
But, we don’t. We have never made the kind of commitment that is necessary, and now we are cutting the meager programs that do exist.Â
Link – Let’s Talk About Depression
I’ve said it before. If you don’t think you know anyone whose life is being impacted by depression, you’re just not paying attention. Depression is a common illness, affecting more than 350 million people of all ages around the world. It’s currently the number one cause of disability, and is predicted to be the number…
Sharing – How To Support Your Depressed Friend When You’re Depressed Too
As you know, I’ve been quick to share links and even write about what your depressed friends need, and how to help people struggling with their own mental health. What I’ve come to realize more and more is that I am also struggling, and failing at being a very good friend for many of these same reasons. I’m burned out, I’m tired, I have little mental energy beyond just getting through each workday, and taking care of myself, for reaching out, chatting, or virtually meeting up with people.
In short, I am experiencing exactly what Annie is talking about. I want to reach out and be supportive to my friends, but I haven’t recognized my own struggles. No, I don’t believe I am depressed in a major way, but I’m definitely suffering from anxiety, stress, and it’s exhausting me.
That makes it hard to be the supportive one in any relationship, even though I want to be.
To combat that, I’m going to be reviewing this article a few times, and thinking about how I might still be supportive, and how maybe people in my life be supportive of each other.
Sharing – What Not to Do: Seven Things to Keep in Mind When Helping Someone with a Mental Health Challenge
I think the entire list of seven things provided by Mental Health First Aid below, is good, but this one, in particular, is something I think we all need to keep in mind:
“Do not be hostile or sarcastic when the person attempts to be responsive, but instead accept their responses as the best the person has to offer at that time.”
I think it’s fair to say that right now, most of us are dealing with some challenges. If ever there was a time to accept that replying to your text, or responding to a question you have might not be the foremost thing on someone’s mind, it’s now.
Between dealing with kids going back to school, and whatever that looks like, protests and violence, constant pandemic concerns around illness or loss of loved ones, and massive employment insecurity, there’s a lot going on that we are all trying to deal with as best as we can. I’d argue that we are all dealing with some pretty huge mental health challenges right now, so if you have people trying to stay in contact with you, to check in, or support you, give them a little grace. The fact that they are even trying right now should say a lot, and I hope we can all appreciate the imperfect efforts anyone puts in.
Sharing – New study shows the top healthcare issue in rural America is mental health and addiction
There have been some efforts to make health care more accessible in rural areas, but I’m not sure that we’ve done nearly as much when it comes to mental health and addiction treatment. I’ve read too many stories of people needing to travel 100 miles or more to see a therapist, or get a prescription for medication, let alone finding a rehab clinic with an opening. Throw in a system that too often forgets that they exist, or uses them as pawns in power grabs instead of trying to meet the needs of these communities, and it’s no wonder that many would be feeling helpless in the face of addiction and mental health issues.
