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    Asking for Help Can Create Connection – So Does the Thank You

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

    We’ve talked a lot about the importance of connection when it comes to mental health. Being connected to others is a great tool in suicide prevention, and we see study after study reporting on the negative effects of loneliness. One great way to create a connection among your friends is to ask for help when you need it. People, generally, like to help. The little bit of vulnerability it takes to ask for help can create a huge improvement in the connection between two people.

    Unless, of course, you don’t bother to acknowledge the help with a thank you.

  • Men Have No One to Truly Open Up To According to Men

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

    There are more details to describe what some men meant by no one, but no one was a very popular response. I’m not surprised by that. I think most men don’t open up 100% to anyone. Part of it is not having that kind of relationship with anyone, part of it is society’s expectations of men to be strong and stoic, part of it is women’s expectations that the men in their lives remain strong and stoic, and part of it is just our unwillingness to have uncomfortable conversations.

  • Why Advocates Should Think Twice About Laws They Support

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Law enforcement officials don’t just want to be able to scan for CSAM. That’s the excuse to get the public to buy into mass surveillance. “It’s for the kids” is disingenuous. It’s not for the kids to them, it’s to open the door to the police, and anyone with some skill, to watch ALL of our communication and use it in any way they see fit.

    Yes, that will include that cop who’s a little too friendly with the teens in the neighborhood, the one abusing his wife, or the one stalking an ex. It’ll also include officials with political leanings spying on opponents, dictators with unfettered access to all communication coming and going to their citizens, and hackers getting access to blackmail material.

    All of it. Out there for anyone with the keys to see, store, and use as they see fit.

  • Sharing – How I Got Better at Sharing My Story

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

    They can’t go down to the local community college and sign up for a class where they can practice explaining all of the complexities of their mental health in simple terms. They’re experimenting with what works, what is comfortable, what is confusing, etc. Give them some space to do that and know that when they are still at this uncomfortable level they trust you to be someone they want to talk to.

    Don’t ruin it for them by being dismissive or not listening. They need you to listen and they need practice in telling their stories. Be the same place for that.

  • Online Education – Not Just for Tech and Career Skills

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

    I’ll admit it, if you asked me where online you could educate yourself about Mental Health and self-care, LinkedIn Learning and Coursera wouldn’t have been at the top of my mind. Thankfully, the Make Use Of website knows better. They’ve shared some recommendations on courses you can take online: