Breathing Through the Holidays
By Brenda Marshall, EdD, APN, ANEF, FAANP Holidays can be the best of times or the worst of times, depending on each person’s individual experience. Yes, I am referring to that time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day — and for some of us, Valentine’s Day is also included. Somewhere, somehow, the yearly recurrence […]
Overdose Awareness: End the Stigma and Make Change
By Laurel Hallock-Koppelman, DNP, FNP-C, APRN International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31. Founded in 2001, this day acts as a time to reflect without judgment upon the lives that have been lost to opioid overdose and to promote the discussion of overdose prevention worldwide. It is a time to share resources for individuals who […]
A Nurse Practitioner’s Thoughts on Mental Health Awareness
By Kathleen T. McCoy, DNSc, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP May is a wonderful month, filled with the newness of spring! Yet during springtime and throughout the year, many people may experience challenges thinking clearly or managing their emotions. If you can relate to these experiences, May might be an opportune time to take a self-inventory […]
Six Ways to Reduce the Effects of Stress
By Tearsanee Carlisle Davis, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP “Stressed” — over the past two years, this is the response I have received from patients, friends, family and coworkers when I asked the simple question, How are you feeling? Personal illness, family illness, job losses, childcare issues and a fear of the unknown have caused many […]
Five Things You Should Know About Eating Disorders
By April Kapu, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a campaign intended to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders, correct misconceptions and provide support to those struggling and their families. With the number of people experiencing disordered eating on the rise, it’s now more important than […]
This Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, Know That You Are Not Alone
By Irene W. Bean, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAANP July is Minority Mental Health Awareness month, and with the renewed focus on systemic inequalities, this topic is in urgent need of attention. Mental health issues affect every demographic, but it is especially prevalent for us working and living in minority communities. Systemic problems such as food […]
Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year, it is more critical than ever to pay attention to your mental wellbeing. After more than a year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects on mental health have been staggering.
Drugs and Alcohol: Know the Facts
This week is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. This national awareness week was first started in 2010 by scientists at the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) to counteract mistruths that teens learn about drugs and alcohol from the internet, social media, movies and other teens.
Five Things You May Not Know About Mental Health and Mental Illnesses
Sometimes the terms “mental health” and “mental illness” are used interchangeably, but poor mental health and mental illness are not the same thing. If you are interested in learning more about mental illness and mental health, reach out to your NP.
It’s Not All in Your Head – Four Steps To Improve Minority Mental Health in Your Community
Mental illness is one of the most prevalent health problems in this country. Roughly one in five people will struggle with mental illness, but despite its widespread impact, less than half will receive any treatment or counseling. Even though mental illness is among the leading causes of disability and one of the most expensive ailments plaguing our health care system, there remains a great divide between recognizing mental illness and embracing it as a legitimate and potentially serious medical condition.