Mental Health Musings: Film Therapists
As my previous blog entry discussed concerns about depictions of therapists in the New York City Fringe Festival, it seemed sensible to follow that up with a similar consideration of depictions of therapists in commercial films. In fact, this is probably a more important focus given that films reach far more people than Fringe Festival […]
Suicide Prevention Month: Awareness, Hope, and Action
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and deepen understanding. It is also an opportunity to center a message that can be lost in discussions of suicide: there is hope, help is available, and recovery is possible. Suicide affects individuals, families, workplaces, schools, and communities nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease […]
Youth Mental Health & Access to Care
As summer draws to a close and students prepare to return to school, many families are focused on buying supplies, adjusting schedules, and getting ready for the new academic year. But alongside these routines, it’s important to recognize another essential back-to-school priority: mental health. Across the country, children, teens, and young adults continue to face […]
Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month: Advancing Equity and Culturally Responsive Care
Every July, we recognize Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness of the unique mental health experiences of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, and other historically marginalized communities. Established in honor of author, educator, and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, this observance reminds […]
Mental Health Musings – Fringe Therapy
My spouse and I had the good fortune to attend a portion of the New York City Fringe Festival in April of this year. We enjoyed many plays, ten in five days, as well as a plethora of authentic New York bagels. The plays were of varying quality, as one might expect from a Fringe […]
Pride Month: Why Affirming Care, Access, and Belonging Matter
June is Pride Month, a time to honor the diversity, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ+ communities. It also highlights the significance of mental health and how affirming care, equal access to support, and a feeling of belonging are vital in helping individuals flourish. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, experiences such as discrimination, rejection, bullying, or exclusion […]
MHC’s Statement on Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting
The Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) community is deeply saddened by the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD), where recent reports indicate the deaths of three staff members, including an ICSD security guard who is being heralded as a hero, as well as the two presumed shooters, ages 17 and 19. The ICSD, […]
Mental Health Musings: There’s Good News Tonight
“So often,” says Jose Villiard Diaz, weekend anchor of the NBC Nightly News, “the good news doesn’t get as much attention as the bad.” Accordingly, NBC Nightly News frequently closes with a segment introduced as “there’s good news tonight.” In my blogs, I have, like newscasters, tended to discuss troubling topics, particularly stigma, and, as […]
Let’s Face It: Meet Rachael Perillo
Rachael’s mental health journey began after the birth of one of her children, when she was diagnosed with postpartum depression. Prior to that, she had managed anxiety with coping skills and therapy as needed, but this experience was different. It was the first time she felt a loss of control over her mental health. She […]
Let’s Face It: Meet Rob Santos
Growing up, Rob knew something felt off but didn’t have the language to describe it or ask for help. When he was just seven years old, teachers told him he lacked self-control. At home, support didn’t always follow through, and when he tried to talk about what he was experiencing, he was often blamed instead […]
