Let’s Face It: Meet Bliss Kern
“As a clinician and friend, my biggest strength and liability are the same: I don’t really know how to be inauthentic.” From an early age, Bliss understood that per experience of identity did not fit neatly into traditional expectations. Bliss reflects on how much emphasis society places on appearance when discussing gender identity. In per […]
Let’s Face It: Meet Kai Belton
Kai Belton is a mother, grandmother, social worker, woman of faith, and the State Representative for Middletown’s 100th District. Throughout her career, she has worked in spaces where support is needed most, serving children in schools, supporting families experiencing domestic violence, responding to crises in the community, and assisting individuals facing food insecurity and housing […]
Let’s Face It: Meet Aaron Hawkins
Aaron Hawkins is a veteran, musician, proud father, Certified Peer Specialist with the Veterans Health Administration, certified yoga instructor, and a dedicated human rights and environmental advocate. He is also the son of a U.S. Army Vietnam-era veteran and a mother who immigrated to the United States from Dominica on a student visa. Growing up, […]
Mental Health Musings: “Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad.”
The exact origin of this quotation is uncertain. Most authorities are clear that it reflects sentiments expressed in Ancient Greece, although the original source is a matter of dispute. There seems to be agreement, however, that the specific wording above appears in the late 1800s, most prominently in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Masque of Pandora.” […]
Stress in a Complex World: Understanding and Managing Uncertainty
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to pause and reflect on how stress appears in our lives and how we can handle it more effectively. While stress has always been part of the human experience, today’s world presents a unique set of challenges that can feel constant and overwhelming. From global headlines to personal […]
MHC’s Response to the Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy
On March 31, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Colorado law that prohibited conversion therapy for minors. As a result, licensed therapists in that state may now legally use “conversion therapy” to attempt to alter an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or related behaviors. This ruling stands in direct tension with one of the […]
Honoring Mental Health History & Increasing Awareness of Bipolar Disorder
Every year on March 30, the global mental health community observes World Bipolar Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering understanding of bipolar disorder. The date is especially meaningful because it coincides with the birthday of Clifford W. Beers, a Connecticut native whose personal story helped ignite the modern mental health […]
The Impacts of War on Mental Health
War and armed conflict affect far more than the regions where violence occurs. While the mental health impacts on people living in conflict zones are profound, war can also affect the emotional well-being of people across the globe who follow events through news and social media. Prolonged conflicts disrupt global systems and can create stressors […]
Reverend Jesse Jackson (1941–2026)
Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away on February 17 at age 84. Similar to Mental Health Connecticut’s founder Clifford Beers, who transformed his lived experience of injustice into a movement for reform of the mental health system, Rev. Jackson saw inequity and dedicated his life to changing it. A self-described “moral leader,” he carried forward the […]
AI, Therapy, and Digital Mental Health Tools
Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing daily life, including how we communicate and manage our health. It can also play a significant role in how we support and seek assistance for our mental health and overall well-being. With that in mind, Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) is taking the time to closely examine how these emerging digital […]
