Depression

by Malachi Gagnon
You could say music is my form of therapy. After working on my own mental health and dealing with the anger and emotions losing Ethan and others had caused, I went to my room one night and wrote what I wish I could still tell Ethan. The first words that came out of my mouth were, “I love you too much to watch you fall”.
No parent wants to make things worse for their child, and certainly not when they’re already struggling with mental health symptoms, but explaining what is causing a child’s inner havoc and distress or outer symptoms can be a relief. It can separate the child from the symptoms.
When our children ask us the big questions, such as “Why?” or “What are we going to do?” after a flood, earthquake or hurricane has destroyed their home, community or disrupted daily life, adults can get stuck thinking that they must provide an explanation for the unexplainable.
by Kim Adams

From an early age, I struggled with unrealistic fears, worry, and sadness.  As the first-born child, I was the apple of my parents’ and grandparents’ eye and placed on a pedestal which I feel resulted in a deep desire to always be perfect and make everyone happy. Oftentimes, I felt like I had no control.

Breastfeeding is a learned behavior for both baby and parent that requires guidance, nurturing, and support. However, as many of us who have breastfed before know, it does not always go well.
by Suzanne Galante
Other times when I have felt safe is by reading other people’s stories. Stories help us connect with people, feel less alone, validate our feelings, and are vital to people who are struggling with all kinds of mental disorders.
With school in full swing for students across the country, parents and caregivers could begin to see signs of school refusal. Rogers Behavioral Health’s Dr. Heather Jones explains how to identify it and provides strategies for helping your child overcome it.
In many illnesses, having one symptom makes you much more likely to have others. Such as, individuals with diabetes are more likely to also have hypertension. The same is also true for mental health disorders.
What we don’t often think about is how stress and anxiety can significantly increase during an election year and affect everyone’s mental health. Learn more about how to manage this stress and anxiety.