The idea of mental health awareness campaigns is not a recent event. In the late 1940′s the first National Mental Health Awareness Week was started in the United States. In the 1960’s this annual, weekly event was upgraded to a monthly designated event.

Mental health awareness is an important concept. According to a study published in 2017, which followed individuals ages 11-38 and tracked their mental health, 17% avoided mental health issues. Forty -one percent had a mental health condition that lasted for multiple years and forty-two percent had short –lived mental health conditions. Depression, anxiety and substance abuse were the most common diagnoses in the study. In addition, the leading cause of disability is not cancer or chronic pain, According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and has held that distinction for many years.

Unfortunately, despite increasing awareness, the rate of depression is not decreasing. In developing nations, people often did not receive treatment for symptoms of depression. Between the years of 2005-20015, the rate of depression actually increased by 18 percent.

HealthNet’s Behavioral Health and Human Services Line has licensed therapists and psychiatric providers to help work with many of these life challenges.  Our Navigators schedule appointments and assist with the program’s flow.  A  Navigator can be contacted at the centers where there is a Behavioral Health provider to schedule an appointment. Therapists are trained to help you with issues such as stress management, relationship issues, divorce, parent/child communication, sexual abuse, eating disorders, domestic violence, grief/loss, job changes, depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Social Workers are advocates for our patients and will assist families with their basic needs. Social workers can also provide education, support and referrals to additional agencies.

Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners prescribe medications and can make referrals to other specialists.   Nurses assist with your medication questions, concerns, and refills in between appointments with the psychiatrist/psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Behavioral Health program if you have any questions, or if we can be of any assistance. To learn more, please click here.

Post by Jim Jones PhD

Unfortunately, teen dating violence has become a very serious issue. While the signs of dating violence are not all-inclusive, there are many signs to pay attention. Breakthecycle.org recommends looking for these common warning signs of dating abuse in a relationship:

• Extreme jealousy
• Explosive temper
• Checking cell phones, emails or social networks without permission
• Constant belittling or put downs
• Isolation from family members
• Making false accusations
• Possessiveness
• Erratic mood swings
• Physically inflicting pain or hurt in any way
• Telling someone what to do
• Repeatedly pressuring someone to have sex (2)

There are different factors to determine who is more likely to fall victim to an abusive relationship. According to the CDC, the risks of having unhealthy relationships increase for teens who:

• Believe that dating violence is acceptable
• Are depressed, anxious, or have other symptoms of trauma
• Display aggression towards peers or display other aggressive behaviors
• Use drugs or illegal substances
• Engage in early sexual activity and have multiple sexual partners
• Have a friend involved in dating violence
• Have conflicts with a partner
• Witness or experience violence in the home

Loveisrespect.org offers support, information and advocacy to young people with questions or concerns about relationships. Confidential support is available via text, by calling 866-331-9474 or online at loveisrespect.org.

If you or someone you know has any questions or concerns about teen dating violence or abuse you can contact a HealthNet Therapist or Social Worker at a HealthNet location near you. Click here to learn more about HealthNet’s Behavioral Health and Social Work Programs.

Post by  Jim Jones, PhD – Director of Behavioral Health

Sources

1. http://youth.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence

2. https://www.breakthecycle.org/warning-signs 

3. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teen_dating_violence.html

4. http://www.loveisrespect.org/

If we have experienced any loss throughout the year, this time of year makes it feel like the loss comes back more intensely.  Thinking about the past holidays we spent with the loved one, the things they have missed since they have passed the many traditions that will seem different now with their loss and so on.  Everyone grieves at their own pace, so don’t let anyone tell you “you should be over it by now.”  Also keep in mind the first year of grief is the hardest part and as time goes by, it will get easier.

Financial stressors can also be related to this time of year, where we feel obligated to buy everyone a certain amount of presents or presents with the same monetary value.  Certain families draw names out of a hat so one person is only buying a gift for one individual instead of everyone buying for everyone.   There is no harm in telling family you just cannot do that this year.  There is no point in stressing yourself out financially buying gifts for others when that is at the cost of being able to pay your bills or having food in the home.  The Holidays were meant to be a giving time of year and it doesn’t necessarily have to do with gifts, it can also be giving of emotion and time.  Spend time with your loved ones, that will go the extra mile than the gift or gifts you buy them.

For others, it will be stressful because it is colder, not as much sun, lots of snow, stuck in the house because of the temperature/weather; and we fall into a seasonal depression during this time. The above mentioned does not help the seasonal depression any, rather makes it worse.  If you know that you experience seasonal depression, take a few minutes to make a list of things you can do to help you feel better.

Self-care is always important.  Some people say I cannot focus on myself because I have to be there for my family.  I understand that completely, but self-care does not equate to selfishness.  Self-care means you take the time for yourself a few minutes a day or once a week, to do something that makes you feel better.  I always use the example of a water pitcher in my sessions, where we are the pitcher and when we take care of others and their needs we are pouring from the pitcher, but what happens when the pitcher becomes empty?  Instead of taking a few minutes to fill up the pitcher for ourselves, we tend to keep pouring, waiting for that last drop or two to come out.  If you have something in your pitcher then that will allow you to give to others, but if you don’t it will make it much more difficult to take care of the loved ones around you.  If you are not okay emotionally, physically, and mentally, then how are you going to be there to take care of your loved ones?

This holiday season and winter of 2014-2015, take a few minutes to be nice to yourself.  If you are struggling with any of the above problems or need help getting through your trying moments, please call a HealthNet location near you to make an appointment with a Behavioral Health Therapist.

Post by Bhumi Bhavsar

I have had parents tell me their concerns for their children, and when they are recommended to take their child/ren to the hospital, they hesitate.  Some say it is because the child wants attention, but every threat for suicide should be taken seriously by family and friends! Let the professionals intervene and help your family or loved ones. Some parents say they can’t take their children to the hospital because they would miss school. Other people say they can’t go to the hospital because they would miss work. These common concerns don’t recognize the severity of the situation. School and work attendance will mean nothing if a family member or loved one chooses to follow-through with suicide.

Kids in middle school and high school talk about suicide so frequently now that it is scary.  I have had people who share that their friends tell them they are suicidal but don’t share it with an adult.  That is a huge burden for that child to carry around, as they in turn feel they are responsible for the safety of their friend.  Parents, if you hear your child talking about a friend having suicidal thoughts, please make sure your child knows he/she is not responsible for that friend and cannot keep such a secret from that friend’s parent/guardian/school counselor/teacher. Let’s allow our children to be children and not give them such responsibilities.

Here are some warning signs to look for when it comes to suicide:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself.
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means.
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.
• Feeling hopeless.
• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge.
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities—seemingly without thinking.
• Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out.
• Increasing drug or alcohol use.
• Withdrawing from friends, family, & society.
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time.
• Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.
• Increase or decrease in appetite.
• Giving away of personal items of value.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or signs, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call your nearest Health Center or doctor.

Don’t let another day go by without getting help for you or loved one. 

Post by Bhumi Bhavsar, Behavioral Health

The kids are finally back in school!  Have you noticed that your child/children seem to be more anxious or isolated or irritable since it is back to school time?  If so, take a few minutes to ask them why they feel this way.  Sometimes it is hard for kids to tell their parents how they are feeling, but their behaviors and demeanors can definitely tell you a lot.

Kids could be scared to return to a place where they feel they are being bullied, whether on the bus, in school, at lunch, in the classroom.  So take a few minutes to ask you kids if they are being bullied in school.  This is a huge problem in our society today that gets ignored by so many.   Ask your kids questions related to being bullied/harassed/picked on in school, and don’t limit it to just peers.  It is important to make sure they don’t feel their teachers or other adults are bullying them as well.  Bullying has tremendous effects on kids, their behaviors and emotions.  They could have difficulty paying attention and focusing, decreased self esteem, increased anxiety/fear, lack of motivation, irritability, refusing to do schoolwork, being defiant at school, not doing school work, the list goes on.  If you notice your child begins to exhibit some of the above behaviors, take a few minutes to ask them what is going on.

Do you notice that now your child has started school, he or she has started texting you more frequently and making some excuse or another for you to go pick them up?  Have you noticed they have started giving you more of a fight in the morning prior to going to school?  Do they tell you it is hard for them to breath around all those other kids?  If so, your child may be experiencing some social anxiety related to the crowded hallways and number of people in a small area.  Don’t tell your kids they are making excuses, rather listen to what they have to say.

If your kids are experiencing some of the above mentioned behaviors or others, don’t hesitate to contact your nearest HealthNet center to schedule an appointment with one of our behavioral health therapists.

Spring is in the air and aren’t we all excited!! After such an intensive winter we had this past year,  you may have noticed your mood, or moods of friends, family or children have changed as well.  Believe it or not, the weather can have an affect on our moods and behaviors as well.  So take the opportunity to use this awesome season to bring in and cultivate new behaviors and feelings. 

Being a big believer in self care, I encourage you to take this time of year to do just that.  Take the opportunity to take a walk outside in the evenings – to enjoy the sun, wind, birds, budding flowers, trees, and all the other fun stuff that mother nature has to offer.  Doing such helps us to focus on things outside of our lives and helps provide a sense of release.  Experience or explore something different for yourself and your family, to shake off the monotony of life.  If we take a few minutes to work on change for ourselves, then only will that bring about change in our life circumstances or ways we react to those life circumstances.  Remember, we cannot change others or their behaviors, the only people we have control over for change is ourselves.  

It is also important to make sure we are eating regular meals and snacks.  Sometimes we get so busy with life, that we forget to take a few minutes to be kind to ourselves and skip meals.  Do you expect your car to run properly if you haven’t filled the gas tank or completed routine oil changes?  No, probably not.  Then why would you expect your body to continue working if you don’t give it the basic things to function?  Did you know that eating fruits and vegetables has the natural dopamine and serotonin levels that our bodies need?

Another great piece of self care is sleep.  Our bodies and mind do need rest for it to function properly as well.  Take the time to get the rest that you need, otherwise we are easily irritated, agitated, frustrated, etc. With season of change and new things coming around us, take the time to focus on yourself and be kind to yourself, and you may be surprised what you notice after you do just that. 

If you are facing challenges that are stopping you from taking time for self care, contact a HealthNet location near you to make an appointment with a Behavioral Health Provider. For more information, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org. 

First, it’s important to recognize what you’re experiencing.  As always, self-awareness is key.  Being self-aware means being intentional about evaluating your emotional experience.  Do you always feel sad, lethargic, and irritable in the wintertime?  Most of us experience some lack of motivation in the cold, dark winter days but if you notice it’s a pattern and it’s interfering with your ability to function (i.e. take care of yourself and your kids), it’s something to take seriously.  According to the National Institute of Health, 14% of American adults experience lower mood during the winter while 6% of the adult American population experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  SAD is condition in which one recurrently experiences episodes of depression during a certain time of year (typically winter) and experiences alleviation in symptoms with the change of season.

The month of January can be specifically difficult for most people.  In fact, the Monday of the last full week in January has been deemed Blue Monday by pop culture (not to be confused with solid, psychological research!).  As the cold weather sits in, financial stress from the holiday season takes over, the amount of sunlight per day is short, and we find ourselves failing our optimistic New Years resolutions, we feel the weight of this so-called Blue Monday.  So, how can we take a proactive, healthy approach to these dull winter months?  Here are a few ideas:

1. Get some sunlight.  When there isn’t much sunlight available outside, light therapy can help.  Light therapy involves a light box that you sit in front of each day that is believed to mimic the light of the sun and therefore have a positive impact on your brain.  They are available without a prescription.
2. Exercise.  Exercise has been shown to increase mood, decrease stress, and boost serotonin.  According to some, exercising outdoors for an hour can have the same effect as 2 hours of light therapy.  Exercise also helps you sleep.
3. Sleep.  Whether you experience hypersomnia in the cold winter months or difficulty sleeping, be sure to maintain good sleep hygiene.  Keep a routine with your sleep and wake times and be smart about consuming caffeine and alcohol that can interfere with sleep.  Sleep deprivation can contribute to low mood as well as many other emotional and physiological conditions.
4. Eat well.  Binging on sweets can leave you feeling more lethargic.  Instead, maintain good nutrition in the winter months to provide you energy to face the day.

Hopefully these tips will help you shake the pesky winter blues as we wrap up the season.  If you do think you suffer from depression with a seasonal pattern, consider contacting the behavioral health department at one of our HealthNet clinics.  You are not doomed to be depressed and miserable each winter– there are therapies that can be beneficial and clinicians at each clinic ready to help.

Did you know that 5.3 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s? In honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, HealthNet Behavioral Health Provider, Bhumi Bhavsar, discusses the importance of caregivers as well as dealing with a family member suffering from dementia.

http://www.alz.org/

What is Alzheimer’s? 

Dementia has a group of symptoms:  most prominent is difficulty with memory, along with problems in one of the following areas as well: cognitive functioning, including language, attention, problem solving, spatial skills, judgment, planning, or organization.  There are many causes of dementia, some causes can be irreversible, which means if the cause of dementia is found, than the person can return to normal functioning.  However, most causes of dementia are not reversible and can be progressive over time.  One of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which accounts for about 70-80% of dementia cases.  November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.  But do we all know what that means?  It is a disease related to loss of one’s memory, thinking, and behavior.  Over time it is a disease that gets worse.  There are various stages of Alzheimer’s, which accompanies with it a set of symptoms at each progressive stage.  Click here for more information on symptoms at each stage.

Do you know someone who has Alzheimer’s or are a caregiver?

It is a particularly sad disease to see your loved ones suffering from this.  A young person once told me how it is hard for them to see their loved one in such a manner, as it makes them sad knowing they will never have the same conversations they once used to.  I recall during my undergraduate years, working on a unit with people having dementia and Alzheimer’s – it pulled at my heart strings daily. Every time I saw family coming to visit their loved ones and they didn’t recognize them or would hit them and be mean to them, it was hard.  Family would share how their loved one was once so accomplished or had so many skills.

If you are a caregiver of someone that has Alzheimer’s, it is very important to take some time out to take care of yourself as well in the process.  You may be experiencing a lot of emotions yourself, ranging anywhere from guilt, anger, frustration, and depression.  Make sure you ask your loved one’s doctor, social worker, etc all the questions you need to ask.  There are support groups out there to get the necessary emotional support for yourself as well.

If you’d like to make an appointment to speak with a Behavioral Health Provider, or for more information, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  Bully is becoming a huge problem for kids in school as well as kids and adults on the internet.  According to kidshealth.org, 25 percent of public schools report bullying happens at school on a weekly basis!  In addition, 1 in 3 kids report being cyber-bullied and 1 in 6 adults report having experienced cyber-bullying.  This is a disturbing trend.

Bullying can be defined as any kind of intentional torment.  This includes physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.  Sadly, emotional pain inflicted by others can be difficult to forget and can cause lasting damage.  Unaddressed, a victim of bullying can develop low self-esteem and even suffer from depression.

So, what can we do about it?  As a parent, it’s excruciating to see your child hurt and, often, parents can feel as helpless as the child in knowing what to do about bullying.

First and foremost, don’t be afraid to talk to your kids.  Talk to them about bullying even if you don’t know that it is happening.  Education regarding what bullying is and what is means can be beneficial for children to help them know how what to do if they are bullied or if they witness bullying.  Let your children know that it’s okay to feel scared and embarrassed but that it’s important to tell a trusted adult.

Encourage children to try to ignore the bullying and walk away.  Alert them to get help from an adult.  Talking preemptively about managing anger can be helpful too.  As we all know, it’s hard to walk away sometimes!  Educating children on counting to 10 when angry or taking slow, deep breaths to compose oneself can be helpful in a crunch.

If you do suspect your child might be bullied, again, don’t be afraid to ask.  Listen in a non-judgmental way and validate their feelings.  Bullying can be shaming, so the child needs to feel safe as he is telling of this pain.  If your child doesn’t come right out and tell you, pay attention to changes in behavior.  Is he suddenly refusing to go to school?  Is he not sleeping at night?  Be aware but don’t jump to conclusions.  If you do discover your child is being bullied, model healthy behavior.  Don’t immediately try to address the situation yourself with the bully.  Take a breath and decide on a plan of action with your child.  Often, the best approach can be collaborating with the school.

Bullying can have long-lasting, devastating affects, but you can be helpful in talking and listening with your child as well as addressing the issue in an appropriate manner with the school.  With parents offering education and support, kids can learn to survive bullying and move forward to healthy, productive lives.

Have you had an experience with a bully? Comment below and let us know how you handled the situation.

Yes, it’s that time of year again; the kids are going back to school – which means shopping for clothes, shoes, school supplies- the whole works!!  You’re excited and others are excited, however you notice that your child doesn’t seem excited; rather their behavior seems to have taken a change for the worse.  If so, there are probably some valid reasons for the changes. I think sometimes we as parents tend to misconstrue the behaviors and don’t see that the child is asking for help. There may be something about school or going to school that they don’t like or that makes them scared to go.

With all the technological advances in our world today, I think we tend to miss some of the obvious changes that take place in our children’s’ behaviors or lives, as we are more focused on playing that game on our new iPhone, tweeting someone back, or too focused on our Kindle or iPad.

If you do notice changes in your kids’ behaviors, take a few moments to really sit down and ask them what is going on.  Some of you may be thinking, ‘duh that sounds obvious’, however you can’t imagine the number of parents that are unable to or don’t do that. 

You may discover that your child or children do not want to go to school because they are scared the bullying will start over again – whether on the bus or at school.  Bullying is a huge issue that goes on today and it really does impact kids in a negative way.  They may be scared of being around all those kids again in a small space and feeling like they cannot escape or get out.  Or they may feel like they are not good enough or smart enough and may feel intimidated by their friends or other students.

Whatever the case may be, please take a few minutes to ask your children about what is going on and how they feel about going back to school.  If they are concerned about the above issues, make a plan with them so they know they can come talk to you about what is going on at school.  Let them know that you want them to be successful and you are willing to be there to help them with that.  Sometimes it is hard for kids to openly communicate with their parents/guardians for fear of their parents/guardians’ response or not wanting to disappoint them.  If that is the case, check out the nearest HealthNet Clinic near your area and make an appointment with a therapist, so your child does have someone he or she can talk to and does not feel like he or she has to battle their fears, concerns, stressors, etc alone.

For more information about our behavioral health services, please contact your HealthNet center or call 317-957-2200 x 6009.