December 4, 2017
by Tracey Block
How young can your child be to receive a professional diagnosis, and treatment, for a mental illness? From birth to age 6, children develop very quickly, both mentally and physically. As a result, it is hard to tell if a new or questionable behavior is fleeting and nothing to worry about—or something that will become problematic for life. Specialists and researchers are finally starting to recognize the importance of the early years in mental health intervention and support.
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November 30, 2017
by Julia Travers
People who have bipolar disorder experience unusual shifts in mood, energy, sleep and the ability to perform daily tasks. A new treatment option has just been found to be helpful for bipolar depression: midday bright light therapy.
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November 27, 2017
by Tracey Block
Mental health therapy. The words conjure images of a patient lying on a couch while a Freudian-looking therapist sits in an adjacent chair, notebook and pen poised to write. But in the 21st century, there are powerful new mental health options: digital tools. What are they and which ones would you trust with your mental health?
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November 25, 2017
by Tracey Block
Are we paying the price for Black Friday sales? Rather than a day to relax after the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Friday has, for many, become a day of stress and anxiety. Some see it as a challenge to find the best bargain. Others see it challenging their mental health and well being. How about you?
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November 23, 2017
by Hilda Huj
The holiday season, the jolliest time of the year. Or, is it? Many suffer from depression and anxiety more during this time of year, research shows.
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November 23, 2017
by Tracey Block
It is no secret that North Americans watch a lot of television. Researchers have long discussed the negative effects of too many sedentary hours hypnotised by the glow of the screen. And now along comes 'binge-watching'. With the advent of TV streaming services, we now spend evenings, days or weekends watching entire seasons of our favorite shows. Can our mental health and overall wellbeing survive this kind of (in)activity?
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November 20, 2017
by Tracey Block
Every morning, many of us subject ourselves to a rude awakening—the sound of an alarm forcing us into the day’s obligations. But what does this artificial arousal have in common with current research into mental illness? A lot. The ebb and flow of the human daily biological clock, known as circadian rhythm, while different from person to person, dictates when we should wake, eat and sleep. More than ever, scientists recognize that denying the body its opportunity to sleep when it needs to can have detrimental effects on our physical and psychological well-being.
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November 13, 2017
by Tracey Block
It may only be the middle of November, but stores and shopping malls are already decked out for the holidays. More than the visible signs of the coming festivities, the iconic holiday music piped through every store's stereo adds excitement, indeed. But, for some shoppers, hearing that music evokes more than visions of sugar plums. It can cause feelings of stress, anxiety, depression and more. Short of doing your holiday shopping wearing ear plugs, what can you do to survive the terror of the tunes?
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November 10, 2017
by Tracey Block
Celebrities who speak out about their mental health challenges help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and make it safer for ‘ordinary’ citizens to recognize a need, seek help, and share their own stories of courage.
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November 8, 2017
by Tracey Block
More than just a contest to grow the best moustache, Movember has grown into a campaign successfully bolstering recognition of male cancers and male mental health issues. Thanks to its efforts, new websites and organizations catering to male needs continue to be established, and therapists worldwide are realizing the needs of the male psyche have long been ignored.
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