Healthy Support

App and Peer Group Built to Support Police Officer Health

Police officers and police department staff have long suffered emotionally from the horrors of the job and traditionally have kept to themselves, compounding the issue. So police departments are addressing the emotional trauma officers face to try to foster emotional health.

The Frederick, Md., Police Department is taking a more holistic approach to health with the underlying belief that resiliency is a cultural issue for everyone within the department — sworn and not sworn — and that resiliency not only means emotional health, but physical health as well.

That’s the ambition of the Resiliency and Wellness Group (RWG), a group of seven Frederick Police Department employees — half sworn, half professional staff — that works with a professional leadership coach to develop resiliency within the department.


The RGW has implemented a Peer Ambassador Program and is developing a corresponding app for all police personnel to use anonymously for resources

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Healthy Support

Healthy Eating During The Holidays Improves Wellness And Productivity And Lengthens Life

During the holiday season, we are presented with a myriad of tempting foods, much of which is unhealthy and can deplete us of energy. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that good nutrition, along with ample sleep and good exercise, provide fuel that promotes your health, mood and mindful productivity at work. We have known for years that there is a direct link between diet and our physical health. Scientists, for example, have discovered that the Mediterranean diet reduces risks of cardiovascular disease. Research also shows that there is a direct relationship between our dietary patterns and mental health. The study’s authors state, “The results of this trial suggest that improving one’s diet according

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Healthy Support

Eating Disorder Support Groups & Treatment Options

A 2020 report from Harvard STRIPED, the Academy for Eating Disorders, and Deloitte found that 9 percent of the U.S. population—28.8 million Americans—will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Yet data shows that only 23 percent of people diagnosed with an eating disorder will ever get treatment for it. This is particularly concerning, considering that eating disorders are the second deadliest mental health condition in the U.S.

One of the biggest hurdles people face: stigma. Many people seeking treatment report being perceived as “responsible” for their eating disorder, and that others reacted negatively or distanced themselves after learning about the person’s eating disorder.

Eating disorder treatment has too many barriers to entry

Weight bias—the negative attitudes our society has towards fat people—also makes it harder for people who have an eating disorder to get diagnosed and treated, says Christine Byrne, RD, MPH, an anti-diet dietitian based

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Healthy Support

Back-to-School Mental Health Guide | Everyday Health

Sleep

Good quality sleep is important for sustaining your mental health. Inadequate sleep can negatively affect your mood, according to an article published in February 2023 in the Journal of Sleep Research. A consistent sleep schedule helps students get through their busy day. The same article found that students who go to sleep and wake at the same time every day have fewer depressive symptoms than students who do not have a sleep schedule.

“Science shows that the less sleep we get, the more cranky, emotional, and reactive we become,” says mental health therapist Krissy White, a counselor in private practice in Katy, Texas. She recommends creating a relaxing and consistent sleep routine.

“Set a morning alarm when you start to get ready for bed. After brushing your teeth and doing your skin routine, do yoga, read a good book, or meditate before bed. It will help you

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Healthy Support

How food affects mood: Eating healthy reduces the risk of depression, anxiety

It’s no secret that the foods people consume have major impacts on their physical health. But they also influence well-being. That’s why ordering a pizza after a stressful day may not be the best option, even if it is the most appealing. 

An emerging field of science known as nutritional psychiatry is based on research linking food to mental health. It’s centered on the gut microbiome, a community of bacteria — both good and bad — that supports digestion and the health of the immune system, among other roles. 

Positive changes to the gut microbiome have been shown to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system and improve mood. Disturbances can contribute to physical health issues like obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis. And they also can impact a person’s mood.

That’s because the production of serotonin, which helps regulate sleep, appetite and mood, is highly influenced by the gut’s

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Healthy Support

How to Support Kids Going Back-to-School: Child Mental Health Experts

  • Returning back to school can be a stressful time for families.
  • It’s also an opportunity to implement new, healthier routines, doctors say.
  • Start with small changes and build on them over time.

You’ve purchased all the school supplies, picked out the first day-outfits, and practiced getting up early for the bus. But doctors say there’s another part of the back-to-school transition: fostering good mental health and making sure your children are ready to meet emotional challenges during the school year. 

“We know having a healthy baseline of mental well-being helps with their concentration and energy,” says  Mao Thwin Myint, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Being mentally healthy also boosts your child’s academic prowess and ability to engage socially, he

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Healthy Support

Wellthy launches teen helpline to help parents address mental health needs

Working parents face challenges at every stage of raising children, but helping teenagers become happy, confident adults amidst today’s social, political and media influences can feel especially overwhelming.

The health of teens is top of mind, as recent reports show that levels of depression, anxiety,  ADHD and eating disorders are on the rise. Over one-third of high school students have suffered from poor mental health in the last few years, and half said they feel sad and hopeless on a regular basis, according to the CDC. For working parents and caretakers, investing the time to understand and help manage these issues is important, but difficult as they juggle busy work schedules, lack of access to care, and suffer from exhaustion themselves. A study by The Ohio State University found that 66% of working parents met the criteria for burnout, with those who had children under 18 with a mental

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Healthy Support

The Mental Health Crisis Among Teenage Girls And How Brands Can Help

Alana Sandel is a Chief Experience Officer at Marketing For Wellness, the agency committed to supporting brands that stand for well-being.

In a world where teenagers are constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations and societal pressures, it’s no wonder that there is a mental health crisis among teenagers. According to the National Institutes of Health (via Healthychildren.org), nearly 1 in 3 adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder, while a Pew Research Center analysis found that in 2017, 13% of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 (or 3.2 million) said they had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Disturbingly, in a study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 11% of adolescents reported self-harm behaviors (without suicidal ideation or attempts). About one-third of U.S. high school girls have seriously considered attempting suicide, according to a 2021 CDC survey

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Healthy Body

social media contributing to youth mental health crisis

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Western Mass News is getting answers on a new social media warning from the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is warning people that social media is contributing to a ‘youth mental health crisis’ in a major advisory released on Tuesday.

The Surgeon General recommended creating media plans and encouraging kids to develop in-person friendships. One child psychiatrist is breaking down more social media tips for those who feel a negative impact from social media usage.

Dr. Murthy issued a major advisory on Tuesday, warning that social media is feeding into a ‘youth mental health crisis.’

“The advisory suggested there are some potential benefits for kids for social media, but there’s also significant concerns and risks related to their behavior and mental health,” said Baystate Medical Center Chief of Child Psychiatry Dr. Bruce Waslick.

The lengthy 25-page advisory listed several red flags pertaining

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Healthy Body

How these science-backed practices can improve mental health

“Mindfulness” and “self-compassion” are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research — ongoing, voluminous, and worldwide — clearly shows how and why these two practices work.

One effective way to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion is through meditation.

For more than 20 years, as a clinical psychologist, research scientist, and educator, I taught meditation to students and clinical patients, and took a deep dive into the research literature. My recent book, The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head, highlights much of that research.

I learned even more when I evaluated mental health programs and psychology classes that train participants in mindfulness and compassion-based techniques.

Defining mindfulness and self-compassion

Mindfulness means purposefully paying attention to the present moment with an

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