The Blog
Our bi-monthly blogs are authored by a highly valued wellness experts of Southern Maryland or a member of our Hope and Healing staff!
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Children’s Mental Health: Overcoming Stigma and Empowering Change
“As adults, it’s common to downplay, dismiss, or invalidate the many obstacles faced by children and teenagers. Despite our best intentions, it’s been a while since we’ve worn their shoes, and witnessed the world from a young person’s point of view. Sometimes, adults may minimize the issues our children are facing because our “adult” perspective can make our “adult” problems seem so much greater by comparison. It’s important to remember, however…”
Eating Seasonally: Spring Edition
Seasonal food typically refers to produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is harvested. “Seasonal eating” is a popular term used by restaurants, chefs, farmers, and dietician/nutritionists. The focus on seasonal eating is on fruits and vegetables since unlike animals, their growth is very much related to season-specific weather. This may bring to memory eating apples and pumpkins in the fall while looking forward to watermelon and berries in the summer…
Protecting and Serving the Mental Health of First Responders: PTSD
According to the National Council on Mental Wellbeing, 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. I’d offer that since COVID, that is likely 100% of us. I mean, “surviving a natural disaster” is a criterion for trauma, and certainly a global pandemic fits the bill. Of those 70-100% of the population, about 6% of those individuals will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Institutes of Health reports that 80% of first responders experience traumatic events on the job. I’m not sure how that number isn’t 100% given the nature of the job, but I’ll go with the research for now. Furthermore, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that roughly 1 in 3 first responders develop PTSD.