Focusing on your mental health is made easier by having self-care at the tips of your fingers on your phone. There are many apps out there for both iPhone iOS and Android devices. The benefits of some of these apps makes it easy to prioritize mental health. When experiencing anxiety or depression, it can be difficult to ask for help right away. These apps can help you get a jump start on managing your wellness. If you are seeing a professional to address mental health concerns, these apps can also come in handy between sessions. Some of these apps help you track your mood/symptoms—something that can be shown to the professional during sessions. There are a wide array of apps out there to help with your mental health.
Types of Therapists
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives.
I have worked with a total of four therapists throughout the years, and they have all varied in terms of their therapy style. I recently talked to a friend of mine about her therapist’s method. It was not anything like the ones I have experienced. This got me thinking about how therapists can differ along with the effectiveness of your treatment.
Help Others with Mental Illness: Participate in Research
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives.
Have you ever wanted to help others who suffer from mental illness without going public with your own experiences?
Participating in research studies—by the way, like SOVA!—is a great way to do just that.
There are two main types of research studies: observational studies and clinical trials/experiments. The most important distinction to understand is that observational studies do not involve any sort of treatment, while clinical trials test a new medication, therapy, or intervention and compare its effects to a control group that does not receive the treatment.
Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions for those interested in participating in research studies:
Continue reading Help Others with Mental Illness: Participate in Research
Gratitude Prompts
Use a gratitude prompt to start a conversation with your teen!
According to Grateful, researchers at Harvard Medical School report, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
However, Brianna Steinhilber writes that while practicing gratitude seems simple enough, it can be difficult for some, “especially if you’re a person who has a hard time expressing emotions, or you’re going through a rough patch that makes channeling gratitude difficult.”
Therefore, to begin, use a gratitude prompt. Gratitude prompts can tap into your creativity and help you recognize the things you’re grateful to have in your life. Also, try writing them down by keeping a gratitude notebook or use them at the dinner table or in the car to talk with your child!
App Review: Self-Help for Anxiety Management
One of the best practices for parents of teens with mental health challenges is for the parents to take care of themselves first. One of the most common metaphors is that when we’re on an airplane, we have to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first, before we can help anyone else.
And parenting any adolescent comes with its own set of stresses!
One way to do take care of yourself is to create a day-to-day multidimensional picture of what your anxiety looks like and how to manage it.
Check out the free app called “Self-Help for Anxiety Management”—or, the SAM app.
Continue reading App Review: Self-Help for Anxiety Management
Does Your Teen Know Who Can See Their Posts?
Once there was a young woman who posted a joke on Twitter, and she thought that only her 170 followers would be able to see it. She clicked “Tweet” and climbed on a plane for an 11-hour flight from New York City to Cape Town, South Africa.
And while she was sleeping, her world blew up.
Continue reading Does Your Teen Know Who Can See Their Posts?
What Is Depression?
If a doctor or medical professional tells you that your child may be depressed, what does that really mean? The trouble with depression is it’s not a rash—it’s hard to “see”—although in research, brain studies can show how the brain can look different in someone who is depressed. So then how does a doctor know that’s what’s wrong?
Is It Okay to Vent?
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives.
Venting is a way of verbally airing one’s frustrations with others. It can be super emotional and intense. And depending on the way you handle it, venting might feel like a ton of bricks was taken off your chest, or it might be unpleasant and hurtful.
So is it okay to vent? And if so, when and how?
Learning A Balance Of Attitude
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives.
This semester, I joined a new student organization at the University of Pittsburgh called Creative Minds Driven to Overcome (CMDO). I had the idea that service should be a fun, enjoyable experience for people to have and knew that a lot of students saw it as a chore instead. This philanthropy-based club has a carefree nature and emphasis on education and fun. Essentially, we hold events that the members are interested in and raise money to donate to a cause that the members choose.
But as much as I am excited and passionate about building this new project, I am just as nervous and pessimistic about it. …
The JED Foundation’s “Love Is Louder”
Did you know about Love is Louder?
Love is Louder (LIL) is a movement of hundreds of thousands people to send the message of love and address issues like bullying, discrimination or depression.
LIL participants include schools, communities, individuals and families. They use arts to raise the perception that love and support are much louder than the internal voice and external biases that affect oneself in a negative way.