'Tis the season for celebration and good cheer. However, for many Oregonians, the absence of a loved one -- whether through death, divorce or another painful separation -- can make this time of year feel almost unbearable.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of people with depression reported the holidays make them feel worse.

Noa Curtis, oncology and palliative care social worker for the Providence Cancer Institute, said it is important to be honest about your feelings.

"Allow yourself to be angry or sad, or lonely," Curtis recommended. "It's also OK to feel a sense of joy or connection, if that comes up, too. Avoid places where you feel pressure to put on a 'happy face' or bottle up your emotions. "

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to connect with someone for free and confidential support.

While many enjoy Oregon's dynamic climate, the state's long winters and reduced daylight can also worsen depression, especially for those with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Curtis advised sharing emotions with trusted family and friends and reflecting on happy memories of loved ones.

"You can look for small moments of comfort," Curtis urged. "Embrace traditions that you once shared. You can set a place for them at the table. It's OK to ignore the holidays, too, but just honoring the love and connection that is still present."

Mental health professionals also emphasize while family traditions can provide comfort and remembrance, it's OK to let go if they become too painful. Explore new ways to celebrate, and over time, new traditions will naturally evolve.


get more stories like this via email

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed to support medical services.

Advocates said they are puzzled because the governor has championed the helpline for years, and lawmakers approved $3 million from a separate fund dedicated to mental health, which does not affect the deficit.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said it is still operating 24/7, for now.

"We're holding on for the next month or so," Pion-Berlin pointed out. "But we need the state to step up, or one of these well-off philanthropists who cares about having that immediate help for emotional support, which is so vital."

Advocates are hoping funding can be restored via a budget trailer bill in the next few weeks. People can call or text and reach the helpline's trained counselors at 877-427-2736. The free helpline has connected with more than 120,000 people since its inception five years ago, and the website CAParentYouthHelpline.org has reached a million more.

Pion-Berlin noted a study in the Journal of Technology in Human Services found a call to the helpline can quickly ease parents' suffering and feelings of isolation.

"The research said that 85% of the callers in less than 30 minutes feel more positive, more hopeful and able to address their issues," Pion-Berlin reported. "There is no other service or pill I know that can do that in 30 minutes or less."

Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups to steer parents and kids through emotional crises of all kinds.

Minnesota teens are using their summer break to set aside added stress and anxiety they deal with during school and as the age group gets more attention for its mental health needs, parents of younger kids are urged not to miss warning signs.

The Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics hosted a discussion coinciding with the start of summer. As parents spend more time with their kids over the next few months, health professionals said persistent behavioral issues among preschool age children should not completely be written off as phases.

Dr. Helen Egger, a child psychiatrist, said key data is consistent with other age groups.

"The rate of impairing mental health disorders in preschool children, here we're talking about children 2-5, is actually the same as the rate in older children and adults," Egger explained.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted the number of adolescents reporting poor mental health is increasing. For younger kids, Egger pointed out pediatricians and parents need to be mindful of things like excessive tantrums or trouble eating and sleeping. She warned there is a misconception kids are resilient and those problems will fade away.

Egger added there is a connection between parental stress and behavioral issues in young children. She recommended parents take an active role in family therapy interventions to benefit the whole household.

"Sixty percent of the families who, when they started therapy, said that they had an unmanageable level of stress," Egger noted. "For 60% after 12 or more sessions, they were at a manageable level of stress."

Egger emphasized Minnesota has strong resources for parents to turn to when figuring out the appropriate interventions. She pointed to the website for the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health as a key option.


get more stories like this via email

By Brittany Noble for WISH-TV.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration

June marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the challenges men face in receiving mental health treatment and diagnosis compared to women.

Dr. Danielle Henderson, a clinical psychologist at IU Health, explains that societal expectations contribute to the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Phrases like ‘man up’ and ‘toughen up’ discourage men from expressing emotions, impacting their mental well-being.

“For a lot of men, they feel like they have to keep everything in,” said Henderson. “They’ve been taught or directly told that emotions don’t matter.”

Men suffering from mental illness may exhibit symptoms such as increased substance use, irritability, aggression, and isolation. These behaviors can be indicators of underlying mental health issues like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder.

Henderson notes that men may use more lethal means and act impulsively in cases of suicide, making it crucial to recognize and address these symptoms early.

Creating a space for conversation and checking in on loved ones can be vital steps in supporting men’s mental health.


Brittany Noble wrote this article for WISH-TV.


get more stories like this via email