Image from Pexels - CC0 License Being compassionate means to make an effort to understand the feelings and emotional states of another person. It also involves understanding your own emotional state.  Showing compassion has a big impact on a person’s mental wellbeing. Compassion is similar to empathy, which is the ability to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes. However, compassion...[ read more ]

Image from Pexels - CC0 License Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment and allowing whatever comes into the mind be there without judgement. Mindfulness can also be seen as a type of meditation or used as part of meditation practice. Mindfulness can help you to lower your stress and anxiety by encouraging you to focus on...[ read more ]

Image from Pexels - CC0 License Using grit and determination to get through life isn't something that's easy. But just because it isn't easy, it doesn't mean it's useless. While nature can play a role in just how much grit and determination you have, it's not just something that you're born with. It's something that is influenced by your upbringing,...[ read more ]

Image from Pexels - CC0 License Giving thanks around special occasions is sometimes the only time people might think to do it. However, giving thanks for things people do for you or the positive things in your life doesn't have to be something that you only do during the holidays. You can find opportunities to give thanks at other times...[ read more ]

The holidays are going to look a little different this year. Many of us didn’t see extended family and friends for Thanksgiving and most likely will not be able to do so for the winter holidays. Even though we recognize the importance of staying safe, having to make changes to your usual plans is difficult. You're prepared to make sacrifices,...[ read more ]

During the winter, you might hear people talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Or perhaps you start to feel a low mood as it gets colder and the nights get longer. You might wonder whether SAD could be causing your change in mood. But what exactly is SAD, how can it affect you, and how do you know if you...[ read more ]

Many college freshmen are out there right now wondering how they are supposed to make friends during COVID-19 when many classes are taking place online rather than in person.  This is called ‘blended learning’ and while it is going to keep faculty safe and stop the spread of the virus, it presents new challenges for all - especially those just...[ read more ]

The last year of high school and graduation is a rite of passage that some may not get to experience this year in the same way so many others have before. The uncertainty of what will happen with COVID over the course of the school year and how that will impact your experience, may be causing you a lot of...[ read more ]

Knowing when to refer a patient for mental health help can be tough, but it’s crucial to understand what to look out for. Suicide is preventable, and mental health issues that go unchecked can end up spiraling and leading to it. On-going and unmitigated depression and anxiety can prolong one’s suffering as well as make it more difficult to effectively...[ read more ]

Possibly one of the hardest things about having to deal with the pandemic and staying at home, is the loss of human connection. Humans are social creatures, and even introverts are starting to feel the effects of the last few months we’ve had to deal with. Staying connected to people and building new connections is so important - not only...[ read more ]