Blog

Having both “regular” (or non-seasonal) depression in conjunction with SAD presents unique challenges, especially as collective trauma from COVID-19 mounts and the grieving process continues to be interrupted for many.

Gender dysphoria is defined as “the disconnect between experienced gender and assigned gender,” according to the Child Mind Institute. Simply put, gender dysphoria is the cognitive dissonance that occurs when someone doesn’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.

As we celebrate National Coming Out Day, remember: there is no such thing as a right or wrong time to come out as LGBTQIA+. Coming out is always on your terms; nobody else's. Checking in with yourself (maybe after some self-care!) about who feels safe to talk to can be a hugely empowering process.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For many of us, kids especially, we associate breast cancer awareness with pink ribbons, community 5k walks and runs, and a powerful sea of women, moms, and families proudly standing up and advocating for visibility for this disease.

One in four COVID deaths has left a young person without a parent or primary caregiver. That’s according to a new study published in the journal, Pediatrics. Surviving parents and other caregivers are often overwhelmed when trying to navigate how to help the young people in their lives process grief. Here are some ways to help facilitate the journey toward healing.

It certainly comes as no surprise to many that there is a link between increased use of social media and skyrocketing rates of mental health diagnoses across the world. And while clinical research remains somewhat divided on the issue, several news reports over the past few weeks have revealed that Facebook and Instagram have been aware of their platforms’ negative effects on mental health--but have kept its extremity under wraps. 

Throughout the month of September, Charlie Health is committed to providing resources and information on suicide as a way to proactively combat the current youth suicide crisis. Rates of both youth suicide and suicide ideation are on the rise across the country. According to the CDC, the national suicide rate for young people aged 10-24 increased by 57% from 2007 to 2018.

As hurricanes ravage coastlines across the country and wildfires raze huge swaths of the West, anxiety over the ever-increasing presence and intensity of climate change is on the rise. No group seems to be affected more by warming temperatures and ensuing natural disasters, though, than young people. As younger generations grapple with an uncertain future on Earth, stress, worry and even panic can ensue.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and here at Charlie Health, our goal is to dramatically reduce the skyrocketing rates of youth suicide and suicidal ideation in America. To highlight information and provide resources this month, keep reading to learn more about suicide, its warning signs, how to prevent it, and how to seek treatment. 

If parents and teens found the 2020 transition back to school challenging, they’ll need even more support navigating the 2021 return. At Charlie Health, we’re here to help parents and families make their way through this “minefield” of a new school year.

There are an ever increasing number of therapies used to help those struggling with mental health disorders. One therapy we integrate into our care plans is music therapy, which helps teens and young adults foster a healthy way to express emotion. 

The mental health care system is broken. While thousands of providers work tirelessly to provide essential care to Americans, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide in our teens and young adults remain high. Long waitlists, the stigmatization of mental health, or people feeling like therapy “isn’t for them” has kept many away from clinically appropriate levels of care, creating a dangerous and traumatizing feedback loop of hospitalizations and discharges.

Summer is well underway and with it a more relaxed pace. School is out for most people; the sun is shining; we have more time to socialize, get outside, and do other things that support both our physical and mental health! One way to engage in healthy self-care practices is by journaling.

Professional athletes are known for their resilience and grit. And as the Olympics roll around every two years, the pressure on athletes to meet this public expectation grows exponentially. The eyes of the world are on them, and they are expected to perform at the highest levels of athleticism imaginable. But with such pressure comes an immense propensity for mental health struggles.

A healthy body image is an essential aspect of a young person’s self-esteem and self-worth. Significantly, body image is about how you perceive your body, not about what your body looks like. This image is often affected by pressures of friends, family, celebrities, and social media. Fostering a healthy body image at a young age is critical. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorder reported that approximately 95% of individuals struggling with eating or related disorders are between the ages of 12 – 25.