Blog

By Jack P. Shonkoff and David R. Williams, Center on the Developing Child, April 27, 2020 The COVID-19 virus is ruthlessly contagious and, at the same time, highly selective. Its capacity to infect is universal, but the consequences of becoming infected are not. While there are exceptions, children are less likely to show symptoms, older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the most susceptible, and communities of color in the United States are experiencing dramatically...

By Margarita Tartakovsky, PsychCentral, April 19, 2020 Recently, I shared a list of 10 tiny self-care practices we can try when we’re feeling overwhelmed, our schedules are packed, and we have zero energy. And I hope you do incorporate those ideas into your day–or find other practices that feel nourishing, soothing, and helpful. But here’s the thing: Sometimes, even tiny practices can feel like too much. Maybe you’ve got a newborn or three kids under 5 who love to wake up early, and between...

By Xenia Shih Bion, California Health Care Foundation, April 27, 2020 Stay home and save lives, governors have been telling residents since California’s Gavin Newsom led the way on March 19. But sheltering in place is a luxury that many Americans cannot afford, Claire Cain Miller, Sarah Kliff, and Margot Sanger-Katz wrote in the New York Times . “Service industry workers, like those in restaurants, retail, childcare, and the gig economy are much less likely to have paid sick days, the...

By Sydney Johnson, EdSource, April 27, 2020 Never in his 25-year teaching career did Greg Platt imagine he would someday be working full-time through a computer screen. But much has changed in the last few weeks as schools around California closed their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I never thought a switch would be flipped one day, and we would be doing this,” said Platt, an English teacher at Troy High School in Fullerton. “It’s extremely painful for teachers. It’s so difficult not...

There are two "Better Normal" community discussions this week, on Tuesday and on Thursday. On Tuesday, Ingrid Cockhren, ACEs Connection community facilitator and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) expert returns to continue the discussing health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, Lara Kain will lead another education "Better Normal".

From Mindful Leader, April 27, 2020 Our collective mental well-being is at great risk. We've created the Workplace Mindfulness Summit , free and online, to help leaders and organizations respond and to help boost resilience and foster mental well-being at work with mindfulness. For the first time ever, Mindful Leader is assembling the top sessions from our online and in-person events to create the most comprehensive resource available on growing workplace mindfulness programs. This includes...

The longer the COVID-Crisis Continues with lock downs for families and individuals the greater the stress and greater the risk. In Livingston, MT our MH community is experimenting with the idea of Drive Thru Support Counseling. We are taking inspiration from the Peanuts character Lucy who had a unique Drive Thru idea. Join us in this panel discussion as together we discuss replicating this idea for your community. Date/Time: May 1, 2020 09:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Register here.

Most of us are looking for answers on how exercise is beneficial for health. We want to look after our health, to be fit and healthy, but sometimes we fail to make the right decisions. According to studies conducted, those who do not take care of their health suffer from illnesses, and even a number of deaths, as compared to healthy people. And you may wonder why. The unhealthy lifestyle of most people has affected their bodies. And a number of diseases and other conditions were also...

People are beginning to be aware that one result of the increased stress around COVID-19 is the tragic fact that child abuse and neglect is increasing, but the safety net provided by schools is no longer in place. Teachers and counselors can continue to be a hero to students in this time of crisis, and can help mitigate the negative impact of traumatic events and stress. Caregivers might not be able to do it alone. We (Dr. Rachel Gilgoff, a child abuse pediatrician and trauma expert, and...

By April Simpson, April 18, 2020, PEW Trust Black women are two to three times more likely to die from causes related to pregnancy than white women, regardless of income or education. Black midwives could be part of the solution, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, but restrictions on midwifery make it difficult to practice in many states. Pregnant women in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi have been calling nonstop to CHOICES Midwifery Practice in Memphis, but the center is...

How can we heal from the implicit bias of “ Mental Illness ” and “ mentally ill ”? I hear these words and it sounds like fingernails scraping down the chalkboard. “ The stain of dehumanization colors the mind, body and spirit and it is not so easily washed away.” - Michael Skinner Recently I read a blog post at the ACEsConnection website, “Erasing My ACES” by Sirena Wheeler. It was posted on April, 19, 2020. It struck a chord with me, many in fact and it put me on a spiral down memory lane.

We have two upcoming live webinars on Trauma Informed Care designed to help YOU implement trauma informed care! Join us This introductory level course is essential for anyone who works with the public. Participants will learn what trauma is, understand its possible effects, recognize the signs, and learn how to respond appropriately. Ever timely, due to the increased impact of trauma our society is facing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this live webinar will help you support healing...