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Mental Health Center

Physician Spotlight 1: Welcome, Dr. Lydia Ann!

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Lydia Ann

By Ashley Barnes   Welcome! In today’s physician spotlight we welcome Dr. Lydia Ann to the Mental Health Center with great joy and gratitude! Dr. Lydia Ann is our newest psychiatrist specializing in general adult psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry, as she is a current geriatric psychiatry fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Her vast experience in both inpatient and outpatient, hospital and emergency settings, correctional settings, and crisis residential programs has equipped her with robust knowledge and experience. Her clinical approach is integrative in that she views a patient’s support system as integral to the treatment process, emphasizing individualized care for each of her patients.  About Dr. Lydia Ann. Dr. Lydia Ann started her journey at UCLA where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. She started her journey into medicine at UCLA’s prestigious and highly selective David Geffen School …

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Vicarious Trauma

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vicarious trauma

By Ashley Barnes What is vicarious trauma? In understanding vicarious trauma, it is important to have knowledge about trauma itself. When many people think of and conceptualize trauma, they may immediately think of trauma as an event that occurs; for example, one may explain a near death experience as trauma. However, such situations are traumatic events. Trauma is a response to a deeply distressing or disturbing traumatic event; it often manifests through changes in psychological and physiological responses.  Vicarious trauma, “also known as secondary trauma, can be described as indirect exposure to a traumatic event through first-hand account or narrative of that event” (Good Therapy, 2016). Vicarious trauma often involves a shift in someone’s worldview with repeated exposure to traumatic content, such as viewing the world as an inherently dangerous place or people as inherently untrustworthy. Who is at risk? Those in helping professions such as counselors, medical professionals, first …

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National Suicide Prevention Month

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vicarious trauma

By Ashley Barnes   What is National Suicide Prevention Month? National Suicide Prevention Month spans the entirety of September with the goal of uniting mental health professionals, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members to promote suicide prevention awareness; this is achieved through educating others with the use of resources, research, and powerful stories. September also hosts National Suicide Prevention Week from September 4th through September 10th as well as World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Suicide Prevention. It is important to recognize warning signs of suicide as well as understand it’s prevalence in order to work towards suicide prevention. Suicide describes the act of ending one’s own life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (CDC, 2021). Research has found that around 46% of people who die by suicide have a known mental health …

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Support and Safety: The 988 Lifeline

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vicarious trauma

By Ashley Barnes What is 988? The 988 Lifeline is a suicide and crisis lifeline that launched on July 16, 2022. Before this, 988 was formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; while either phone number will lead callers to the same place, condensing the original number to three digits reflects the effort to make the crisis service more accessible. The 988 Lifeline is not just for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 988 “​​offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support” (2022).  What to expect when you reach out to 988. When people call 988, they will …

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College Tips: Speaking From Experience

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vicarious trauma

By Ashley Barnes Adjusting. Adjusting to any new environment can be daunting and intimidating. You may not know exactly what to expect out of your new college environment. You won’t be surrounded by the same group of friends from back home, you likely won’t be eating the same food, and definitely won’t be sleeping in the same bed. You may feel alone in this drastically different experience filled with change, novelty, and it may feel overwhelming! The reality is, everyone around you will be going through similar adjustments. Acknowledging the universality of this change may help readers better understand that you are not alone in this seemingly lonely experience. In fact, you will be presented with many opportunities to form valuable and lasting connections. Finding a routine. Part of adjusting is finding a new sense of stability. Finding a new sense of stability can be achieved through the creation of …

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