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Awareness

Managing Mental Health and Breast Cancer

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Managing mental health and breast cancer

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatments can be emotionally traumatizing for some. The National Cancer Institute reports that 25% of patients, about one out of three, with a cancer diagnosis also have a diagnosis of depression. Other reports state that 40% of patients with breast cancer also have anxiety. When it comes to mental health and breast cancer, it is normal to have a wide range of emotions when facing such a challenge. You don’t know what to expect and can become overwhelmed with fear and worry. Research shows your mental health can impact cancer treatments and survival. In a study on Veterans, those who received mental health treatment during cancer treatments lived longer than those who did not receive mental health care. At any stage of cancer, whether you are just getting a diagnosis or have already kicked cancer to the curb, engaging in therapy can help. Fortunately, there are many …

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

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Hispanic Heritage

By Ashley Barnes About Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States on September 15th – October 15th, beginning “in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21” (Pew Research Center, 2021).  The celebratory month recognizes the incredible ways that Hispanic individuals and communities have contributed and influenced the culture, history, and achievements of the United States.  It is important that readers understand the vast umbrella term that the word “Hispanic” is, as within the Hispanic community are many subcommunities with distinct identities and experiences. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines “Hispanic or Latino” as a person of “Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South …

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Vicarious Trauma

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Hispanic Heritage

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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Embracing National Recovery Month in September

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Embracing National Recovery Month in September

Did you know that September is National Recovery Month? When you think about recovery from alcohol or drugs, your initial thoughts may be of millions of people and their families struggling with addiction’s physical and mental effects. Most conversations revolve around the signs, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The Recovery Research Institute states there are tens of millions of people in recovery. They used results from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSHA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health results to determine the exact numbers. What they found is remarkable. The representative sample who reported having a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetime was 11% or more than 27 million people. Nearly 75% or 20.5 million reported being in recovery during the survey. Another 30% of people with a substance use disorder were in recovery from a mental health disorder. What is the Meaning of Recovery? Debates …

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National Suicide Prevention Month

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Hispanic Heritage

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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