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As college students return to campus, it is important to remember that alcohol use is associated with poor academic performance, sexual assaults and violence. In addition, those with depression or other mental health conditions have a greater chance of developing an alcohol use disorder or …

Many people believe that volunteering will increase their stress level, adding extra obligations and consuming their downtime. However, it actually can be one of the most self-serving things an individual does. Volunteering has been linked to improvements in depressive symptoms and feelings of optimism and …

If you have health insurance, contact your provider for referrals to in-network providers. Ask about the payment structure for specialized services provided by psychologists and psychiatrists. (The latter are medical doctors who can prescribe medication.) If you have to pay out-of-pocket, determine whether you will …

When caring for an individual with a mental health issue, relatives need to work cooperatively. Family meetings allow all members to discuss issues in a safe environment and can foster positive behavior like compromising and expressing appreciation. While teenagers might find it difficult to imagine, …

Trauma is the result of negative incidents that cause distress, such as dramatic changes in a person’s family or living situation; long-term neglect in childhood; experiencing or witnessing physical, sexual or verbal abuse; and surviving a natural disaster, car accident or plane crash. It can …

In Northern Virginia, adolescents often confront intense competition for distinction. This, along with the common misperception that they should exhibit effortless perfection, leaves many feeling unable to show vulnerability. Area teenagers frequently have few if any leisure activities that they participate in purely for fun …

June is a busy month for gift giving with graduations, Father’s Day and weddings. If your loved one or friend has a mental health condition, it is possible to find thoughtful presents and/or prepare care packages that show your support for his or her recovery …

Before they arrive on campus, most Freshmen do not spend a lot of time considering the changes they are going to face in college. Most likely, fear and insecurity will be part of the transition they undergo. Few of today’s incoming college students have had …

Physical activity leads to both types of a good mood, positive high (feeling alert, excited and happy) and low (being calm, content and relaxed) activation. You can build optimism along with muscles. People who exercise regularly tend to be more hopeful and have greater self-confidence …

May is not only Mental Health Awareness Month, it also contains National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week, which began on Sunday and will conclude this Saturday, May 18th; and National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, which took place this year on May 9th. An individual’s …