About Janine Monico

Janine Monico is a digital marketing consultant who has managed the Healthy Minds Philly initiative website since 2015.

When the Caregiver Needs Care

The people who spend their lives caring for others are often the last to notice when they need care themselves. They can recognize burnout a mile away — in others. But when it shows up in their own reflection, they see something else entirely: failure, weakness, laziness. I was reminded of this during a recent conversation on the Healthy Minds Philly chatline. The woman who reached out was in her early sixties. She was grieving a child she’d lost four years earlier, supporting her incarcerated son’s family, and caring full-time [...]

Dry January Activities in Philadelphia

Each year, many people embrace Dry January, a month-long break from alcohol, to reset after the holidays and start their new year health resolutions. Whether you are curious about how alcohol-free living feels or simply want to improve your wellness habits, Dry January can support your physical and emotional well-being. Physically, even a few weeks without alcohol can lead to: better sleep improved hydration more stable energy Many people notice their skin looking brighter, their mood feeling steadier, and their mornings a little less foggy. Emotionally, Dry January can create [...]

2026-01-14T12:11:51-05:00January 14th, 2026|Addiction & Recovery|

Spending, Stress, and Saying No: Setting Holiday Boundaries That Protect Your Mental Health

Christmas is often marketed as a season of joy, generosity, and “perfect” celebrations, but for many Philadelphia residents, it also brings real financial stress. Rising prices, higher interest rates, and expectations around gifts, travel and special meals can turn December into a month of anxiety and strain instead of joy and connection. If the idea of Holiday celebration is centered in gifts and experiences, the expenses can pile up quickly: gifts for family, office or school exchanges, donations, parties, outfits, travel, and extra food. More than half of American think [...]

2025-12-22T15:17:03-05:00December 22nd, 2025|Holidays, Self-Help|

When Christmas Isn’t Merry: Coping with the Holiday Blues

For many people, Christmas can be less about carols and more about the blues. The holiday season can be the “most wonderful time of the year;” but for others, Christmas can feel heavy, lonely, or even painful. It is a completely valid way to experience this time. The constant pressure to be cheerful, whether from music, advertising, or social media, can add shame, as if not liking Christmas means something is wrong with you. The truth is that for some people the holiday season can bring grief, stress, or memories [...]

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