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About Janine Monico

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

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 [...]

2025-12-20T16:18:59-05:00December 20th, 2025|Awareness, Depression, Faith & Spirituality, Holidays, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|
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Naltrexone and Alcohol: Drinking Your Way to Sobriety

If you have tried to stop or reduce your drinking and find yourself drinking again despite your best efforts, you are not alone. There are options beyond sheer willpower and abstinence to help you with your drinking. A medication is helping many people drink their way to sobriety - naltrexone, a low-cost, generic medication that can be taken before you drink to reduce your cravings and change your relationship with alcohol. Naltrexone works by blocking the parts of your brain that give you that “buzz.” With time, most people who [...]

2025-11-25T20:17:27-05:00November 25th, 2025|Addiction & Recovery|
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Mind Your Holidays: A Season for Compassion, Connection, and Care

The Holidays Aren’t Easy for Everyone The holiday season often brings excitement, gatherings, and good cheer; but for many, it can also stir up feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and grief. At Population Health’s Healthy Minds Philly Initiative, we recognize that the holidays can look different for everyone. As part of our community commitment to mental well-being, we’re inviting you to Take the Pledge to Mind Your Holidays - to bring mindfulness, compassion, and care into every part of the season. Why "Mind Your Holidays" Matters Behind the glitter and festivities, some people [...]

2025-11-04T10:11:05-05:00November 3rd, 2025|Awareness, Holidays, Self-Help|
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Why Losing a Pet Hurts So Much: Understanding Grief After Pet Loss

When my beloved Crain Terrier Truckee passed away, the pain was overwhelming. I was very sad, could not sleep well, and missed important deadlines. For many people, losing a pet feels just as devastating as losing a human family member, and that reaction is completely normal. Truckee, like other pets, had weaved himself deeply into our  family’s daily routines and emotional lives. He offered unconditional love, companionship, and comfort.  His absence leaves a gap that feels impossible to fill. Grieving a pet often mirrors human grief because the emotional bonds [...]

2025-10-14T15:05:31-04:00October 14th, 2025|Grief|
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Healthy Minds Philly is an initiative of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia

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