Janine Monico, Author at Healthy Minds Philly®

About Janine Monico

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

Volunteering for Suicide Prevention in High School Made Me a Healthier Adult

I struggled with mental health in my teen years. I grew up in a place where I thought that I could not talk about my struggles without feeling ashamed or being pitied. Growing up, suicide prevention was close to my heart because of my own suicidality. My high school was not a place where mental health was discussed, and suicide prevention efforts did not involve students. With the support of adults who understood the importance of preventing suicide in school, a group of my classmates and I decided to do [...]

Janine Monico2025-09-05T11:21:14-04:00September 1st, 2025|Lived Experience, Suicide Prevention|

Kratom’s Risks: A Rising Concern for Philadelphians

A quiet threat is growing in Philadelphia. It’s sold in bright packages and marketed as a harmless herbal pick-me-up. Behind its “natural” image lies a drug that can be just as dangerous as opioids. Kratom is a plant-based substance that has been making its way into smoke shops, wellness stores, and even convenience counters across Philadelphia. Marketed as a “natural” energy booster or pain reliever, kratom acts on the brain’s opioid receptors, meaning it can be addictive and dangerous despite its legal status. Lately, kratom has captured headlines, including extensive [...]

Janine Monico2025-08-15T13:35:34-04:00August 15th, 2025|Addiction & Recovery|

BlazeBorn Band: AMLA Summer Music Graduates Rock and Roll

HealthyMindsPhilly interviewed BlazeBorn‘s band members after they performed at a local event. Elizabeth Melendez (15), Layla Delarosa Adrian (15), Inesanned Santiago (16), Nicolas Castillo (16), Zahir Cordero-Severino (18), Genesis Garcia Vega (15), and Daniela America Soriano Gonzalez (19) met while attending Esperanza’s AMLA Summer Music program. Although they have been playing together for just seven months, the band’s seven members feel “pretty close.” At AMLA program, music is more than just notes and lyrics-it’s a lifeline for young people seeking connection, self-expression, and personal growth. The impact of their songwriting [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:25:02-04:00July 21st, 2025|Family & Youth, Mental Health, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

New Work Requirements for SNAP and Medicaid

If you have Medicaid or get help to buy food through SNAP, there are new rules that you’ll need to follow soon. The new rule is called “Work Requirements” Work Requirements for SNAP will start on October 2025. Work Requirements for Medicaid will start on December 31, 2026. What SNAP (Food Stamps) Recipients will be affected by Work Requirements? For SNAP benefits, adults ages 18 to 54 without children must also work, volunteer, or be in job training for at least 80 hours per month. Starting in October 2025, adults up to 54 years of age must [...]

Janine Monico2025-09-12T13:42:45-04:00July 18th, 2025|Community, Family & Youth|

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