Awareness Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

Recovery After Strokes: Ignacio’s Story

Ignacio is a 50-year-old Argentine tango dancer and instructor. He moved to Philadelphia less than two years ago from Argentina to live with his partner, Meredith. Their life together took an unexpected turn in March 2024, when he suffered a life-threatening cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The Day Everything Changed On March 9, 2024, Ignacio was at home with Meredith when he began to feel ill. He lost mobility and his gaze became blurred. After emergency services arrived, Ignacio was transferred to Temple University Hospital, where his life was saved with an [...]

Janine Monico2025-05-20T09:46:25-04:00May 20th, 2025|Awareness, Lived Experience, Stress|

Program Spotlight: The East Falls Community Fridge

“To be hungry and not have food, that’s just such a hurtful feeling,” Dené shared. She remembers being a child searching for food in an empty cabinet and breaking into tears. This personal history drives her commitment to ensuring others don’t face the same hardship. Dené volunteers at the East Falls Community Fridge. While she is busy managing a pediatric medical practice, she found time during the pandemic to start volunteering checking the fridge temperature twice a day. Her commitment to increasing access to food is rooted in her own [...]

Janine Monico2025-05-20T15:33:16-04:00April 11th, 2025|Awareness, Community, Eating Disorder, Lived Experience|

I cannot stop cutting myself. Please, help me understand why!

Cutting, burning, scratching, hitting, or biting oneself is often called “self-harm.” Self-harm refers to the deliberate act of causing physical harm to oneself. It is typically done to cope with emotional pain, distress, or overwhelming feelings. For example, a teenager feels very upset after an argument with their mom because they got a bad school report – or because they are dating and their families do not approve. Feelings of distress can be very overwhelming. Then the teen might experience the urge to cut to calm down. Some teens say [...]

Janine Monico2024-05-16T14:03:35-04:00February 19th, 2024|Awareness, Mental Health, Self-Harm|

“Pardon me, but it’s not supposed to be everlasting punishment!”

Release from custody and supervision should bring relief! After release, returning citizens regain their freedom, reunite with friends and family, and start working towards their life goals. However, what should be a small setback for “correction” becomes, for many, a long-lasting punishment. This is due to the secondary consequences of a criminal record. The American Bar Association says criminal records nationwide can raise over 40,000 barriers for returning citizens. It may be hard to get a job, go back to school, or get stable housing. It may be hard to [...]

Janine Monico2023-08-02T11:34:41-04:00August 1st, 2023|Awareness, Community, Support|