Mental Health Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

Slow Suicide: When It Feels Too Hard to Care for Yourself

Sometimes suicide is not a single crisis moment. It can also look like slowly giving up on yourself over time. Maybe you recognize this in yourself or someone you care about: missing medical appointments skipping medications drinking more turning down invitations asking yourself, “What’s the point?” It might not feel like “I want to die.” It can feel more like “I’m too tired to care what happens to me.” We think of this as a kind of “slow suicide.” That phrase can sound harsh, but it points to something real: [...]

Janine Monico2026-05-29T10:25:39-04:00May 29th, 2026|Addiction & Recovery, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorder, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention|

Adopting a Pet, Caring for Myself

When I moved to the Philadelphia area in 2024, I was not planning to adopt a pet. That changed when I kept seeing the same flyer for a 1‑year‑old cat in Mt. Airy, first at a café, then at the co‑op across the street. I saw Jimmy photo and short description stayed with me. After the second sighting, I finally called Brenda’s Cat Rescue’s number. Up until then, being a pet owner did not feel realistic. My work schedule, limited resources, and past housing situations made it hard to imagine [...]

Janine Monico2026-05-12T11:36:05-04:00May 12th, 2026|Anxiety, Awareness, Depression, Family & Youth, Lived Experience, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

More good days, together: A mission for May

May is Mental Health Month, and this year’s focus is on helping people have more good days, together. “Good” looks different for everyone. It doesn’t always mean being happy or productive. Sometimes a good day is simply one that feels manageable, calm, or comfortable. Start building more good days, together, with these tips: Define what “good” means to you. Ask yourself, “What does a good day look like for me?” On a low-energy day, "good" might mean staying hydrated, taking five minutes to sit in the sun, or finally [...]

Janine Monico2026-05-13T09:22:33-04:00May 12th, 2026|Anxiety, Awareness, Community, Depression, Mental Health, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress, Suicide Prevention, Support|

You are Not a Bad Pet Parent: Compassionate Options for Philadelphians in Crisis

Loving your pet and struggling with your mental health at the same time can feel overwhelming. If you’re a Philadelphian facing the possibility of surrendering a pet, you are not a bad person, and you are not alone. It’s okay to talk about surrendering a pet. Many people reach a point where illness, housing, finances, or caregiving demands make it hard to give a pet the care they deserve. Choosing to rehome or surrender a pet is a heartbreaking, but sometimes deeply responsible, decision. Wanting your animal to be safe [...]

Janine Monico2026-03-24T08:53:32-04:00March 25th, 2026|Mental Health|