Mental Health Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

The Art and Benefits of Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is a timeless practice that offers a deep connection with the natural world. What is a nature journal? At its core, a nature journal is a personal notebook where you record your observations about nature through sketches and notes. Imagine it as a mix between a diary and a sketchbook, where you capture the beauty and details of the natural world around you. You can also write about your thoughts and feelings, making it a personal and reflective experience. Whether you’re exploring your backyard, a park, or a [...]

Janine Monico2024-07-18T12:31:11-04:00July 16th, 2024|Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

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|

It’s Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Daylight saving time is coming fast. If you are like many, the thought of an extra hour of sleep seems glorious. Plus, the fall brings pretty colors, fun holidays, crisp air, and pumpkin spice lattes. For others, fall brings with it feelings of depression—seasonal depression. This type of depression is called seasonal affective disorder or SAD - a type of depression that happens seasonally. Its symptoms usually last through fall and winter, about four to five months each year. For some individuals, SAD occurs in summer. However, this is not [...]

Janine Monico2023-11-01T08:31:18-04:00November 1st, 2023|Depression, Mental Health|

Tips for Helping AAPI Parents Talk About Mental Health

*Content warning: Contains disclosure of behaviors of self-harm. “You are too much! And you talk too much!” was what I was told as a child when I expressed my feelings. My parents emigrated from the Philippines and wanted the best for their six children: rigorous education, fine clothing, and a spacious home. They were advised by the pediatrician not to teach us their native language, warning it would cause confusion. I pinpoint this advice as the cause for our home’s emotional deficiency. It created a dynamic of tense silences, suspicion, [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-30T09:53:17-04:00May 15th, 2023|Mental Health, Racial Equity|