Blog - Page 3 of 58 - Healthy Minds Philly®

How I Survived Social Media

Janine Monico2023-12-15T08:26:43-05:00December 15th, 2023|Family & Youth|

How I Survived Social Media My experience with social media started at age 10 with the app Musically. I danced every day, and I dreamed of being a dancer. When I heard about the app Musical.ly, I immediately downloaded it. Musical.ly helped shape my identity! Dance was a goal I wanted to achieve. It boosted my confidence and gave me pride. It also helped me cope with anxiety. After a couple of years went by, I was in middle school at the time and was bullied for my weight. I [...]

Navigating Relationships During the Holiday Season

Janine Monico2023-12-04T09:26:42-05:00December 4th, 2023|Family & Youth|

The holiday season can be a time of great joy and gratitude. Movies, commercials, pictures in social media, all give the impression that every family (except our own) is perfect. For many, however, the holidays can be very stressful. Many families experience difficult situations including estranged relationships, personal disappointments, loss, and grief. These difficulties hurt in a very real way. Here are some tips to help prepare for this time and experience less stress during the season. Plan ahead to feel empowered. Many people feel pressured during the holidays to [...]

Losing Jack

Janine Monico2023-11-15T09:24:30-05:00November 17th, 2023|Lived Experience, Suicide Prevention|

Two years ago, I managed volunteer guides at a local museum. A college student named Jack collided with the museum like a meteor on a chilly fall day, took a tour, and decided to become a tour guide himself. All who knew him sensed Jack was living life at high speed. Jack soon became a favorite at the museum. He was funny and insightful, and we became friends. One day, Jack sheepishly told me of his bipolar disorder. He was on a fast train to death, he said, and taking [...]

Homeless, Hungry, and Hopeless

Janine Monico2023-11-13T11:33:48-05:00November 13th, 2023|Community, Lived Experience|

As a child, my family moved around a lot. Because of that, my thinking was not always consistent or stable. The memories of my childhood lists many addresses: By the time I was 10 years old, we had just moved to 46th and Market in a basement apartment. Prior to that, we lived with my great aunt in South Philly. Before that, we lived in the Southwark Projects, at 15th Christian and 4th south. Hunger was a constant in my childhood. It seems like we never had enough food [...]