Blog - Healthy Minds Philly®

Grit and Determination: Will’s Example

luis castanon2025-02-25T12:43:28-05:00February 18th, 2025|Uncategorized|

Will Ellsworth, a born and raised South Philadelphian, embodies the gritty spirit of his hometown through his multifaceted musical talents. As a guitarist, singer, pianist, drummer, and record producer, Ellsworth has shown grit and determination through his journey in the music industry. As Will was performing in City Hall, Will shared how he approaches his career goals and maintains his mental health while pursuing the challenging music business. “I do my best to stay positive and mindful,” he shared. Growing up in South Philly, Will was deeply influenced by legendary [...]

Children Who Self-harm: A Guide for Parents

Janine Monico2025-02-06T10:47:30-05:00February 26th, 2024|Family & Youth, Self-Harm|

Many children and teens self-harm. Most start in their early teen years, but some start earlier. What counts as self-harm? Self-harm is when a child hurts their body on purpose. Cutting or burning the skin are common forms of self-harm. Self-harm is more common among girls than boys. Most children who self-harm are trying to cope with overwhelming emotions and stressors. Some self-harm to stop intrusive thoughts. Helping your child cope and not turn to self-harm can offer an opportunity to help them feel better about themselves, learn to deal [...]

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

Janine Monico2025-02-06T13:30:02-05:00February 19th, 2024|Awareness, Mental Health, Self-Harm|

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 [...]

Are ‘soul ties’ codependent relationships?

Janine Monico2025-02-06T11:05:52-05:00February 14th, 2024|Addiction & Recovery|

While love is wonderful for our well-being, not all relationships are healthy. ‘Soul ties’ refers to an intense connection between two people who share a lot in common, such as beliefs, hopes, and tastes. Unfortunately, not all soul ties are positive. Some soul ties lead people to stay in unhealthy or even destructive relationships that can hurt their mental health. How can that happen? The beginning of a romantic relationship activates what is called an “attachment style.” Every person develops their attachment style from their very early relationships as the [...]