The Center of Excellence for Integrated Care blog will highlight areas of interest through a variety of perspectives with a focus on improving whole-person, whole-community, and whole-state health.
Bringing it to Life
While the month of May flew by, the idea of mental health awareness, is here to stay. Now more than ever, Americans are talking about their mental health in a way that is forcing the conversation around the unnecessary stigma of seeking support. No longer in the shadows of healthcare, mental health is slowly gaining parity in terms of the conception of when and how people can seek support. Prevention is no longer just for our physical health, but it should be for our mental health as well. This month’s blog entries focused on the development of a young adult who benefitted from systemic changes in our healthcare system that provided him access to preventive mental health services. The Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation has brought these words to life in this cartoon sketch of Alex. Let’s all take a minute to envision a life where […]
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Passing it on
*For the month of May, honoring Mental Health Awareness, the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation, will host a series of blogs following Alex. These weekly journal entries from Alex begin in 2032 when Alex is 18 years old. Over the month Alex will reflect on the benefits gained from living in a system with preventive mental health policies as they grew up. *Week 4 flashes forward to Alex reflecting on life moving forward with a new family. “Life has been sooo busy lately. I barely have time to really sit back and appreciate all that has happened in my life. I guess the biggest update is that Frankie and I got married, and we are expecting a baby in the next five months. I can hardly believe I will have that level of responsibility – to […]
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Rooted in Community
*For the month of May, honoring Mental Health Awareness, the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation, will host a series of blogs following Alex. These weekly journal entries from Alex begin in 2032 when Alex is 18 years old. Over the month Alex will reflect on the benefits gained from living in a system with preventive mental health policies as they grew up. *Week 3 flashes forward to Alex in their late 20’s and fully engaged in adult life in their community. Alex is employed and continues in a serious relationship considering future plans with that person. “Life is plugging along nicely. I haven’t gotten a chance to write in this journal as much as I would like. Life is busy now that I have gotten the promotion I was hoping for and Frankie and I […]
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Planting Seeds for Healthy Relationships
*For the month of May, honoring Mental Health Awareness, the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation, will host a series of blogs following the perspective of an individual who is found in the future but who was a child. We invite you to meet Alex, who will begin their journey at age 18 and over the month of May Alex will reflect on the benefits gained from living in a system with preventive mental health policies. *When we hear from Alex this week, they will have graduated from their undergraduate studies and been living in a medium size city after finding a job in their field. Alex has been in a serious relationship over the last six months and writes this journal entry reflecting on that relationship. “What an amazing few months it has been! Meeting […]
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Mental Health Awareness: Meet Alex
*For the month of May, honoring Mental Health Awareness, the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, a program of the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation, will host a series of blogs following the perspective of an individual who is emerging into adulthood and received preventative mental health services as a child. We invite you to meet Alex, who will begin their journey at age 18 and over the month Alex will reflect on the benefits gained from living in a system with preventive mental health policies. by Dr. Lisa Tyndall, LMFT, Dr. Amelia Muse, LMFT, and Mrs. Sara Herrity, MS, LMFT *Alex recently graduated high school and is a first-generation college student at a University approximately two hours from home. “Whew, the last few months have been an adjustment. Never having been away from my family longer than a week before, and not having them around […]
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From the Frontlines: Pandemic Suicide Awareness
From the frontlines: Thoughts from a therapist on Suicide Prevention Awareness Month during a pandemic by Dr. Rebecca Levy, LMFTA September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In the past year and a half, we have experienced a great deal of tragedy, especially when considering the impact of this pandemic on mental health. Prior to the pandemic, researchers reported that approximately 50% of people who attempted to kill themselves went to their primary care doctor a week before their suicide attempt. With the impact of this pandemic, there was about a 50% increase in the use of a suicide hotline. As demonstrated by recent studies, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on mental health due to our increased isolation, stress, and fear of illness. As a mental health provider, I am left with many thoughts; but here is my take on some of the major considerations of dealing […]
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