Universal Background Checks for Guns Lowers Suicide Rate
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the suicide rate in the United States is now at a 30-year high. Another way to look at this is that every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide. Nearly two-thirds of the 32,000 gun deaths in the United States are suicides, according tothe latest data from theCenters for Disease Control. Firearm suicidesoutnumber firearm homicides nearly two to one.Indeed, far more Americans die by turning a gun on themselves than at the hands of others.In the United States, firearms, particularly handguns, are the most common means of suicide.About 85 percent of suicide attemp...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - April 2, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: depression facts and figures mental health suicide trends violence Source Type: blogs
Tips to Build Resiliency
Resiliency is the ability to spring back from and successfully adapt to adversity.Resilient people are often flexible in their thinking, endure difficulty with a realistic outlook and use the experience in self- empowering ways.Experts are not all in ageement about how much of resilience is genetic. So the thought is that resilience can be learned.Below are tips from the APA Help Center 1. Make Connections. Good relationships with close family members, friends or others are important. Accepting help and support from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens resilience. Some people find that...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - March 15, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: resiliency tips well-being Source Type: blogs
March 1st is International Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Awareness Day
Non-Suicidal Self-injury (NSSI) – is any deliberate, non suicidal behavior that inflicts physical harm on one ' s body to relieve emotional distress.People who engage in NSSI usually do not involve a conscious intent to die by suicide, though many believe that people who harm themselves are suicidal. There are also numerous myths that surround NSSI, which create a stigma for those struggling with kind of coping behavior. Individuals who use NSSI are often trying to:* Distract emotional pain* End feelings of numbness* Calm overwhelming feelings* Maintaining control* Self-punish* Express thoughts t...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - March 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: anxiety awareness days depression non-suicidal self-injury stress trauma treatment triggers Source Type: blogs
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
February 26th - March 4th isNational Eating Disorders Awareness Week in the United States.Eating disorders result from an interplay of genetic, social and psychological factors. Some of the most common symptoms involve self-critical beliefs, negative feelings about one ' s body weight, conflictual thoughts about food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body functioning.Eating Disorders can range from mild, moderate to severe - and interfere with daily life activities. Types of Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa - Essentially self-starvation, this disorder involves a refusal to maintain a minimally normal b...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - February 16, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days eating disorders Source Type: blogs
Suicide Facts Infographic
healthline.com (Source: Dr. Deborah Serani)
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - February 3, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: facts and figures suicide Source Type: blogs
Why Consistency Matters in Your Mental Health Plan
As a psychologist who specializes in working with adults and children, I ’d tell you the most important issue in psychotherapy is how you approach your treatment. In clinical terms this is calledtreatment adherence,but it can also be known asconsistency.Treatment adherence, the state of your acceptance and follow-through with treatment recommended by your healthcare professional, is critical to recovery. But it ' s even more important to maintain well-being.Consistency doesn ’t just mean going to psychotherapy. Or taking your medication. Consistency means making every psychotherapy appointment. Being on time for ...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - January 13, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: adolescents children depression healthcare medication treatment Source Type: blogs
Tips to Help Your New Year's Resolutions
It ' s that time of year again. When millions make resolutions as the new year begins. If you want to be successful with your goals, the American Psychological Association offers tips that will keep your eye on the prize.Start small: Make resolutions that you think you can keep. If, for example, your aim is to exercise more frequently, schedule three or four days a week at the gym instead of seven. If you would like to eat healthier, try replacing dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt, instead of seeing your diet as a form of punishment. Change one behavior at a time: Unhealthy behaviors dev...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - January 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: tips. well-being Source Type: blogs
8 Types of Toys for Depressed Children
Shopping for toys during the holiday season always takes a bit of resourcefulness. You need to learn what ’s new, what’s out, what’s flying off the shelves - and then carefully consider whether your purchase will add to your child’s entertainment stockpile. But if you have a child with special needs, especially one who is struggling with depression, finding the right toy can feel even more daunting.Though there are many different kinds of games and toys, here are 8 categories that I teach parents to consider thinking about when holiday shopping. These themes help with healing and are also super fun t...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - December 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: children depression tips Source Type: blogs
Staying Positive During the Holiday Season
Sometimes it ' s a challenge to stay positive during the holiday season. Want to keep hub-bub and the hum-bug to a minimum? Try to stick to these simple rules:1. Avoid over-scheduling yourself. Use a calendar to keep track of your holiday commitments so you can physically see what you ' re committing to. Give yourself room to say " No " to things that aren ' t important this holiday season and learn to delegate so you can get things done with help. 2. Lower your expectations. Don ’t strive for perfection, and learn that good enough is okay. Don ’t expect family and friends to be on th...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - November 27, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: holidays positive stress tips Source Type: blogs
Dr. Deb for Best Health Blog at Healthline
Thank you to whoever nominated me for the Best Health Blog Contest atHealthline. I feel so happy to be mentioned along with many of the wonderful blogs listed in the contest.I ' ve been maintainingDr. Deb well for over a decade now, starting it back in the day when blogging was new, and the internet was just booming. I remember writing every few days to highlight psychological topics, current events and new research. It was such an exciting way to learn and share with others from around the world.I continue to write about important health topics - especially noting health awareness days. And while I work at microblogging s...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - November 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days blog contest Source Type: blogs
Dr. Deb for Best Health Blog at Healthline
Thank you to whoever nominated me for the Best Health Blog Contest atHealthline. I feel so happy to be mentioned along with many of the wonderful blogs listed in the contest.I ' ve been maintainingDr. Deb well for over a decade now, starting it back in the day when blogging was new, and the internet was just booming. I remember writing every few days to highlight psychological topics, current events and new research. It was such an exciting way to learn and share with others from around the world.I continue to write about important health topics - especially noting health awareness days. And while I work at microblogging s...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - November 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days blog contest Source Type: blogs
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is November 19, 2016
In 1999, Senator Harry Reid, a survivor of his father ’s 1972 suicide, introduced a new resolution into the US Senate. With its passage, the US Congress designated the Saturday before Thanksgiving as National Survivors of Suicide Day - an awareness day that reaches out to thousands of people who have lost a loved one to suicide.National Survivors of Suicide Day has evolved into a global awareness day calledInternational Survivors of Suicide Loss Day thanks to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. Sometimes called " Survivor Day, " this November 19th will find children and adults affected by suicid...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - November 18, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days loss suicide Source Type: blogs
Children's Grief Awareness Day is November 17th
Grief is a powerful emotional experience that results from loss - be it from death, divorce, trauma or disaster. By the age of 16, over 5.4 million children will suffer the death of a parent, 50% of children will experience loss of a parent to divorce, and more than 68% of children will endure a traumatic event.Children ' s Grief Awareness Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November to help bring outreach tomillions of grieving children. The National Alliance for Grieving Children offers some helpful facts about grief in childhood.Grief is a ...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - November 1, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days children grief loss trauma Source Type: blogs
The Big Election and Your Mental Health
Ugh. Another big election, and it isn ' t pretty. Or comforting.Democratic and Republican nominees bombard us with negative campaigns, fear-based rhetoric and constant press conferences. Nominee ' s speeches are generally scripted to persuade and influence - and are often peppered with an underlying message of danger... and that the only answer to ease your worry is to vote for them.Other political groups find ways to shake up the electoral process by leaking videos or launching negative stories for their own interests. And then there ' s the news, broadcast television, social media and internet websites that per...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - October 17, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: anxiety depression mental health neuroscience well-being Source Type: blogs
Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 2-8, 2016
Though mental illness has a long-standing history in the annals of human nature, it was only in the 1980 ’s when groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, The American Psychological Association and TheAmerican Psychiatric Association were able to convince state and federal governments to publicly address the needs of those with mental illness. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan, along with the Congress passed Joint Resolution 322, designating the week of October 7, 1984 as Mental Illness Awareness Week. Luckily, this awareness campaign has continued on for decades bot...
Source: Dr. Deborah Serani - October 3, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: awareness days diagnostics mental health screenings treatment Source Type: blogs
