Tag Archives: Mental Health

The Fear Factor: When School Kids Commit Suicide

It is a sad day when you hear of the number of kids taking their life before end of school exams because of a genuine “fear of failure”.  These are not kids who have failed, these are kids who fear they may fail.  How have we created such a fear of failure in our society that school kidsContinue reading “The Fear Factor: When School Kids Commit Suicide”

One Size Does Not Fit All…

I walk into 530 First Avenue towards the outpatient lab. I give the woman at the front desk my first name and last initial. A few minutes later, she calls my name to confirm my address, doctor’s name and what I’m there for. I sit in the waiting room filled with people of all agesContinue reading “One Size Does Not Fit All…”

Tips and Tools for Helping Yourself or a Friend

The teenage years can be tough, and it’s perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings don’t go away or become so intense that you can’t handle them, you may be suffering from depression. The good news is that you don’t have to feel this way. Help isContinue reading “Tips and Tools for Helping Yourself or a Friend”

What should I do if I think my grandchild is suicidal?

QUESTION How should we handle concerns we have that our teenage grandson may be suicidal? Many teens are moody — we understand that — but he seems to have more “downs” than “ups,” and we think he could be seriously depressed. While spending the weekend at our house, he actually told us that his lifeContinue reading “What should I do if I think my grandchild is suicidal?”

Why Words Can Hurt at Least as Much as Sticks and Stones

Just as the digital age has ushered in new ways of enhancing human connection, it’s also opened up the scope and range of social rejection. Unfriend—as in, un-Facebook friend—was the word of the year in 2009, joining its older cohort “cyberbully,” amid the advent of the text breakup or the Facebook status change as waysContinue reading “Why Words Can Hurt at Least as Much as Sticks and Stones”

Five Decisions That Can Make You Happier

Recent happiness studies indicate that popularity, influence, and money do not make people happiest – even as our culture suggests otherwise. Autonomy, life purpose, and relationships are found at the top of the list. In her new book, “The Happiness Choice: The Five Decisions that Take You From Where You Are to Where You WantContinue reading “Five Decisions That Can Make You Happier”

Anger: The Beast Within Us!

People experience anger in many different ways and for many different reasons. What makes you angry may only mildly irritate one of your colleagues, and have little to no effect on another. This subjectivity can make anger difficult to understand and deal with; it also highlights that the response is down to you. So angerContinue reading “Anger: The Beast Within Us!”