Mental Health Support Networks

When my grandmother suffered from very painful vertebral compression fractures, one of her physicians basically said she was “old” and didn’t merit significant pain control. However, she had specific pathologies that could've benefited from a modest amount of analgesia and PT, which would have gotten her back to what mattered to her—basic functions like cooking & cleaning that made her feel like a meaningful contributor to the family. Unable to do those things, my grandmother signed off. She was depressed, not eating or drinking. When I got the call to visit because she was dying, I got on a plane. My family was around her bed. I talked with her about what was happening. She wasn’t looking for heroics. When I talked to her provider, I found essentially a dismissive, #ageist view. “Let her go,” was the message. Well, I didn’t let her go. I’m an internist, so I got to be her doctor for 10 days. I titrated her pain meds, gave dietary supplements, started an antidepressant, and arranged for PT. Within two weeks, she was sitting up, eating, drinking, and conversing. She started to do the things that she enjoyed. An age-friendly system would have asked my grandmother what mattered to her and would have adjusted her care based on what she wanted. She lived for 10 years after the moment that would have been her deathbed. She had a chance to meet her great-grandkids and be a guide to me. We know centering #WhatMatters most to patients is a critical part of how we make care better. And when it comes to care for people 65 & older, we also know the importance of equitably and reliably providing the four evidence-based elements of high-quality care, known as the 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mind, Mobility). As one of many ways we're supporting health systems in providing the 4Ms, IHI and #AgeFriendlyHealthSystems created a new free guide (w/ funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation). It’s called My Health Checklist: https://bit.ly/3zeBLZr (soon to be available in Chinese, Portuguese & Spanish). The checklist helps #OlderAdults think through all aspects of their health and prioritize their top questions about what matters most to them, using the 4Ms. In fact, the checklist could be used by anyone at any age to help them set priorities for what matters to you about your health. The checklist includes sample answers to help jumpstart reflections and help any of us see ourselves in the guide. Older adults and #caregivers can use the guide before appts to drive more efficient, effective, and productive conversations. As you use the checklist – with patients & residents, family & friends, or for yourself – we'd love to hear your experiences! Weigh in below. An age-friendly system, to me, is about ensuring that my grandmother and others like her have a chance to give all that they want to give to the world. Join us: ihi.org/agefriendly. 

Virtual environments for mental health therapy open doors to more adaptable and engaging treatment methods, offering a promising supplement to traditional approaches through immersive technology. Therapeutic applications in the metaverse enable more accessible care, overcoming physical and geographical limitations, which is particularly beneficial for those with mobility restrictions. The flexibility of these virtual environments allows therapy to be customized to individual needs, providing patients with controlled settings that feel safe. The interactive nature of these spaces enhances patient engagement, making therapeutic processes more relatable. Real-time monitoring allows therapists to adjust treatment instantly, which can improve responsiveness to patient progress. This approach is versatile and suitable for conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, and phobias, making it a valuable tool in modern mental health care. #metaverse #healthcare #DigitalTransformation

𝗣𝗦𝗔: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 Friends, been watching The Rehearsal season 2 this month. It’s one of my all-time favorite shows—equal parts brilliant and bizarre. One storyline stuck with me more than usual: commerical airplane pilots being discouraged from reporting mental health struggles. Not just discouraged. Actively penalized. A few years ago, I tried to add disability insurance to my benefits. Mentioned I had a therapist and was attending regular sessions. Turns out, that was a red flag. Therapy made me “ineligible” for coverage. No matter that I was healthy, self-aware, and doing the right thing. Just the fact that I sought help almost cost me that safety net for catastrophic things like cancer or an accident affecting my ability to work. Eventually got the policy. But I still think about how messed up that is. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱. This stuff matters all the time—but especially in a year where so many of us in social impact are navigating layoffs, anxiety, identity shifts, and burnout. It’s a lot. So here’s my humble contribution for Mental Health Awareness Month: Free & low-cost resources worth exploring: ➡️ Waking Up app (free for anyone who requests it) ➡️ BetterHelp + Talkspace (mixed reviews, but accessible for many) ➡️ 7 Cups (anonymous support chat, peer listeners) ➡️ Youper and Woebot (AI mental health chat tools that are surprisingly decent) ➡️ Open Path Collective (sliding scale therapy options) Also—reach out to people. Even if you don’t know what to say. Check in on that friend who’s been unusually quiet. Or the one who seems like they’re doing too well. We don’t talk enough about how much internalized shame still exists around therapy, especially in professional spaces. And how weirdly proud we sometimes are about “toughing it out.” You don’t need to be in crisis to get help. You just need to be human. Like, comment, share, save if you agree. If you’ve got other resources, drop them in the comments. If you’ve got a story of your own, and you feel safe sharing it—know that it might help someone else. Sharing is CARING.

When I changed my approach to health, my life shifted drastically. I overcame anxiety and overthinking, improving my focus throughout the day. You see, I used to think, “If I take care of my body, I am taking care of my health”. Far from the truth. The magic happened when I started looking at health holistically. Taking care of myself as a whole person. Not just a physical being. Here’s how I do it: 🫶 Physical Health: It’s hard to go through day-to-day activities if my body is not at ease. To care for your body focus on getting: - Away from harmful behavior (excessive drinking and smoking). - Regular physical activity (even if for 10 minutes/day). - Adequate and consistent sleep schedule. - Balanced, light, and healthy diet. - Regular medical checkups. 🫶Mental Health: My career depends on how clearly I can think and make decisions. Practices that help me maintain good mental health: - Reading and writing, both stimulate my brain.  - Mindfulness and meditation to remain calm. - Reducing decision fatigue by delegating and automating where needed. 🫶Emotional Health: As a Mindset Coach and Inner Child Therapist, emotions play a big role in my life. Good emotional health keeps me present and helps me understand myself and my clients. If you want to improve your emotional health, practice: - Self-awareness. Ask yourself now, “How am I feeling?” - Developing empathy and compassion for others. - Expressing: talk, paint, sing, dance. Anything. - Having deep, meaningful, and supportive relationships. - Self-care by prioritizing yourself. 🫶Spiritual Health: I didn’t want to feel like a ‘cog in the wheel’, like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Spiritual health helps me take each action with more purpose and impact. Managing Spiritual health isn’t rocket science. Focus on: - Doing things that make you feel your life’s purpose. - Meditating, praying; anything that feels spiritual. - Exploring your personal values and beliefs. - Practicing gratitude and mindfulness. - Connecting with nature. 🫶Financial Health: It’s tough to feel fulfilled if your resources are not up to your liking. All of us feel less stressed and more secure with our financial health intact. Here’s what you can do to manage your financial health: - Budget regularly and manage expenses accordingly. - Seek financial education and advice as needed. - Build an emergency fund for yourself. - Reduce debt and manage credit. - Invest in your future. Take away one aspect, the others will become dysfunctional as well. PS: If you want to stop feeling stuck in life and feel fulfilled, holistically, DM me “HOLISTIC HEALTH”. I got you! #mindsetcoach #mindsetcoaching #lifecoach #lifecoaching #growthmindset

Therapists are constantly searching for practical, high-quality resources to support their work with clients- worksheets, workbooks, journals, psychoeducation tools, and more. As a therapist myself, I know how valuable (and sometimes hard to find) good free materials can be. I’m sharing a curated list of websites that offer free, evidence-based resources you can immediately integrate into your practice. 1. Tons of free, evidence-based worksheets for CBT, mindfulness, anger management, boundaries, and more: https://lnkd.in/e6gtSQ3F 2. Depression workbooks, kids coping skills journal, and lots of resources for couple therapy: https://lnkd.in/enB7weXW 3. DBT skills: https://lnkd.in/e-6vpirV 4. Self Help Resources for Mental Health Problems: https://lnkd.in/eymaZt43 5. https://lnkd.in/eq4btZ5a 6. ACT: https://lnkd.in/eVuh23zS 7. IFS: https://lnkd.in/eknyWh3p If you find these helpful, please feel free to save, share, and pass them on to other practitioners who might benefit 🤍 Let’s make accessible, effective mental health support easier for everyone. #MentalHealth #Therapists #CounsellingResources #PsychologyTools #TherapyWorksheets #MentalHealthProfessionals #Psychoeducation #FreeResourcesForTherapists

ADHD is not only a mind problem. It is a whole body conversation. We keep trying to “fix” focus by only targeting the brain, while ignoring the systems that help create mental clarity in the first place. Movement matters. Gut health matters. Nervous system regulation matters. Nutrition matters. Sleep matters. Inflammation matters. Your body matters. When your gut is off, your immune system is strained, your neurotransmitters are disrupted, your energy becomes unstable, and your ability to focus, regulate, and perform can suffer. This is why healing the body can change the mind. At Bonding Health, we believe ADHD support should be holistic. It should help people regulate emotionally, care for the nervous system, build healthier patterns, and support the body foundations that shape how the mind functions every day. Because conquering ADHD is not just about forcing productivity. It is about creating the internal conditions where clarity, regulation, and performance can actually happen. Heal your body. Heal your mind. Treat the system as one. #ADHD #MentalHealth #HolisticHealth #NervousSystem #GutHealth #EmotionalRegulation #BehaviorChange #WellnessTech #BondingHealth

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 One of actions set by the EU strategy on Virtual Worlds Final report just published Main findings and information available on * Virtual worlds 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠: improved physical activity, reduced isolation, enhanced rehabilitation, safer workplaces, access to remote care  * 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬: cybersickness, social isolation, harmful content or interactions * Unprecedented 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 for vulnerable groups - equal access through multi-modal interfaces – no need for physical presence * Identification of 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 hampering uptake for healthcare such as limited funding and safety standards.  * R𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 for safe uptake, addressing harms and fostering research and innovation into virtual that support users’ health and well-being https://lnkd.in/e3kHkdYr

RESOURCE: Psychological Self-Help Interventions Millions of people worldwide who experience mental health conditions do not have access to effective care. Self-help can help increase access to care in all countries. By providing structured psychological techniques that people can use in their own time, these interventions can empower individuals to manage stress and improve their mental health. Evidence shows that self-help interventions are effective, particularly for depression and anxiety, and these interventions are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). These interventions are likely to play a key role in expanding access to evidence-based mental health care in numerous countries. Because they can be delivered in person or remotely, with limited support from trained non-specialists, they have the potential to reach large numbers of people across diverse settings. This manual was designed to support decision-makers and practitioners in planning and implementing both unguided and guided self-help. It includes information on two WHO-developed programmes – Step-by-Step and Doing What Matters in Times of Stress – which are delivered individually. Hearty thanks to the phenomenal people involved in bringing it to life including but not limited to Jeremy Farrar, Ken Carswell, Mark van Ommeren, Devora Kestel, Edith van 't Hof, PhD, Sian Lewis, Dr. Kate Daley, Jinane Abi Ramia, Brandon Gray, PhD, Melissa H., Sally Khoury, James Underhill, Teresa Au, PhD, Catherina Dahl, Alexandra Fleischman, Dzmitry Krupchanka, Carl Massonneau, Ashley Nemiro, PhD, Luz Marina Leegstra, MPH, Carmen Martinez Viciana, Katherina Molek, Leticia Silvela Coloma, Rachel Abbott, Retha Arjadi, Tarisai Concilia Bere, Sebastian Bucherts, Lynn Bufka, PhD, ABPP, Cristina Carreño Glaría, Pim Cuijpers, Johanna Cunningham, Keith Dobson, Hafsa Eldardery, Priska Fleischlin, Blanca G., Brian Hall, Zeinab Hijazi, PsyD, Dutsadee Juengsiragulwit, Kedsaraporn Kenbubpha, Patricia Landínez González, Brigitte Leroy-Wymann, Andrea Fernandez Lopez MD, Lata K. McGinn, PhD, Roberto Mediavilla Torres, Marcos Matías Moyano, Giulia Muriago, Philip Noun, Ruth O'Connell, Valeriia Palii, Wilaiwan Pathike, Irene Pérez de Ciriza, Nathan Perron, aphichaya polrak, Heide Rieder, Rinske Roos, Pragya Shrestha, Jacinta Sila, stephanie smith, Katherine Sorsdahl, Andria Spyridou (Dr.Clin.Psych), Giulia Turrini, Wei Qian, Ann Willhoite , and Esubalew Haile. The link to the WHO site is in the comments. Psychological self-help interventions: delivering self-help for individuals, featuring Step-byStep and Doing What Matters in Times of Stress. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. Licence: CC BY-NCSA 3.0 IGO.

A Huge Mistake We Make Caring for the Elderly: We love our aging parents so deeply that we end up smothering their independence. With the best intentions, we gradually take over every aspect of their lives - making decisions, doing tasks for them, and protecting them from all risk. But what geriatric specialists know: this overprotection is actively shortening their lives. This pattern plays out in millions of homes across America. In our rush to prevent falls, we inadvertently take away the very activities that maintain strength and balance. In our effort to eliminate stress, we remove purpose and meaning. All too often, this well-intentioned overprotection becomes the express lane to premature institutionalization. The science is clear: learned helplessness kills. Just one week of reduced activity can result in measurable strength loss in seniors, and once lost, it becomes exponentially harder to regain with age. When we consistently step in to perform tasks seniors could manage themselves, we trigger "learned helplessness" - a condition where people stop trying altogether. This withdrawal leads to depression, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life. Social isolation increases mortality risk in seniors by approximately 26%, comparable to the risk posed by obesity or smoking. Yet in our effort to protect elderly loved ones from physical harm, we often expose them to these equally dangerous social and psychological risks. So what's the alternative? Empowerment over enablement. The key is finding the right balance - supporting without supplanting, assisting without assuming control. Three evidence-based strategies that preserve independence: 1. Practice "graded assistance" - provide the minimum help necessary for success, starting with verbal cues before physical assistance. 2. Modify environments to enable independence (grab bars, better lighting) rather than restricting activities. 3. Focus on maintaining social connections and meaningful engagement - these significantly extend lifespan. The most successful caregivers see themselves as facilitators rather than fixers - asking "What would help you accomplish this?" instead of "Let me do that for you." They focus on maintaining abilities rather than just responding to decline. This shift requires both practical skills and emotional intelligence. It means managing our own anxiety about potential risks while honoring our loved ones' need for autonomy and purpose. By finding that delicate balance between protection and independence, we don't just help our loved ones live longer. We help them live better, often in the homes they cherish rather than in institutional settings. Let's reimagine what it means to care well for our elders, keeping them home, independent, and thriving far longer than conventional wisdom suggests possible.

🧠 Trauma in Aging Populations – Supporting Grief, Loss, and Loneliness Aging brings wisdom—but it can also bring profound emotional challenges. Many older adults face grief, loss, and loneliness, often without the support or understanding they need. These experiences, if left unaddressed, can lead to emotional trauma, depression, and even physical health issues. It’s time we recognize that mental health care for older adults is just as vital as physical care. ✅ Common challenges: • Loss of spouse, friends, or family members • Changes in health or mobility • Social isolation and reduced purpose • Fear of being a burden • Unprocessed grief resurfacing over time 📌 Practical tools & exercises that help: 1. Daily Connection Practice Encourage reaching out to at least one person a day—whether a family member, neighbor, or support group. Even a 10-minute conversation can boost mood and reduce feelings of isolation. 2. Memory Sharing Journaling Ask older adults to write or record stories about meaningful life events. This helps process grief and reinforces a sense of identity and purpose. 3. Guided Breathing & Grounding Exercises Simple practices such as slow breathing, mindfulness meditation, or body scanning can help reduce anxiety and stress. Example: • Breathe in for 4 counts • Hold for 4 counts • Exhale for 6 counts Repeat for 5 minutes. 4. Gratitude Reflections Each evening, list 3 things that brought joy or comfort that day—no matter how small. This rewires attention from loss to resilience. 5. Intergenerational Activities Encourage connections with younger family members or community groups. Storytelling, cooking, or learning new skills together strengthens bonds and combats loneliness. 💬 Let’s normalize conversations around emotional health in aging. Small daily actions can prevent long-term trauma and restore connection, dignity, and purpose. Are you supporting aging adults in your family, workplace, or community? Share tools or strategies that have worked for you below! #MentalHealth #AgingWell #GriefSupport #Loneliness #Resilience #TraumaCare #Mindfulness #IntergenerationalSupport #Wellbeing #CommunityCare