Engaging in hobbies can have a profoundly positive impact on your mental health. Hobbies are known to reduce stress, enhance your mood, increase creativity, improve focus and concentration levels, bring a sense of accomplishment and enhance social connections. They also give you a sense of identity, promote self-expression and help build resilience. Here are some hobby ideas that you can explore and find one that gets your creative juices flowing. 1. Creative Hobbies Sensory hobbies like painting, crafts, cooking/baking, pottery, and sculpting can open the doorway to creativity by bringing out your best creative expression. Find your calling and the world is your oyster! 2. Physical and Outdoor Hobbies Research proves that interacting with nature has cognitive benefits that [...]

Back-to-school season is here which can be both exciting and challenging for students as they transition from leisurely summer days to the demands of academia. While academic success is important, maintaining good mental health is equally crucial for a well-rounded and successful school year. Here are some valuable mental health tips to help you and the students in your life navigate the back-to-school period with resilience and success. Establish a Routine: A consistent daily routine can provide a sense of stability and predictability, reducing stress and anxiety. Set regular wake-up and bedtime hours and allocate time for studies, leisure, exercise, and socializing. Prioritize Self-Care: Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential. Engage in activities that you [...]

In today’s ever-changing healthcare environment, it can be extremely challenging to navigate the system. From difficulty accessing care, to issues coordinating between multiple providers, to rising costs, the whole process often feels overwhelming. By embracing an integrated approach to care, we can begin to address these issues and create a more holistic, person-first healthcare experience. Why Integrated Care? Integrated care focuses on treating the whole person to achieve mental, physical and emotional wellness. It considers each individual’s diverse needs with the goal of improving health outcomes and quality of life. At Oaks Integrated Care, our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Burlington, Camden and Mercer Counties funded by SAMSHA exemplifies this model of care by providing a centralized [...]

Social media continues to soar in popularity among today’s youth. With its ever-changing landscape and trendy environment, teens and young adults remain at the leading edge of this space. Research shows nearly 97% of teens and young adults use a social media platform, with over 45% spending the majority of their day online. Almost all U.S. teens reported using the internet daily. But how does social media impact today’s youth in terms of mental health? Introduced as a means to stay connected with one another, social media continues to provide outlets for teens to communicate with other like-minded individuals and build their social networks. Teens can find valuable support online especially those who may not feel connected in their [...]

Whether starting school this fall or heading back to campus for a new semester, college students are bound to encounter a time of excitement and change. While transitioning from summer break to starting school brings a great sense of independence, it also comes with an elevated sense of responsibility. Alongside these exciting changes in college, many students may face new mental health challenges, such as stress, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, or loneliness. According to a 2023 Healthy Minds survey, the majority of college students (more than 60 percent) meet the criteria for at least one mental health condition. This notes a nearly 50 percent increase since a decade prior in 2013. The formative years of college can be quite challenging [...]

Racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities often face different mental health outcomes. From inaccessibility to health care services, to cultural stigmas and discrimination, many minority individuals encounter disparities when it comes to mental health. Therefore, it is essential to consider the importance of diversity in terms of mental health care. Statistically, individuals from racial or ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care. According to the American Psychological Association, among adults with any mental illness in the U.S., 48% of white individuals received mental health services, compared with 31% black and Hispanic individuals, and 22% of Asian individuals. “Human experiences are diverse, and a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not adequately address the unique barriers [...]

Between heavy workloads, relationships, and personal interests, finding a work-life balance with day-to-day responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Research indicates overworking and extensive hours on the clock can have a negative impact on both employees’ mental health and their companies. If jobs are too demanding, exhausting, or chaotic, it can be challenging to maintain personal success. Yet, in practice, it can be difficult to surpass unhealthy work habits and achieve a sustainable work-life balance. A healthy work-life balance involves managing time and energy to meet both personal and professional commitments while emphasizing self-care needs and overall well-being. Research suggests finding work-life balance is not an overnight adjustment, but rather a continuous cycle throughout situations and priorities. Why is work-life balance [...]

Our lives are deeply intertwined with the environments around us. Who and what we are surrounded by impacts our mental health and overall wellness. In particular, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations are faced with disproportionate amounts of historical trauma and displacement that have challenged how these communities remain sustainable and continue to thrive. Each July, we honor the legacy of author, advocate, and trailblazer Bebe Moore Campbell through National Minority Mental Health Month. Through her written work and advocacy efforts, Moore Campbell delves into the complexities of cultural identity, community dynamics, and interpersonal connections. This year, Mental Health America outlined the theme of “Culture, Community, and Connection” to highlight the impact of environment on community and [...]

Have you ever felt exhausted trying to make everyone happy? Or anxious because friends and family are taking advantage of your time? Guilty for saying “no” to friends? It might be time to set some healthy boundaries. Boundaries are essential to mental health and can look different for each individual. A boundary is a rule or limit you set with others to express what we deem acceptable versus unacceptable. They are lines we draw for ourselves to outline our level of comfort around others. Research indicates that violations of personal space can cause discomfort, especially those caused by boundary violations. Personal boundaries help us avoid feeling overused, overworked or overstimulated in situations. It may feel difficult to set appropriate [...]

LGBTQ+ youth deserve support, affirmation and safety. However, from home, to school to healthcare spaces, many LGBTQ+ youth feel unsafe or unwelcome, causing a lack of comfortable conversation. To better meet the needs of all young people, it is essential to integrate safe spaces for an open dialogue with LGBTQ+ youth. Research notes LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than their peers to experience stigma in an environment. Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth of color are at disproportionate risk for negative sexual health outcomes and face stigma related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. This stigma and discrimination places LGBTQ+ youth at higher risk of mental health issues and poverty. Creating safe and welcome spaces for LGBTQ+ youth is [...]