Category: Uncategorized

Why Is Suicide Increasing in Black Children?

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
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young black girl sad

In July 2015, published research by JAMA Pediatrics indicated the suicide rate among elementary school children (under 12 years of age) had stabilized over two decades. What they were surprised to find was that Black children were at an increased incidence of suicide whereas their White counterparts demonstrated a significant decrease in suicide incidence. While White children’s rates of suicide has stabilized, those of Black children had increased.

What’s happening to our young Black children? Continue reading Why Is Suicide Increasing in Black Children?

4 Mental Health Facts You Didn’t Know About Gene Wilder

Author By Joseph Rauch, Staff Writer at Talkspace
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Gene Wilder book signing

We all know Gene Wilder was an amazing actor who played some of the most memorable characters of our lifetime, including Willy Wonka. His passing has galvanized us to reflect on his work and honor his life. It’s also an opportunity to learn lesser-known facts about a legend.

Wilder was also a mental health advocate. Through his work and charity, he left behind mental health references we can now highlight and appreciate in a new light. Continue reading 4 Mental Health Facts You Didn’t Know About Gene Wilder

Self-Awareness Will Make Your Life Better: Here’s How to Get It

Author By Kelly Bishop, Mental Health Blogger
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head with puzzle piece missing

Self-awareness is an extremely pivotal trait to possess in life, and way too often we overlook its value. When you become self-aware, you become conscious of your problems and emotions. And the sooner you are aware of those, the sooner you can work toward fixing them. Continue reading Self-Awareness Will Make Your Life Better: Here’s How to Get It

5 Ways Exercise Is Great for Your Mental Health

Author By Julie Crow, Founder @Fuel Builders and ACE Certified Health Coach
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exercise brain lifting weights

Taking care of our mental health requires a 360-degree approach to our overall wellness. It’s important to look at everything you can do to feel well and healthy.

“Food is the most widely abused anti-anxiety drug in America, and exercise is the most potent yet underutilized antidepressant” – Bill Phillips, Author and Entrepreneur

Here are the top five benefits of exercise that will have you lacing up your sneakers before you read the final sentence. Continue reading 5 Ways Exercise Is Great for Your Mental Health

Take Control of Your Emotions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Author By Ken Fields, Talkspace Therapist
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control your emotions picture

We often believe we are at the mercy of situations and events. The long line at the bank made us upset. What that person said got us depressed. There are so many situations in our lives that have the power to make us feel happy or sad, angry or calm.

And yet, is that really what is happening? Does the situation actually control our moods and emotions? Continue reading Take Control of Your Emotions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain

Author By Liz Campese
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5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain

Imagine someone you love dearly – your child, parent, sibling, or another relative – being diagnosed with cancer. It’s hard to place yourself in that position, and to think about what you would do if it were to happen. What support would we need in place? What would we do if that were our family member?

– by Carrie Miller, LCSW / Talkspace Therapist

Childhood cancer is a topic that is close to my heart, as my now 6 year old nephew is a survivor of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. He was diagnosed at the age of 2. The moment that my sister and her husband got the news that “something isn’t right”, their hearts sank. They were terrified and had questions that the doctors could not yet answer for them; they were stuck in a hospital two hours away from home and had to leave another child with the grandparents to be there. The worst part was they were not sure about what came next. Calls went out to other family members, friends, and anyone else who could send support and offer a helping hand. Continue reading 5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain

What Should I Do? The Difference Between Advice And Therapy

Author By Liz Campese
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What Should I Do? The Difference Between Advice And Therapy

“Words of comfort, skillfully administered, are the oldest therapy known to man.” – Louis Nizer

– by Ken Fields, MA, LMHC / Talkspace Therapist

There is a big difference between advice and therapy, and this blog post will address that difference. As a therapist, I have received a fairly large amount of inquires from people asking what they should do in a particular situation. For example, “My spouse is having an affair, what should I do?” Or, “I don’t like my job, what advice can you give me?” Continue reading What Should I Do? The Difference Between Advice And Therapy

Dear Therapist: Do You Believe In Free Will?

Author By Liz Campese
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Dear Therapist: Do You Believe In Free Will?

“We must believe in free will, we have no choice.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer

– by Anonymous Talkspace User

When I was a kid, I used to think that life was predominantly joyful, that people were for the most part self-less, and that age would make the majority of people a whole lot wiser – I was wrong. Life is beautiful, but it’s also heartbreaking, complicated, worrisome, and definitely not as uplifting as I once thought it was. People can be kind, but kindness is often conditional and in short supply. And becoming a grownup seems like nothing more than being a bigger kid with a bigger vocabulary, in a bigger playground facing bigger bullies. Continue reading Dear Therapist: Do You Believe In Free Will?

Dear Therapist: How Do I Find My Purpose in Life?

Author By Liz Campese
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Dear Therapist: How Do I Find My Purpose in Life?

Without a purpose in life I feel like I’m floating in the open ocean with no destination.

– by Anonymous Talkspace User

I have a wonderful career, plenty of interests, lovely friends, and a partner I can only thank my lucky stars for, but I often feel incomplete – as if something that I require to be whole is missing. Don’t get me wrong, I still practice gratitude and mindfulness (to the best of my ability anyway), going so far as occasionally engaging in meditation, but whatever that missing part is, it has eluded me thus far. It’s hard to explain to others that I am often unhappy, especially because of the life that I appear to be living. And I think it has a lot to do with lacking a long-term vision for my life. Continue reading Dear Therapist: How Do I Find My Purpose in Life?

The Surprising Way Your Sleep Position Affects Your Brain!

Author By Liz Campese
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The Surprising Way Your Sleep Position Affects Your Brain!

New research suggests our preferred sleep positions influence the brain’s ability to get rid of metabolic waste, which ultimately affects our overall cognitive function and the manifestation of neurological disease. So, pay attention.

You may or may not be aware that our brains engage in a cleansing process that gets rid of metabolic waste when we go sleep. It’s called the glymphatic system, and it’s super cool! Here’s a brief educational video about how it works from our friends at The University of Rochester Medical School.

Continue reading The Surprising Way Your Sleep Position Affects Your Brain!