Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by impulsivity and instability in mood, self-image, and personal relationships. This instability often disrupts family and work, long-term planning and the individual’s sense of self-identity. Many people with BPD also have a co-occurring disorder such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse or eating disorders. 

On June 10, 2015, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) celebrated its 80th anniversary. Founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio by New York stockbroker, Bill W and Akron Surgeon, Dr. Bob S, both of whom were alcoholics, AA has helped countless people maintain sobriety over the past 80 years. AA groups and members quickly popped up all around the world.

Prom and graduation season is a time for celebration but also a time when underage drinking develops into binge drinking by some teenagers. 

Everyone feels sad once in a while, but depression is more than normal sadness and doesn’t go away in a few days. It is a serious, yet treatable, illness that affects an estimated 16 million Americans. Depression interferes with a person’s ability to function and get through their daily routine. If left untreated, it can lead to extreme hopelessness and suicidal thoughts or actions. Depression is not caused by one single factor. While genetics can play a role in the cause of depression, it can happen spontaneously or be triggered by a life crisis, serious physical illness, childbirth or other major life events. 

Mental illness is not uncommon. One in four people will struggle with a diagnosable mental illness every year. That means that it will most likely affect you, someone you know and love, or even your kids. But unlike other illnesses, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness and behavioral problems. When it comes to kids, many will begin to develop a stereotypical image of mental illness as they get older based on what they see in the media or hear from friends, which is why education is important. So the question arises - when and how can we talk to our kids about mental illness in a way that will be educational and reassuring? 

National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate the millions of volunteers who donate their time to better their communities. Between September 2013 and September 2014, about 63 million people, or 25% of the population, volunteered at least once. The hours of service given in the last year were valued at $173 billion; the average value of a volunteer hour in the U.S. is $22.55 ($26.43 in Connecticut). 

Taking a sip of alcohol before the age of 21 seems pretty harmless to most teens, but the truth is drinking has damaging effects when abused. It’s important to educate kids at a young age about the risks associated with alcohol, which is why "For the Health of It: Early Education on Alcoholism and Addiction" is the theme of this year’s National Alcohol Awareness Month. 

March is the 60th anniversary of National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the invaluable role social workers play in patient care and recovery, especially in the mental health field.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 11% of teens have some kind of depressive disorder by the age of 18.  Many more teens have symptoms of depression that, when detected and treated early, may prevent the onset of a major depressive episode. 

It’s a triple whammy. Most of us go from the warmth of Thanksgiving, to the exuberance of Christmas and Hanukkah, right to the excitement of New Year’s – and then what? Then we face the cold hard truth of January and February – the two most barren months of the year. You are not alone if you feel blue just anticipating next week when all the hubbub of the holidays is over. If you take Google Trends to be an indication of how we are collectively feeling, searches for the words “depression,” “depressed,” and “sad” spike beginning the last week in December and don’t decline until April.

Focus on Year-Round Self-Improvement Instead Who doesn’t want to lose a few pounds, eat healthier, save more money or give up bad habits like smoking? The New Year seems to bring about pressure to improve ourselves. Every year about 45% of Americans make resolutions, but only about 8% achieve their goal. Why?

Strategies to help you enjoy every aspect of the holidays, including the food. You may be surprised that Silver Hill Hospital prepares holiday feasts for our patients and their families to enjoy. This is because we believe food is an integral part of every holiday celebration, and we want our families to enjoy the moment together.

The holidays are quickly approaching and many parents are eager to have their children home from college, but the son or daughter they dropped off in August may not seem like the same one that returns for the holiday season.

In the U.S.  42.1 million people smoke and people with a mental illness are twice as likely to smoke. Most likely you know that it’s a dangerous habit, but did you realize cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the US? Smoking is responsible for about 1 in 3 cancer deaths.