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.

It’s Mental Health Wellness Week and unlike other awareness days and weeks the focus is on staying well, not the condition itself. Two of the goals are promoting the benefit of mental wellness for both the mind and body and educating people on how to incorporate mental wellness techniques into their daily lives, whether you have a mental illness or not. The best way to stay well is to have good coping skills and build resiliency to deal with life when it throws us curveballs.

As fall arrives, college students are settling into their routines. The pressures of college create a great deal of stress for students. Keeping up with school work, getting good grades and navigating new social circles can weigh heavily on a young mind. How does one keep up?

People often use the terms mental health and mental illness interchangeably, but just as with any other medical condition, you are healthy or you are ill. It is a serious mistake to call it a mental health issue when someone has a mental illness. They are sick. It is real, and because people do not understand the difference, it can interfere with proper treatment.

Suicide rarely occurs without warning. It is the final sad step in a life unnecessarily taken over by illness and despair. In fact, 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable mental illness. In other words, suicide is very often preventable.

For many people it’s hard to hold back a smile when you are greeted by a happy, friendly yellow lab looking for a pat on the head. Meet Hooper, one of the visiting therapy dogs at Silver Hill Hospital.

Having a baby is supposed to be one of the most exciting and happy times in a woman’s life, but depression can make this time very difficult and unpleasant. The dramatic changes in hormones following birth cause mood swings and up to 80% of women experience the “baby blues” However, having baby blues is different from clinically significant depression.

Your child is begging to come home from camp. Maybe you suspect bullying. What should you do? Dr. Aaron Krasner, Adolescent Transitional Living Program Service Chief, gives parents a few tips. 

Frank Bordonaro created a weekly drawing group for the Adolescent Transitional Living Program, a residential program for teens struggling with psychiatric and addiction problems.

An estimated 17 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder. For those who seek treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is often part of their recovery. On June 10, 2014, AA will celebrate its 79th anniversary. 

What are the benefits of sending your son or daughter to camp?  Summer camp is a wonderful opportunity to experience a trial separation from the nest – it gives kids a chance to grow their independence under supervision, develop mastery in areas that interest them, and experiment with developing their own ideas and approaches to socializing outside their customary context.  If we think of home as a secure base – just like we think of moms as secure bases for infants – camp allows kids to experiment with exploring their environment and learning about themselves and their world.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that is characterized by dramatic shifts between high (manic/hypomanic) and low (depressed) moods. It affects men and women equally and the age of onset is typically between the ages of 15 and 25, although it can begin at any age.