Postpartum Support International, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide, has declared the first week in May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness week.

Every April the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery.”

March is National Self-Harm Awareness Month.  Self-harm is a topic that is rarely talked about, but is an important one to address. Non-suicidal self-harm or self-injury is when a person intentionally and repeatedly harms him/herself without the intent to kill him/herself. 

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a personality disorder as “a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time.”

In the mental health world, people often refer to “therapy,” however, there are countless types of therapy. How do you know which approach is right for you? Here are four common types of therapy used to treat mental illness and addiction. 

When you meet someone new, chances are the question “what do you do?” comes up within the first five minutes of your conversation. In the United States, we put a great deal of value on our jobs; sometimes to the point that we define ourselves by our job title. This may not seem like a big deal, but when your identity is your career, it can negatively impact your mental health. 

The holiday season is upon us and it is a time of celebration with friends and family.  It is important to use forethought when thinking about all of the people who will be coming and going at your home for holiday parties and get-togethers.  When opening your home to loved ones, always remember to keep the holiday celebrations safe as it could be an entrée to the use of prescription pain medications.  

It seems like as soon as we take off our Halloween costumes, we fast forward into the holiday season. Before you know it, all of the relatives will be gathered around the holiday table. While this time of year is supposed to be joyful and fun, many people feel like pulling the covers over their heads until the New Year.

On Monday, November 14, Silver Hill Hospital held its seventh annual fall Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski hosted the evening. Former NBA player Chris Herren attended as a special guest speaker. 

When a loved one is diagnosed with a mental illness or substance abuse disorder, it can be scary and confusing for family and friends. Remember that the person diagnosed with the illness is also feeling overwhelmed. Although it’s not the case, when a person hears their diagnosis they sometimes feel like life as they knew it is over.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive behavioral therapy developed by renowned psychologist, Marsha Linehan in the 1980’s. The goal of DBT is to provide patients with the skills necessary to regulate emotions, control self-destructive behaviors and improve interpersonal relations.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Bullying Prevention Month and the theme is “The End of Bullying Begins with Me!” Sadly, 1 out of 4 children report being bullied during the school year. At Silver Hill, we believe that you can help prevent bullying by teaching children empathy, compassion and how to celebrate differences very early in life.

We all want to keep our loved ones safe, so we remind them to wear their seatbelts, refrain from drinking and driving, and put up fences around their pools. These days, we should add another reminder to the list, because one of the gravest dangers is hiding in plain sight; painkillers in your medicine cabinet.