Psychologist Heidi Allespach, PhD, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, knows that the big hearts that drive people toward psychology and other caring careers also put them at risk of developing compassion fatigue . Ironically, she explains, caregivers can become so empathetic that they find themselves insensitive to their patients’ suffering. That’s why she urges the medical residents she teaches to develop what she calls a “semi-permeable membrane” around their hearts. “Without sufficient protection, everything comes into play,” explains Allespach. “And being overwhelmed by other people’s feelings can feel like you’re drowning.” Now, Allespach and other psychologists…
Author: jzaqhzmy
Many employees are hesitant to speak openly at work about the mental health issues they are experiencing. (Photo Envato Elements) From anxiety to sleep problems to depression, mental health disorders have increased in recent years, lifting the veil on a subject that has long remained taboo. However, a recent survey reveals that these issues are still insufficiently addressed in the workplace. Only 58% of employees surveyed in the latest study by the US-based National Alliance on Mental Illness say they are comfortable talking about their mental health at work. Yet almost three-quarters think it’s an appropriate topic of conversation in…
Healthy dishes – like superfoods salador hearty vegetable soup – give us the nutrients (and color) we need for the day. But sometimes we get to the point where the list of our favorites healthy recipes were exhausted. You know that feeling when you just think you can’t stomach another overnight oatmeal breakfast? Or have you eaten one too many bowls of vegetables?Well, a huge THANKS is due to this magical thing we call the Internet, because there are unlimited possibilities recipe ideas to discover at every meal. We love how the internet’s best food bloggers break down their ingredients…
By Barbara Greenwood-Dufour The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that each year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem. These conditions are often debilitating and can be associated with considerable personal, societal, and economic costs. However, there are a wide range of therapies to treat mental health problems. In addition to conventional treatments, such as medication and Western psychotherapy, there are also several alternative treatment options for mental health problems. These include natural health products – such as vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements – as well as alternative therapies such as reiki and acupuncture. Some see these…
Even with the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, psychologists, like the rest of the world, are still adjusting to a new normal: working from home, managing child care, worrying about members more older family members and wondering what comes next. . “We have all of these concerns ourselves, and we also need to provide support to our patients who are also struggling with them,” says Heather Gebhardt, PhD, of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle. Whether you are a clinician, researcher or educator, how can you take care of yourself during this…
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to health systems and access to care in the United States, including for people living with HIV and the systems that serve them. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on HIV, we surveyed Ryan White providers funded directly by the country. Ryan White, the federal HIV protection program, serves more than half of those diagnosed with the disease nationwide, providing outpatient care and HIV-related support services. Our main conclusions are as follows: Respondents described an immediate shift toward new ways of providing HIV care and prevention during the early months of…
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Data from dozens of studies support the idea that mental health crises are a significant factor driving increased maternal mortality rates during and around pregnancy in the USA.“We must bring this to the attention of the public and policymakers to demand action to address the mental health crisis that is contributing to the disappearance of mothers in America,” said Dr. Katherine Wisner, who led the review. She is the deputy chief of perinatal mental health at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.“The maternal mortality rate in the United States is 2 to 3…
We will celebrate World Health Day on Friday, April 7, 2023. World Health Day is celebrated annually on the occasion of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). This day is very important as it aims to raise awareness about global health issues and highlight the importance of health and well-being.“As World Health Day approaches, we are reminded of the significant impact mental health has on our overall well-being. As the WHO says, there is no health without mental health, and mental health is much more than the absence of mental disorders. Mental health is an integral part of…
There are few topics that can stir stronger emotions among doctors, scientists, researchers, policymakers and the public than medical marijuana. Is it safe? Should this be legal? Decriminalized? Is its effectiveness proven? Under what conditions is it useful? Is it addictive? How can we prevent this from falling into the hands of teenagers? Is it really the “wonder drug” people claim it to be? Is medical marijuana just a ploy to legalize marijuana in general? They are only one some of the great questions around this subject, questions that I will carefully avoid in order to focus on two specific…
The term “wounded healer” was first used by Carl Jung in 1951,(2) but the idea of the wounded healer is universal. Legends and myths from cultures around the world have featured the wounded healer throughout history. Wounded healers endure suffering, loss, and sometimes even complete disintegration, before settling into a place of greater wholeness where they can claim the wisdom and abilities to heal themselves and others. As clinicians, many of us entered our profession after experiencing a personal healing crisis or seeing a loved one in a health crisis. Unfortunately, our professional training may also have been traumatic, exacting…