• 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish

Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773: https://www.postpartum.net/
• A toll-free phone number anyone can call to get basic information, support, and resources.

National Child & Maternal Education Program – Mom’s Mental Health Matters: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms

Resources from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/resources.htm

My Care App by Maternal Mental Health NOW: https://mycare.mmhnow.org/index.html

*If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Additional crisis support resources can be found here.

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RN Perinatal Educator

Women’s & Children’s Resource Center

NCH Healthcare System

The BirthPlace

According to the March of Dimes, postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common medical conditions that a mother can experience after birth and affects 1 out of every 7 mothers.

Postpartum depression occurs after a mother has given birth and is included under the umbrella of perinatal depression. A mother might experience depression at any point during her pregnancy and up to one year after giving birth. It is very common for women to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and even a little depressed about two to three days after giving birth, lasting about one to two weeks.  This is known as the “baby blues” and affects up to 80% of women. This is very self-limiting, and moms should start to see improvement quickly without needing treatment. A mother who is suffering from postpartum depression may experience more intense symptoms that limit their ability to take care of their baby or conduct their daily activities.

It is often difficult for mothers to see these symptoms in themselves and a loved one or friend might be the first ones to identify some of these behaviors that could be a sign of postpartum depression. Open communication is very important and discussing how you or your loved one feels while they are still pregnant is a great place to start.  If you are unsure if what you are seeing or experiencing is normal, it is critical to reach out for help right away. Do not wait for your scheduled postpartum follow-up appointment. Call your physician that has cared for you during the pregnancy and let them know what is going on. There are many treatment options for postpartum depression such as medications, talk therapy, or a combination of both. Every mother deserves to enjoy her time with her precious new baby to the fullest.

While communication with family and loved ones is so important, it is also imperative to make connections with other recently delivered moms as the postpartum period can feel very isolating. NCH BirthPlace hosts a free postpartum support club on the first and third Thursday of every month at noon. This is a wonderful opportunity for new moms to connect, share experiences, and discuss any concerns they might have, including feelings of anxiety or depression. Please feel free to call for more information at 239-624-6224 or drop by anytime for one of our club meetings!

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While social connection is a fundamental need for our mental, emotional, and physical health, it’s never been more challenging to attain, cultivate, and sustain. This is especially true for older adults, many of whom were suffering from loneliness and isolation even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For individuals to be proactive with their own social wellbeing and to support others, it’s helpful to understand the difference between social isolation and loneliness. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), loneliness is “the distressing feeling of being alone or separated,” while social isolation is described as “the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly.”  NIA also makes this important observation: “You can live alone and not feel lonely or socially isolated, and you can feel lonely while being with other people.”

Elevating awareness of these conditions allows each of us to identify warning signs in ourselves or people we know – and, hopefully, take early steps to set up ourselves and our loved ones for meaningful connection and harmony throughout our lives.

Here are a few tips for seniors to be proactive with their own social wellbeing:

Assess your circle and support system. People in your circle serve many different roles, so think about your support system from numerous perspectives:

• Caring friends or family members who are involved in your life and bring you joy
• Neighbors, church or social club members to share activities and support each other
• Quality and accessible health care providers who listen to you and address your needs
• Trusted professionals who can help you overcome challenges
• Consider other people you interact with or who are important to you

Do you have reliable people in each of these areas or ample opportunity to connect with them? Do you consider these relationships healthy and fulfilling? If not, how can you improve or deepen existing relationships or create new ones to ensure you have a strong network?

Engage in meaningful activities with others. After we retire, it’s easy to feel as though we’ve lost our sense of purpose. We sometimes stop engaging in activities that allowed us to use our gifts to serve others or experience a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes we get used to not being around other people and can become more isolated.

Consider ways to stay connected, including:

• First and foremost, nurture your most important relationships. Cultivate trust and sincerity by being a caring, non-judgmental listener and allow others to be that empathetic ear for you.
• Participate in special events with family and friends. Look at the list of people in your circle. Reach out to someone weekly to talk and/or spend time together.
• Find meaningful volunteer activities that allow you to share your time and talents with others.
• Identify groups that share an interest or passion and create or attend special events. If you’re a foodie, take turns cooking at each other’s homes or try a different restaurant once a week.
• Take a class or attend a presentation to learn something new, where you can also meet new people. What is something you’ve always wanted to try?

Confront challenges and take courageous action. We all experience regrets, disappointments, and insecurities in life. When we carry those into our later years, they can become paralyzing and keep us from enjoying a full life and connecting with others. It is never too late to liberate our mind and open our heart.

Here are just a few ideas to explore how a shift in mindset could enhance your relationships – and your happiness:

• Many of the common regrets people have later in life involve people and relationships. Reflect on these questions: Is there someone I need/want to forgive? Is there someone I need to apologize to? Someone I lost touch with and want to reconnect with? Is there something important I need to say to someone in my life? Then, have the courage to be the first to reach out.
• Negative experiences in the past can impact our ability to trust others in the present. Do you find yourself holding back in your relationships or friendships out of fear? It’s appropriate to be cautious, just ask yourself if you are giving yourself and others a fair opportunity to develop a connection.
• Then there is insecurity. If you find yourself thinking, “I don’t want to be a bother to others,” know that there is likely someone in your life who is desperate to understand your needs and be there for you. Be willing to share your needs and concerns, knowing that you deserve the love and support of others.

These situations might not resonate with you, but if they apply to someone you know, perhaps you can encourage them to reflect on perceptions and challenge thoughts and beliefs that might be limiting their social and emotional wellbeing.

Being there for the older adults in your life

Because not everyone has the ability, energy, or will to look out for themselves in these vital ways, it’s important for each and every one of us to be mindful of the older adults in our lives and how we can be supportive.

• Check in with older adults in your life regularly
• Be willing to offer a patient and empathetic ear
• Encourage your loved one to engage in some of the activities described above, being mindful of the person’s abilities, strengths, and interests
• If you are a close and trusted loved one, offer to help connect the person with needed professional resources or social services
• Loneliness can lead to sadness, depression, or a lack of self-care. Have the courage to ask questions when something doesn’t seem right and intervene when appropriate and necessary.

While these tips are designed to help individuals to be proactive with cultivating social wellbeing, it’s equally (if not more) important to be able to identify when older adults might be suffering loneliness and social isolation or at-risk of experiencing mental and emotional health challenges.

Here are some local resources that can help you identify certified mental health professionals and professional resources for aging adults:

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health Naples Mental Health Services | David Lawrence Centers

National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI Collier County

Baker Senior Center Naples Baker Senior Center Naples (naplesseniorcenter.org)

FGCU Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging (fgcu.edu)

Lisa Gruenloh is an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified executive and emotional intelligence coach. She’s Founder and President of Purpose Journey®, a consulting, training and coaching company that helps individuals and organizations harness their unique values, strengths, and purpose with bold action to optimize wellbeing and impact. One of her greatest joys is helping people overcome persistent negative thinking and learn to turn challenges into opportunities for a more authentic, fulfilling and peaceful life. Learn more at www.purposejourney.com and www.purposejournal.com.

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A Growing Crisis

For many adults, the first two decades of existence are associated with memories of being carefree and adventurous. It was a time to play, have fun and focus only on the present. As we grow into adulthood, life gets busier and more stressful; there are careers to build, families to raise, bills to pay and so little time to do it all. Sadly, the reality is that youth today often do not feel these positive thoughts about their lives and their mental health is suffering.

According to the CDC, 26% of high school students experienced feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness in 2009; this grew to 37% in 2019, and 44% in 2021. By 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-24.

The state of local youth mental health is evident in demand for DLC’s crisis care. DLC operates the only Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CCSU) in Collier County. This facility provides immediate access to a safe place for anyone experiencing thoughts of harming themselves or in a mental health emergency. CCSU admissions have increased steadily since 2013. From fiscal year 2021 to 2022, there was an 18% increase in the need for this service.

“This is a time for everyone to pay attention, get involved, and offer hope,” said DLC CEO Scott Burgess. “As a society, we must work together to ensure the wellness and resilience of our future leaders and community members. By acknowledging the challenges faced and looking for solutions, we can all take part in changing these staggering statistics.”

SCHEDULE OF PRESENTATIONS (Learn more and register at DLCenters.org/Events)

Building the Foundation: Infant Mental Health

• This virtual presentation will feature an overview of the cognitive changes that occur in the brains of children ages birth to 3 years. Participants will learn about 10 developmental leaps and strategies to incorporate into their interaction with young children. Self-care tips and emotion management techniques will be discussed and resources will be provided.
  • Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 11, 2023 | 8:30-9:15am and 1:00-1:45pm

Shining the Light on Youth Mental Health

• This virtual presentation will review statistics and data related to the mental health of children and adolescents and will address common challenges for youth, including most prevalent diagnoses. Participants will learn how to recognize warning signs, address concerns, and utilize resources available in the community.
  • May 9^th, 2023 | 12-12:45pm
  • Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 11, 2023 | 9:45 – 10:30am and 2:30 – 3:15pm

Let’s Talk About It!

• This virtual presentation discusses some of the biggest safety concerns among youth: social media, substance use and violence. Participants will learn about prevalence data and trends, and how to have preventative conversations with children and adolescents related to these topics.

• • May 10, 2023 | 12 – 12:45pm
  • Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 11, 2023 |11 – 11:45am and 4 – 4:45pm

The Power of Community (Question, Persuade, Refer [QPR] Suicide Prevention Training)

• This in-person presentation features an overview of mental health, common challenges and warning signs, how to discuss concerns with others, and available resources. Each attendee will be trained in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): an evidence-based suicide prevention certification. A tour of DLC and refreshments will be provided.
  • May 20, 2023 | 10am – 12:30pm at the Telford Building on DLC’s Main Campus

Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Through this in-depth interactive training, attendees earn a three-year certification and will learn to identify concerns by better understanding signs and symptoms and risk factors. By focusing on real-life scenarios, participants will develop, and practice, the skills learned to support and intervene in crisis situations. Trainings include two hours of self-paced content, followed by a 4.5-hour, instructor-led session.
  • May 26, 2023 | 9am to 2pm

Event Registration

To learn more about these events or to register, visit DLCenters.org/events or call 239-455-8500.

Education Partner

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day presentations on May 11th are being supported by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF). As a leader in NCEF’s Mental Health Initiative, David Lawrence Centers collaborates with other nonprofits to implement groundbreaking programs that aids in identifying and preventing children’s mental health issues. NCEF Blueprint Partners exemplify the highest efficacy standards, and also include Florida State University College of Medicine, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Healthcare Network and NAMI of Collier County.

About David Lawrence Centers

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves more than 9,000 people through over 314,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call 239-455-8500 or visit www.DLCenters.org.

The post David Lawrence Centers Offers Variety of Educational Opportunities in Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

“Hurricane Ian had a devasting impact on our community – both physically and mentally –  causing financial hardships for our clients and an increase in demand for our services over the last year,” said Scott Burgess DLC CEO.”

An estimated 70% of DLC clients are underinsured or uninsured and require some form of assistance to access their behavioral healthcare due language, transportation, and financial barriers. DLC tries to eliminate these barriers by working with donors to fund interpretation services, provide financial assistance for treatment programs and services, and assist with transportation. Transportation assistance is not reimbursed by state/county funding, insurance, or client fees.

“Over 500 at-risk clients received transportation assistance last year to ensure they can access care, maintain treatment, and stay safe,” added Burgess. “We are so grateful to have this increased support and improve continuity of care to critical and often life-saving behavioral healthcare.”

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves more than 9,000 people through over 314,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call 239-455-8500 or visit www.DLCenters.org

The post David Lawrence Centers Receives $10,000 Transportation Grant from Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of anxiety and depression among college students have increased substantially. In an academic year, a third of students on campuses meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Each year, approximately 24,000 college students attempt suicide while 1,100 students die by suicide making it the second leading cause of death among college students in the United States.

Jack Hellmer, a FGCU entrepreneurship graduate student and ATO fraternity brother, developed UBYou, an app to help students assess their stress while connecting them with mental health and campus resources. UBYou has resulted in strong support from the campus community. While developing the app, Hellmer learned that many school counseling centers are having trouble keeping up with the growing demand of students requesting help, and he knew more needed to be done on campus to bring awareness to these common issues.

Each year, FGCU ATO chooses a charity to raise support for its philanthropic endeavors. Hellmer introduced the FGCU ATO executive board to the DLC mission and encouraged them to consider a mental health partner. ATO is known as America’s Leadership Development Fraternity because of its strong emphasis on preparing its members to be leaders on their campus and in the community. Over the past year, ATO nationally donated more than the equivalent of $8.1 million worth of dollars donated and hours served to philanthropies and communities.

FGCU ATO brothers wanted to choose a local charity where they could see their support in action vs. a national non-profit. After touring the DLC main campus in Naples to learn more about the services, they chose DLC as their annual charity of choice.

“Our brothers began this grassroots movement to support our local community’s mental health through the education of available resources to our fellow students and through raising much needed funds for DLC,” added Hellmer. “Our brothers built a strong connection to DLC and have seen overwhelming support for our efforts.”

The brothers’ hard work and passion paid off, resulting in $16,600 for DLC programs and far exceeding any other fundraising efforts in the fraternity’s history. The funds were raised during campus-wide fundraising events and activities held in 2022.

“Being able to witness first-hand what DLC can do with the money we raise gives me peace of mind, knowing that people who are struggling mentally will get the help they deserve,” shared FGCU ATO Signature Event Chair Quinn Griffin, who helped spearhead the DLC fundraising efforts. “It is our mission to support DLC so that the people who don’t have the strength to fight for themselves can.”

The fraternity’s efforts to support DLC didn’t stop at Philanthropy Week. When DLC put out a critical appeal for advocacy support to the community in February 2023, Hellmer and his ATO brothers attended the Collier County Board of Commissioners meeting to show their support for the new Collier Central Receiving Facility location near DLC. The advocacy effort paid off, as the board voted 4-1 in favor of the new location for the 102-bed crisis assessment center that DLC will manage once construction is complete.

The FGCU ATO chapter also sponsored DLC’s 55^th Anniversary Sound Minds Celebration, with 14 members attending the fundraiser to hear the keynote address from mental health advocate and academy award-winning actress Goldie Hawn.

And now, FGCU ATO has committed to continue their DLC partnership and will raise money for its mission for another year. Those efforts will kick off during the 2023 FGCU Philanthropy Week in April. Fundraising activities will include: Pie an Alpha Tau, Dunk an Alpha Tau, a carnival, a brunch, as well as an ongoing online giving campaign.

“We are excited to continue our mission to improve the lives of our fellow students and community members through our presence on campus and through DLC,” added Hellmer.

To make a donation towards the FGCU ATO Mental Health Philanthropy Mission, visit ATO.crowdchange.co/29914/donate.

“We are incredibly grateful to the FGCU ATO fraternity for their support of our mission,” said Scott Burgess DLC CEO. “Their efforts have advanced mental health awareness among local college students who are often unnecessarily struggling in silence. Bringing attention and conversation around these common issues can save lives.”

How to Become a DLC Advocate

DLC cultivates support from individuals and organizations such as FGCU ATO through the efforts of the DLC Advocates, a group composed of all ages (18+) of advocates for mental health and substance use awareness. Their primary goal is to spread awareness for all families in Southwest Florida and continue to improve the lives of thousands of individuals every year through DLC’s education, prevention, intervention, and treatment services. Through membership and quarterly events, the DLC Advocates support the DLC mission, operations and expansion of its services. To learn more about becoming a DLC Advocate, visit DLCAdvocates.org.

About David Lawrence Centers

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves more than 9,000 people through over 314,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call 239-455-8500 or visit www.DLCenters.org.

The post FGCU Fraternity Expands Partnership with DLC to Support Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

Emma became extremely passionate about suicide prevention after surviving a suicide attempt in 2017, the summer before her senior year in high school. At the time, she was a popular varsity cheerleader with a supportive family and lots of friends, but on the inside, she was filled with depression and anxiety, and had never told a soul about it.

“I had this sense that sharing dark feelings came with a stigma, so I kept quiet,” shared Emma. “I felt isolated and alone and thought there was something wrong with me.”

Her attempt resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed but helped her find faith and purpose by propelling her on a mission to use her painful experience and miraculous recovery to help others.

“A lack of community and conversation about mental health factored into what caused me to attempt suicide,” added Emma. “Now I am on a mission to share my story to help open up conversations about mental health. I want people to understand they are not alone and there is help — and that you can overcome your mental health challenges and thrive.”

There are 1.2 million suicide attempts every year in the US. This is a public health crisis that claims the lives of 20 young people every day. The devastating ripple effects impact millions more. With so many lives at stake, more must be done to address this epidemic.

DLC is committed to spreading mental health awareness and suicide prevention and hosts a variety of educational talks throughout the year. Emma first spoke in Naples to a sold-out audience at the 2022 DLC Sound Minds Luncheon. Following the overwhelming response to her message, DLC became committed to bring Emma back so more youth and families could hear her story and learn from her experiences.

In addition to the three school-based presentations held in February, DLC will host Emma for a screening of her documentary, My Ascension, at Moorings Presbyterian Church located at 91 Harbour Dr in Naples on March 2, 2023 at 5:30 pm. The event will include a Q&A with Emma immediately following the screening. Attendees will learn how to identify mental health challenges among youth and how to support suicide prevention.

Tickets and Information

Attendance for this event is free. Proceeds from the event will improve access to DLC’s innovative prevention, intervention, treatment, and education services.

To register, visit DLCenters.org/Events or contact DLC at 239-354-1419 or donorcare@DLCenters.org.

More About Emma Beniot

A few months after her attempt, Emma Benoit started the website liferejuvenated.org and a blog to share her story and recovery journey to help other teens who are struggling. In early 2018, Emma began working on a documentary film called My Ascension, which was release in 2021, that chronicles her recovery journey and advocacy work, while addressing the youth suicide epidemic.

Emma serves as an Ambassador for LivingWorks, the world’s leader in suicide prevention training. She has been featured on numerous news programs and podcasts including the Jada Pinkett Smith’s hit show “Red Table Talk” and the Dr. Phil Show. 

Emma is an uplifting speaker who has shared her powerful story and message with thousands of people at in person and virtual conferences and events including: LivingWorks and California Department of Education Youth Summit, National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Conference, LSU School of Social Work Conference, Arkansas Youth Mental Health Conference, Hope Rising Suicide Prevention Summit and the Hope Squad National Conference.

Emma is a 2018 graduate of Dutchtown High School, whose strength and motivation are rooted in her strong faith and supportive family.

About David Lawrence Centers

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves 9,000 people through over 314,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call 239-455-8500 or visit www.DLCenters.org.

The post David Lawrence Centers to Host Youth Suicide Prevention Talk with Suicide Attempt Survivor; Emma Benoit appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

In Southwest Florida, we have all kinds of tools, systems, and routines for proactively protecting our homes. We lock our doors and install security systems to guard against potential intruders. We have entire checklists to prevent damage and protect our loved ones from severe weather. We even adhere to regular routines for keeping our lawns trim and green all throughout the year.

Have you ever thought about the tools, systems, and routines that can protect your children’s and family’s mental health? Stress and anxiety have become a pervasive challenge for both adults and children, with potential emotional triggers lurking around every corner of work, school, and other environments. We can’t control most external environments any more than we can control the weather, but what about our home environment?

How might we design our family interactions and daily routines to more proactively foster mental and emotional wellbeing at home?

Your Family Wellbeing Blueprint

An important disclaimer: this approach is not meant to replace professional support for mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, and it’s not meant to be inclusive of every possible health factor. It simply helps us become more aware of opportunities to cultivate an environment that promotes wellbeing and provides structure to form playful, calming, and nurturing habits, individually and collectively, as a family.

A few helpful guidelines:

• Your Family Wellbeing Plan will intentionally benefit all family members. Studies consistently indicate that the mental health of adult caregivers and children are closely linked. As a devoted parent or caring adult, nothing will motivate you more to focus on your own wellbeing than doing what’s in your child’s best interest.
• For the sake of simplicity, design your initial Family Wellbeing Plan using three primary themes: Play, Calm, and Love. These are easy concepts for kids to grasp and each encompasses a wide range of rich possibilities.
• Consider each theme in terms of both family and individual needs. That helps everyone learn to take responsibility for their own wellbeing, while supporting the wellbeing of others.
• Most importantly, make this a fun family project that allows everyone to share their wildest ideas without judgment. Allowing kids to help shape activities and influence decisions will better ensure their ongoing enthusiasm, engagement, and ultimately their wellbeing.

Exploring the Family Wellbeing Themes

PLAY. Unstructured playtime has many benefits for children. Play with both peers and adults helps children develop important social and emotional skills, enhance mental and physical health, and even improve cognitive abilities and academic performance. Play is important for adults, too. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, playful downtime for adults helps increase creativity and capacity for imaginative, innovative problem-solving that can even lead to being more valuable contributions at work.

Idea starters:

• Encourage individual artistic and creative activities such as painting, coloring, writing, music, dancing, building, imaginative play, etc.
• Plan a family game night once a week. Go “old school”: cards, board games, puzzles.
• Go on field trips to a local museum, zoo, nature center, etc. Many of these places offer reduced-price family days.
• Find a physical activity that everyone can enjoy together, such as walking, bicycling, gardening, or yard games.
• Nurture relationships and social connection through peer playdates, group activities, and parent date nights.

CALM. With intention and attention, our home can serve as a safe harbor. It starts with learning and practicing ways to calm our own mind and extends a sense of calm to our outer environment. The importance of children experiencing a sense of safety at home is paramount to their growth and development, as well as their long-term mental and emotional health. Adults also need a respite from workplace and other stresses that can impact their health, how they respond to challenges, and interactions with others.

Idea starters:

• Practice productive ways of resolving conflicts and be mindful of the power of words. Notice the ratio of negative versus positive energy.
• Limit screen time and be mindful of the quantity and quality of news and media consumption.
• Dedicate at least one space in the house or yard that is a designated quiet spot.
• Learn and practice “quiet” activities like focused breathing, meditation, contemplation, and journaling.
• Reduce clutter in living spaces, choose calming colors in your décor, or add live plants to bring nature indoors.

LOVE.  When love is practiced, it isn’t just a noun (a feeling), it’s a verb. Each of us experiences feelings of love through the actions of others. So how can we work more loving actions into our everyday lives? Positive psychologist Dr. Barbara Fredrickson has extensively researched emotions and shares that one powerful way love is expressed is through “micro-moments” of “shared positivity” that occur through demonstrations of mutual care, concern, and connection.

Idea starters:

• Commit to becoming more present with family members. Remove distractions, make eye contact, and attune to the meaning of what is being expressed both verbally and non-verbally.
• Use words of praise, encouragement, and support as often as possible.
• Understand each family member’s unique “Love Language and find small but creative ways to help them feel special.
• Write notes of appreciation to loved ones, both within and outside of the home.
• Find meaningful ways to be of service to others and volunteer for a cherished cause as a family to cultivate compassion and shared purpose.

Developing Your Plan Together

Just as you might do in the workplace, start your planning process with an assessment of your current situation (questions one and two below). This helps get everyone’s perspective about what’s going well and where the opportunities are. As the adult, this is a time to be open and empathetic – just in case you hear something that makes you feel like you could have been doing something better. You are doing something better, so do your best to stay focused on the opportunities ahead without judging yourself for what is.

Brainstorm Ideas. An easy and highly effective format for action planning in organizations will work great here. Use a round-robin format to hear from everyone in turn, and ask:

1. What do we want to keep doing? (Start with appreciating what’s already working.)

2. What do we want to stop doing? (Remember to respond with openness and empathy.)

3. What do we want to start doing? (End with exciting new commitments.)

Choosing Activities. Hopefully, your family will generate a very long list of ideas. From the collective input, work together to prioritize the items you want to stop and start doing. Perhaps you can number them in order of most to least important or put a star by the ones that have the most support. There’s no reason to eliminate activities in your “keep doing” section unless you want to replace them or switch them out periodically with something else.

Here are some ways to begin putting your priorities into practice:

• Explore the value of having some common agreements, such as “We sit down for dinner together or play a game before settling in for a family movie.”
• Think about which activities might be most effective as daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly priorities.
• Map out the next week as a starting point to explore how your Play-Calm-Love priorities might be worked into your family’s life based on your schedule.
• Identify one priority that could be a fun family project, such as creating a quiet, relaxing space in the house or yard or choosing a family volunteer activity.

Making it Work. Home isn’t work. Obviously, this needs to be fun or it will be one more thing on the “have to” list rather than the “get to” list. Ensure the proper amount of flexibility, especially for your own sake. Be sure to manage your own and your children’s expectations by implementing new activities over time. Trying to do too much too soon will likely add stress and anxiety, which defeats the purpose.

Also consider these tips:

• As you develop more conscious wellbeing habits, help extend and deepen this way of being for each individual. Cultivate a family “culture” in which each person feels they can ask for what they need, while also being proactive with supporting others.
• Invite each person to use their “calm time” to reflect on what they personally enjoy doing (alone or outside the family) to play, stay calm, and experience love and connection both as the giver and receiver. Find ways to make those activities happen.
• Every few weeks, check in as a family to see how things are going. This is a great opportunity to practice empathetic listening and demonstrate care by making adjustments as needed.

Closing Thoughts

Licensed mental health professionals can help you develop a more formalized family wellness plan that incorporates a broader set of wellbeing factors and helps navigate challenges that would benefit from their expertise and support.

Think of this framework as a way to develop a healthier home environment that helps make mental and emotional wellbeing an everyday practice. Have fun with the process and know that every little effort can make a big difference for you and your entire family!

Lisa Gruenloh is an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified executive and emotional intelligence coach. She’s Founder and President of Purpose Journey®, a consulting, training and coaching company that helps individuals and organizations harness their unique values, strengths, and purpose with bold action to optimize wellbeing and impact. During the COVID pandemic, Lisa launched a new venture publishing and donating writing journals and offering workshops to non-profit organizations. Her Journal for Change initiative is now a 501(c)(3) organization that brings the transformational practice of journaling to non-profits nationwide. Learn more at www.purposejourney.com and www.purposejournal.com.

The post Mental Health Starts at Home: Engage Your Children in a Family Wellbeing Plan appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

Societal and cultural stigmas surrounding mental health can produce negative thoughts and associations with the mere mention of the words. But why? The brain is a critical organ that is responsible for communicating and commanding the rest of the body—if the brain is unwell, overall health suffers. Establishing a strong foundation to manage and understand emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, as early in life as possible, will help to mitigate challenges and crisis situations.

The mental health of infants and toddlers has not had much attention in the past. However, over the last decade, the field of behavioral health has witnessed an increase in the need for intervention and treatment at much younger ages. This has led to a push in raising awareness across the nation to educate on the importance of social and emotional health in infancy and early childhood.

What is “Infant Mental Health” and why is it important?

This phrase refers to the development of emotional, social and cognitive skills in children from utero to three years of age. Much of this development is dependent on the caregiver. Anyone that plays a role in the life and upbringing of a child should know the stages of cognitive “leaps” and ways to teach children these critical, life-long skills. At birth, the average brain is about 25% of its adult brain size. Throughout the first year of life the brain grows rapidly, doubling in size. By age 3, the brain has reached 80% of its full growth and 90% by age 5. This is proof that early childhood is a critical time for learning, and we need to do all we can as caregivers to ensure the tools taught will help children thrive.

Developmental “leaps” and infancy skills

Physical milestones tend to be well understood and discussed, but the cognitive milestones an infant experiences are lesser known. These leaps occur when the brain goes through a massive change, quite similar to a physical “growth spurt.” The first developmental leap occurs around five weeks of age. During this time, an infant’s brain is starting to expand beyond the basic needs of feeding and sleeping. A five-week-old is starting to sharpen their senses and is more aware of what is going on around them. This can be overwhelming for the infant—so much new information to adjust to! Caregivers usually notice an obvious change in behavior and the baby may be more irritable or fussy than normal for a few days until their brain can adapt to the change. There are ten cognitive leaps that take place over the first two years of life, each with their own unique set of skills for the child to adapt to and strengthen.

Critical skills to be learned during the first three years include:

• Expressing emotions and learning to self-regulate to manage them appropriately
• Establishing relationships with people and developing a trusted, secure bond with caregivers
• Exploring societal interactions and gaining knowledge of family, community, culture and environment

“What can I do to build a strong foundation in infant mental health?”

Caregivers set the tone for social and emotional skills in these early years. How adults teach and interact with infants and toddlers generates their understanding of societal norms and generates their responses to emotional situations. By learning more about developmental leaps and utilizing techniques to build strong foundations in social and emotional wellness, caregivers can help young children thrive in the realm of mental health. Knowing where to seek additional support and resources to continue expanding upon this topic, and sharing what is learned, will also assist in creating happier, healthier communities.

In honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is providing a free, 45-minute presentation that will feature an overview of the six developmental stages for children in their first three years and highlight the importance of strengthening infant mental health. Participants will learn about strategies to incorporate into their interactions with young children and receive tips to practice their own self-care and emotion management to lead by example. DLC will also feature nationally recognized resources available for caregivers to learn even more about this topic.

Join us for this valuable educational opportunity on Thursday, May 11^th with two times to choose from: 8:30-9:15am or 1:00-1:45pm. To register, visit DLCenters.org/events. You will be provided with a link to join virtually.

The post Building the Foundation: Infant Mental Health appeared first on David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

When I was a teenager, I sometimes would joke that our family put the “fun” in dysfunctional. I’d always get a good chuckle out of people, likely because they could relate. Family quirks and personalities can be endearing. However, most of us have lived with family dynamics that could be improved. Experiences and patterns of unhealthy conflict, lack of trust or acceptance, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and many other challenges are universally common.

Even when we genuinely love each other, we don’t always have the skills necessary to live and work together in the most productive manner. The inability to respect differences, resolve disagreements, or forgive hurts (to name just a few common issues) can cause pain and distress, sometimes leading to regrets or bitterness that take a devastating toll on our mental, emotional, and physical health.

An effective framework for building a healthy and cohesive family “team”

Ideally, our family – whether our family of origin or chosen family – serves as one of our most stable support systems, our safe harbor. Just like a workplace team, that kind of dynamic doesn’t happen by accident. It’s deliberately cultivated through how we consistently interact with one another. So how can we learn and practice behaviors that foster love and cooperation, build trust, and cultivate authentic harmony?

Because our family represents our first “team” experience, looking to best practices of healthy workplaces can provide helpful, adaptable guidance. One of the most effective frameworks I’ve utilized in my work during the last 15 years is Patrick Lencioni’s Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team®. The model is based on Lencioni’s New York Times best-selling book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, which has become an essential resource for leaders, managers, and team members at all levels in organizations – across sectors and industries, across the globe.

Here are some ideas and tips to create a high-functioning family inspired by The Five Behaviors® model:

Behavior #1: Trust One Another

Trust is the foundation not only for teams, but in one-on-one relationships. A traditional view of trust is one dependent upon another person being consistently reliable. A teenager might earn a parent’s trust by consistently completing homework without supervision or coming home by a set curfew, for instance.

That’s important, but Lencioni stresses a different and deeper form: vulnerability-based trust. As the name suggests, this type of trust is achieved when individuals are encouraged to be vulnerable with one another, without judgment or retribution.

How does this look in practice? Family members can share concerns and feelings, admit weaknesses, own up to mistakes, and ask for help – all without fear of how that information or action might be used against them. Vulnerability-based trust also allows each individual to be exactly who they are and know that they will be loved and accepted, no matter what. This is the ultimate safe harbor.

A special note of caution for families: be mindful of the ways in which we tend to label and pigeon-hole the people closest to us. This often is done playfully and might seem harmless. We might jokingly call someone clumsy because they had they one awful and embarrassing tripping incident that has become one of those dreaded family stories told over and over. Or perhaps a family member got into some serious trouble at one time and is now the “rebel”.

Everyone needs space to not only be themselves, but to change and grow…and not be reduced to a single or few unfortunate moments or circumstances. If you or someone in your family claims “that person will never change,” pause. Consider if you are allowing and encouraging them to. Seeing a person’s potential for change, growth, and success is another important way to build authentic trust and honor individuality. Your journey will not be successful without this approach.

Behavior #2: Engage in Conflict around Ideas

Of the five “dysfunctions”, unhealthy conflict might be the most obvious in family dynamics. It’s clearly visible during arguments and disagreements that leave people feeling hurt, defeated, or at an impasse. Unhealthy conflict is strongly felt even in its passive forms: conflict avoidance appearing as the cold shoulder treatment or denial that anything is wrong, when there are real problems that need attention.

There’s a better way, and it relies heavily on vulnerability-based trust: open and honest exploration of differences. You can keep difficult discussions productive by focusing on ideas, rather than people or personalities. These conversations could still be quite lively – and they likely will be if everyone is truly being honest – but they can be respectful, even enlightening. This kind of healthy conflict actually leads to better and more innovative options and decisions because the ideas generated include a wider range of perspectives, knowledge, and experience.

Encourage each person to share their opinions, what they are upset about, and how they feel. Since we all have different personalities and comfort levels around expressing ourselves, be sure that more reserved family members speak up. Often family conflicts fester because some members are not being or feeling heard and that can, almost inevitably, lead to resentment. Being aware of your own conflict style and unproductive habits is also important. Family roles often extend beyond mother, father, daughter, son. We’ve all seen examples of pleasers, martyrs, bullies, judgers, and many other kinds of characters.

Don’t allow negative emotions and unproductive behaviors to overpower your desire for a loving home environment and don’t settle for the kind of artificial harmony bred from avoidance. It might be challenging to step out of your comfort zone at first, but it’s well worth the effort.

Behavior #3: Commit to Decisions and Actions

Just because you start engaging in healthy conflict doesn’t mean conflict goes away. Conflict is a natural part of life, and we master it by embracing it with good intent and skillful practice. If there’s a strong foundation of trust, family members will feel more open than ever to share their views and opinions. Get ready for a lot of ideas for the next family vacation. It’s fun to let the creativity flow!

But what happens when it comes to decision time? Lencioni says two primary things get in the way of team members committing to a decision or action plan – the need for consensus and the need for certainty. Consensus? If everyone is honestly and openly sharing opinions, it’s unlikely there will be 100% consensus. Certainty? As much as we want it, it simply doesn’t exist – in anything, really.

Acknowledging that absolute consensus and certainty are not realistic, we instead can focus on two things that can achieve commitment: clarity and buy-in, Lencioni advises. If each person feels their voice is genuinely heard, understood, and considered, it’s much easier to gain commitment to a decision. In young families, the parents are the ultimate decision-makers, but having all family members feel good about the plan – even if it wasn’t their idea – makes life more enjoyable for everyone. Explaining the reasons behind the decision also helps with buy-in. (Generally, “because I said so” doesn’t go over well!)

And, finally, you can reduce anxiety around uncertainly by ensuring clarity on how the decision will be implemented and what each person’s role will be. Clear expectations build confidence and help everyone contribute to the family’s success, maybe even with fewer bouts of resistance and complaints.

Behavior #4: Hold One Another Accountable

With a group commitment and clear expectations in place, everything should go smoothly now, right? Well, not always. People don’t always follow through with their commitments for any number of reasons. Letting these things slide might feel like the easy thing to do. It might even seem “nice” for the person not doing what they said they would do. But before you decide how to handle it, be sure you are not avoiding conflict to sidestep your own discomfort.

Everyone deserves some flexibility and grace, for sure. But when missed commitments and broken promises become routine, it is in that person’s and the family’s best interests to provide feedback and nudge them in the right direction. It’s the difference between being “nice” and being “kind”. When we have the courage to give people feedback about how their action – or inaction – is impacting us or others, it demonstrates both care for the group and care for the individual, setting an expectation for clear and healthy boundaries.

In the end, the teachers, bosses, friends, and loved ones who hold us accountable are so often the ones we respect the most. They cared enough to say the uncomfortable things that we needed to hear to help us be our best.  As teams and families practice compassionate accountability consistently, individuals get better at holding themselves accountable, yet another way of building trust, managing conflict, and overcoming dysfunction.

Behavior #5: Focus on Achieving Collective Results

Families often are focused on supporting individual goals and achievement, and that’s wonderful. Remember, our family can be our strongest support system. Yet taking a page from The Five Behaviors® playbook, we see that working toward goals, working through failures, and celebrating successes as a team can raise the bar on everyone’s success and fulfillment.

Especially for children, it’s important to set a tone that asking for and benefitting from the support and encouragement of others is key to not only success, but to maintaining meaningful and fulfilling relationships. The same is true for failures. What a relief to know that we can mess up or underperform against our goals or expectations and we’ve got a whole group of people sharing the experience and helping us move beyond and grow from it.

The notion of collective results is also helpful in the context of resource, time, and energy budgeting. Most families are working with a finite pool of resources and can be faced with making difficult decisions about which individual’s interests to support and to what extent. Activities such as sports, clubs, trips, and so on, can be quite costly, as an example. As challenging as it is, family members sometimes have to make sacrifices for one another or for the greater good. When there is a strong sense of team and everyone is embracing The Five Behaviors®, these situations, while never easy, can have less negative and lasting impacts on family dynamics.

Perhaps the greatest goal a family can have is a collective commitment to both personal and group development. Nurturing a strong, supportive family “team” fosters a sense of security, love, and pride that the entire family will benefit from.

Putting The Five Behaviors® into Action

A fundamental element of mental, emotional, and physical health is strong social and family connections. Your investment in cultivating a high-functioning family “team” (with this model or another that resonates with you) will have tremendous short- and long-term positive impacts.

If you feel inspired to approach family members about learning and practicing new ways of interacting, start a conversation by sharing this article or another helpful resource. Model vulnerability-based trust by sharing some ways you hope to improve relationships in your family. Invite them to share their thoughts about what they believe is working well in the family and what could be improved.

Just as with workplace teams, develop a shared vision together and start taking one step at a time, practicing new and uplifting ways of interacting. Remember that the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team® build on one another, with vulnerability-based trust providing the foundation for the model and forging to the top of the pyramid. Developing competence or improvement in one behavior gives groups the necessary skills and mindset to improve and excel with the next behavior. Stay encouraged and celebrate progress on your journey. You can be a powerful change agent in your family.

And, for the record, while I still believe in having some light-heartedness around our personality and family quirks, over the years I’ve become deeply committed to putting the fun in functional relationships, teams, and organizations!

Lisa Gruenloh is an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified executive and emotional intelligence coach. She’s Founder and President of Purpose Journey®, a consulting, training and coaching company that helps individuals and organizations harness their unique values, strengths, and purpose with bold action to optimize their well-being and impact. In addition, Lisa is a certified practitioner and authorized partner of Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team® and other leadership and team assessments and tools. Learn more at www.purposejourney.com and www.purposejournal.com.

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