This blog provides general information and discussions about mental health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a mental health concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.
The “winter blues” are far more serious than the name would imply. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real form of depression that affects about 10 million Americans.
If you are experiencing SAD, you may dread this time of year; however, there are many helpful steps you can take to help you manage SAD.
Read MoreShowing gratitude and celebrating cultural and familial traditions will be part of almost everybody’s routine as we approach the holiday season. Although this time of year brings happiness, joy and connection with loved ones, it can also bring a sense of loneliness and an increase in anxiety.
Read MoreNAMI Dane County would like to take this opportunity to recognize the veterans in our community. As we honor veterans on Veterans Day (November 11th), it's important that we recognize the experiences and challenges that veterans face when returning to civilian life. Here are some of the key takeaways on this topic from the Mental Health Summit.
Read MoreCommunity challenges require solutions from an entire community, and that’s why Dane County government continues to prioritize new ways to expand mental and behavioral health services into our schools and now starting in 2020, our community centers. As County Executive, each fall I introduce a budget for the coming year that reflects where I think our community’s greatest needs are. Similar to past years where county-led efforts like the Building Bridges School Based Mental Health Teams grew to school districts countywide, my focus for the coming year remains on what we can do to help kids and families struggling with mental health and addiction.
Read MoreMost people are aware that mental and emotional trauma can cause mental health conditions. However, physical harm also has a hand in triggering psychological disorders. These three dimensions often coincide, and it can be difficult to tell which component is the direct cause of mental illness.
Read MoreSadness is a part of life. Whether it's something that didn't go as planned or a failed encounter, it's okay —and even healthy— to feel bad and mourn over certain things. However, having one bad day isn't the same as the paralyzing kind of depression that keeps you from going about your day-to-day activities.
Though some people may use "sadness" and "depression" loosely, it's important to recognize the differences between the two. Knowing this can help you determine when clinical treatment or an intervention might be necessary.
September is suicide prevention month. The majority of people who struggle with suicidal thoughts suffer from diagnosable mental illnesses that, while serious, are treatable. Here, we identify steps that can be taken to help others who may be struggling.
Read MoreAnxiety disorders and alcohol abuse often occur together in the same individual. This co-occurrence is referred to as dual-diagnosis. Anxiety can be the reason many people resort to drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. People may also experience increased levels of anxiety during and after consuming alcohol. Those with an anxiety disorder are two to three times more likely to have an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder at some point in their lives, compared to the general population.
Read MoreAnna starts on Monday, May 13th, and we’re very excited to see where the organization will go under her leadership.
Read MoreWhile we applaud these federal rulings, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is moving forward with implementing work requirements for some childless adults, even though the new Evers administration is opposed.
Read MoreNew bill focuses on efforts to reduce veteran suicide and improve mental health outcomes through improved access to care, better diagnostic tools and increased oversight of VA programs
Read MoreNAMI Dane County is hiring for a new Executive Director. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2019.
Read MoreFor too long, even with parity laws, people with mental health conditions have found that, too often, even if their health plan “covered” mental health services, they would be denied the most appropriate and effective treatment.
Read MoreAmanda Pirt Meyer and Andrew Gonzalez were appointed to the NAMI Dane County board of directors, bringing needed legal expertise, financial management, and fundraising and donor cultivation skills.
Read MoreHear from Madison Mayoral Candidates on key mental health issues before Tuesday’s primary election.
Read More“The majority of millennials, myself included, use social media. And not only do we use social media, but it is ingrained into our daily lives. So much so, that it has become a space for people to talk about their mental illness. “
Read MoreTessmann will replace Lynn Green, who has served as the Director of the Dane County Department of Human Services since 2002 and has spent a total of 46 years serving Dane County.
Read MoreJoin us at this day-long event focused on connecting Self-Advocates with their legislators to talk about issues that matter to them.
Read MoreNAMI’s Advocacy & Public Policy team discusses new guidance that permits states to apply for a waiver of the IMD exclusion, as well as information on the government shutdown and its impact on people with mental illness and families.
Read MoreIn advanced countries, mental illness is a leading cause of suffering. The World Health Organization’s 2008 study showed that mental illness accounted for approximately forty percent of all illness while stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes each accounted for less than twenty percent.
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