Resources for Suicide Prevention https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/suicide-prevention-month https://988lifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/ https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month https://www.dhs.gov/employee-resources/news/2023/09/06/september-suicide-prevention-and-awareness-month https://www.nimh.nih.gov/get-involved/digital-toolkit-for-suicide-prevention-month Resources for Loss Survivors of Suicide https://sprc.org/tools/resources-survivors-suicide-loss/ https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-yourself/ https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/loss-survivors/ https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone/ https://allianceofhope.org/ https://health.maryland.gov/bha/suicideprevention/Documents/What%20Survivors%20of%20Suicide%20Want%20You%20to%20Know.pdf https://loss.helplinecenter.org/suicide-loss-and-grief/ https://dr-kari.com/my-approach/common-humanity#:~:text=This%20idea%20of...

How many times did you hear growing up to give 150% of your energy into something you were doing? Maybe it was sports, musical instruments, academics, etc., but whatever it was, you were encouraged and told to "give it your all" and "be your best".  Although those statements are usually given as a way to motivate us, they can end up being really harmful to our psyche and create a mindset and habit to consistently give all we have and more to others or things. The reality is, though, we rarely have 100% energy to give, because we are human and life happens.  But let's think about how this 150% thinking can impact our relationships... If we go into a relationship, romantic or platonic, and have the mindset that we must give 150% of ourselves and our energy to others, what happens? Well, either you're going to burn yourself out trying to always be full of energy or there for others, that you are going to neglect yourself or you are going to get to a point where...

          Ever heard the saying that people in “good” relationships NEVER fight or argue? It seems like we have been taught this ridiculousness that arguing or conflict in relationships is the #1 red flag and we need to avoid them at all costs. Fortunately, this is not the reality of real, genuine relationships because disagreements and misunderstandings do arise even within good-intentioned partners. In fact, conflict can serve as a meaningful opportunity to develop and strengthen the bond in relationships.  Often these moments can be fueled by anxious, avoidvant, or disorganized attachment styles. A great way to begin to get ahead of conflict in relationships is to research and learn about what your individual attachment style is and how that relates to your partner’s attachment style. Typically, anxious-attached partners are attracted to avoidant-attached partners. However, it's super important to know that attachment styles are not set in stone! Th...

  If we were to ask you right now to name one song that always makes you feel more positive, lighter, and calmer...what song would you share with us?  Maybe even thinking about the song had a reaction for you or made you want to play it (which we highly encourage at any point!) Music is something enmeshed in our daily lives, but do you ever just think about the psychological impact it has on you? Well, buckle up because this blog post is ALL about the powerful connection between music and our mental health.  A lot of research has come out about the link between music and brain/mental health and how listening and making music has been identified as a critical way to preserve and enhance our brain's health. This includes promoting mental well-being, increasing social connection, and stimulating thinking skills. And, yes, music can be a huge source of pleasure for us, but it also relaxes the mind, energizes our bodies, and can even help people manage pain.  And if you r...

Hey Pioneers! Welcome to April, the month dedicated to Sexual Assault Awareness.  Sexual assault can be a topic that is difficult to talk about. Sometimes, you may wonder if what happened really was a sexual assault. You may question your memory or may even have no memory of the event. You may not want to believe that the other person involved would have wanted to harm you, or you may not even know them. A sexual assault happens when a person experiences unwanted sexual contact. It includes rape, but also other behaviors. Any touch that is not consented to and is done for sexual reasons is sexual assault. If you’ve experienced a sexual assault, or you’re wondering whether what you experienced was a sexual assault, it can be hard to know what to do next and who would be safe to talk to. You may feel very alone and like no one else could possibly understand what you’re going through or how you feel. You’re not alone; there are many resources available at no charge to help you process...

Spring Break is approaching quickly and with that we know that exams are happening right before and after that week.  What we hear and see all the time is that this week that's set aside to "break" and recuperate from the stress of the semester in the first half, actually becomes the opposite.  More often than not, actually, Spring Break is seen as an opportunity to study EVEN MORE, and the idea of taking a break or doing something relaxing and caring for yourself is not even on the radar. Do we have to highlight what this mentality can lead to? You got it, BURNOUT.  You are already grinding and studying in your spare time during the busy part of the semester and go into overtime during this week and trying to catch up or get ahead of the game on learning and studying. Now...are we saying don't utilize part of the break to study or avoid studying at all? Absolutely not. Honestly, we can probably guess the thought of that made your anxiety sky rocket!  Studying during...

It’s February. The days are still cold and short, and we are in that in-between time when the holidays are over, spring has yet to come, and we are being bombarded by all the Valentine’s Day marketing. Rather than a narrow focus on romantic love, hopefully what you are seeing reflects the growing awareness that loving others well probably shouldn’t just be reserved for February 14th, and also celebrates all the various kinds of relationships that contribute to our wellbeing. So with that broader lens on Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about caring for ourselves well, and how that helps us care for others well.  I’m going to challenge us to shift our thinking about self-care away from much of what the popular media promotes under that label (fancy coffee, manicures, wine night, bubble baths, etc). Instead, think about self-care using a house analogy. In a well built house, you need a firm foundation, strong walls, and a solid roof. Likewise, self-care consists of the actions we take to ...