Mental

Fitness

Mental fitness and kindness matter

By Shelton Muro 1 month ago

Darin Atteberry
Published 7:00 a.m. MT Sept. 6, 2020

Darin Atteberry (Photo: City of Fort Collins)

As we continue through this challenging year, tensions are high around the nature of and response to COVID-19, issues of racial injustice and equity, and the best ways to bolster our economy. And with a presidential election just around the corner, our national dialogue is increasingly divided.

I have often written here that the best solutions emerge when people with differing viewpoints come to the table, and that the work of building community requires different voices, experiences and perspectives.

And while debate and disagreement are important parts of community dialogue, it also matters deeply how we treat one another in the process. When debate intensifies, are we demonstrating care for our neighbors? When tensions are high, are we acting for the good of our community?

Several months ago, our City Council Futures Committee heard

Health

Australia ODI captain Aaron Finch warns of mental health concerns for players confined to bio-secure bubbles

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

Cricket Australia will closely monitor the mental health of players living inside a bio-secure bubble during the upcoming limited-overs tour of England, captain Aaron Finch said Tuesday.

The team departs Sunday for a tour originally scheduled to take place in July but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to play their first internationals in almost six months, the Australians have agreed to strict biosecurity plans which include playing at venues with on-site accommodation.

The arrangements raise the prospect of long periods isolated in hotel rooms, and Finch said Cricket Australia wanted to ensure the players’ mental wellbeing.

“That’s going to be something that’s going to be a real issue, it’s going to be something to monitor heavily,” he told reporters in an online conference.

“I know from an Australian point of view that there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure there’s checkpoints

Health

Mental health focus as Aussie cricketers head into virus bubble

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

Cricket Australia will closely monitor the mental health of players living inside a bio-secure bubble during the upcoming limited-overs tour of England, captain Aaron Finch said Tuesday.

The team departs Sunday for a tour originally scheduled to take place in July but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to play their first internationals in almost six months, the Australians have agreed to strict biosecurity plans which include playing at venues with on-site accommodation.

The arrangements raise the prospect of long periods isolated in hotel rooms, and Finch said Cricket Australia wanted to ensure the players’ mental wellbeing.

“That’s going to be something that’s going to be a real issue, it’s going to be something to monitor heavily,” he told reporters in an online conference.

“I know from an Australian point of view that there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure there’s checkpoints

Health

‘Emotional support K-pop boys’ help fans with their mental health

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

“Every time I see him I feel like the sun is shining on my face.”

L. Gissele has three emotional support K-pop boys: Kim Namjoon aka RM from BTS, Bang Chan from Stray Kids, and Johnny Suh from NCT 127.

“[Namjoon’s] words speak to me and he motivates me to always do better and to aim big. To always challenge myself,” the 18-year-old Panamanian told Mashable via DM. “[Chan] has been there for me at my lowest point in life. He makes me remember that depression does not define me and that I can get through everything.”

And Johnny? “Seeing him smile makes me happy.”

Feeling a strong attachment to or drawing strength from a specific idol isn’t unusual in K-pop fandom. Commonly called “emotional support K-pop boys,” these artists inspire and reassure people through their music, livestreams,

Health

NHS braces for increased demand for mental health support in wake of coronavirus pandemic

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

The country has undergone many changes as it tackles the pandemic - REUTERS/Simon Dawson — The country has undergone many changes as it tackles the pandemic – REUTERS/Simon Dawson

More health staff are being trained to treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder in preparation for a potential spike in demand for mental health services after the coronavirus crisis.

Almost 3,000 trainees are expected to start courses in psychological therapies and former staff are also being asked to consider returning to frontline roles in preparation for growing numbers of people suffering from anxiety and depression and related conditions.

NHS England said it hoped to boost the number of advanced clinical practitioners, psychiatrists and mental health nurses over the next few months.

As part of the NHS People Plan this includes up to 300 peer-support workers, more than 100 responsible clinicians, 50 community-based specialist mental health pharmacists and 245 children and young people’s psychological wellbeing practitioners.

Around 2,900 trainees – which NHS England said was a record

Health

Our Covid cohort of students will need more mental health support than ever

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

student looking at books - Getty Images — student looking at books – Getty Images

Going to university is a time of great transition. And while those first moments at university can be very exciting, transitions are also times when young people face an increased risk of mental health difficulties. We also know that the years between 16 and 25 are when people are most likely to experience mental health difficulties for the first time.

Students have always experienced pressures, such as worries about their finances, including housing costs and managing the cost of living. They also need to get used to a different type of learning than at school.

Plus, they are also leaving behind all their existing social support, the teachers, friends and family that are typically protective for young people’s mental health.

There are specific points in students’ lives when there can be additional pressures. These might occur a few weeks into term when people

Health

Young people struggle with finding mental health support amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

Kathryn Boit feels “guilty for struggling so much” these past few months.

As president of the Harvard Student Mental Health Liaisons, she has “college friends, acquaintances and strangers reach out to me for resources and advice,” she said. “I don’t know the answers anymore.”

It’s no wonder Boit, a Harvard sophomore, feels overwhelmed. Prevalence of depression among college students increased since the pandemic closed campuses this spring compared with fall 2019, according to a survey of 18,000 college students published by the Healthy Minds Network on July 9. And of the nearly 42% of students who sought mental health care during the pandemic, 60% said it was either much more or somewhat more difficult to access care.

Mental health among young people has been worsening for years. A 2019 analysis of teens reported 13% of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 (or 3.2 million) said in 2017 that they had

Health

Young people struggle with finding mental health support amid COVID pandemic

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

Kathryn Boit feels “guilty for struggling so much” these past few months.

As the president of the Harvard Student Mental Health Liaisons, she has “college friends, acquaintances, and strangers reach out to me for resources and advice,” she said. “I don’t know the answers anymore.”

It’s no wonder Boit, a Harvard sophomore, feels overwhelmed. Prevalence of depression among college students increased since the pandemic caused the closure of campuses this spring compared to fall 2019, according to a survey of 18,000 college students published by the Healthy Minds Network on July 9. And of the nearly 42% of students who sought mental health care during the pandemic, 60% said it was either much more or somewhat more difficult to access care.

Mental health among young people has been worsening for years. A 2019 analysis of teens reported 13% of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 (or 3.2 million) said in

Health

8 Back-to-School Mental Health Resources for BIPOC Students

By Shelton Muro 2 months ago

Student sitting cross-legged with an open laptop in her lap against a pink background

Many parents and children are looking forward to back-to-school season and easing into a regular schedule once again. Student mental health was already a growing concern before COVID-19. Depression among adolescents in the U.S. has been increasing steadily over the years.

BIPOC students particularly may experience more negative circumstances such as racial/ethnic discrimination, marginalization, and lack of access to resources and services that contribute negatively to their mental health. There are many online resources that can help BIPOC students manage their mental health as back-to-school season begins.

Here are eight back-to-school mental health resources for BIPOC students:

The Steve Fund is an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color. The Fund works with colleges and universities, nonprofits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs

Health

‘Doomscrolling’ is bad for your mental health. Do this instead

By Shelton Muro 3 months ago

We’ve all been there: You hop on your phone to learn what’s unfolding with the pandemic or in the political landscape and all of sudden you’re completely sucked in by the latest bit of bad news. Your heart rate quickens as you flick through post after post after post. It’s all terrible, but you can’t stop now. You need to know. Your thumb can scarcely keep up with your eyes as you scan hungrily for more information. When your screen runs out of fresh content, you hit refresh and the ride starts all over.

It’s called “doomscrolling” (or “doomsurfing”) — a portmanteau that Merriam-Webster defines as “referring to the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening or depressing”. The word likely first appeared in a tweet (fitting given that Twitter is the ideal platform for doomscrolling) back in 2018,