Mental Health Support in Schools
Children and young adults across the country should be able to have access to mental health services at school or college on a daily basis. The issue of mental health among young people has been raised more than ever in the past few decades. Parents are now getting more help and support from schools, healthcare professionals, and schools in regards to children’s mental health.
It is a tender age when children and young adults are faced with many issues from school obligations, relationships with parents and friends, first love and problems connected with puberty, body changes, first responsibilities and gaining independence. Young people tend to deal with eating disorders, anxieties, and depression, and they usually don’t have coping tools to deal with these issues. What they often need is a person who will understand them and teach them how to deal with stress and help them develop tools that they will use later on in life as well.
What we need is a long-term strategy for dealing with the mental issues of children and young people. If we don’t address those problems, we will have a lot of young people who never learned how to cope with minor stress or significant life changes and tragedies. Prevention is always a better cure than medications, and we should start from an early age. When you catch a mental health issue early, you can treat it more easily before turning it into something more serious.
Having a Dog is Good for Your Health
According to a new study from Sweden, canine owners have fewer problems with heart disease. The study included 3.4 million people between ages of 40 and 80, and it proved that people who have a dog are 23% less likely to die from heart diseases, and they are 20% less likely to die from any health-related issues.
Previous studies have suggested that dog-owners are not dealing that much with social isolation and depression, which are both linked to a high risk of heart diseases. It’s not surprising that dog owners tend to react better to stress which has a positive impact on their blood pressure and pulse rate. Furthermore, they are more active and have lower cholesterol level.
Lead author and epidemiologist, Tove Fall said that the impact of owning a dog is especially positive on those living alone: “It seems that a dog can be a substitute for living with other people in terms of reducing the risk of dying. Dogs encourage you to walk, they provide social support, and they make life more meaningful. If you have a dog, you interact more with other people. If you do get ill and go into hospital and you have a dog, there’s a huge motivation to try to get back home.”
On the other hand, owning a dog does not mean that you can eat fatty food as much as you want. Regular walks and a healthy diet will be a perfect combination for any dog owner.
The Difference between Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Counselors!
You feel like you need some help, but not sure who you should contact? Psychiatrist, Psychologist or Counselor! Here is the difference!
Psychiatrists are doctors who are additionally trained to diagnose and treat mental illness. They can address more complex and severe mental issues since they have a broad knowledge of biological and psychological factors. Also, psychiatrists are the only mental health professional who are able to prescribe medication.
Psychologists have expertise in human behavior, and they are trained to deal with anxiety, depression, eating disorder, personal growth and relationship issues. Psychologists don’t provide counseling only to those with mental disorders, but also to people who need support and who are interested in their own personal growth. Psychologists must deliver only services to their areas of competence since it’s not really likely they are experts in every area of mental health.
Counselors talk to their clients to help them develop self-understanding and self-awareness while talking with them about their personal concerns, coping strategies, and personal growth and life goals.
While psychiatry and psychology are firmly regulated, counseling as a profession is not. This means that anyone can call themselves a counselor whether they completed a short course or have formal training.