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12 Days of Holiday Wellness

The holidays often present a dizzying array of demands — cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning, entertaining, and much more. With the uncertainty of COVID-19, it may cause additional stress and worry. This time of year elevates stress levels for many and can be particularly challenging times for those with mental…

If You Smoke, You’re at Risk for Lung Cancer

As the leading cause of cancer deaths of both men and women in America, lung cancer affects hundreds of thousands of lives every year. It is crucial to learn about the deadly disease as its mortality rate is high; more than half of patients pass away within a year of…

Transgender Awareness Week: 10 Ways to Become an Ally

Gender identity is a person’s true, personal sense of being a man or woman, or a boy or girl. An individual who identifies as transgender is someone who does not align with the gender they were assigned to at birth. Transgender people who do not feel that their gender identity…

Bullying Prevention: What You Can Do

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus on change and educating others on the effects of bullying. Bullying directly affects one in five students in America. According to the CDC, kids who are bullied are more likely to experience low self-esteem, isolation, poor concentration and performance in…

October is ADHD Awareness Month!

There are many myths surrounding ADHD that can be harmful and continue to perpetuate the stigma surrounding the disorder. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects about 5.29% of children and 2.8-4.4% of adults. It is diagnosed as one of these three types: Inattentive Type Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Combined…

What is Serious Mental Illness (SMI)?

Did you know that nearly one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness? Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in level of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. There are two categories that can be used to describe these conditions: Any Mental Illness (AMI)…

It’s Time for Another Check Up From the Neck Up

What is Emotional Wellness? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines emotional wellness as “the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times.” Emotional wellness doesn’t mean a person is always happy. Instead, they have the ability to recognize negative emotions, accept them and cope…

Preventing Suicide in Teens: What You Need to Know

Did you know, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United States for ages 10-35? Although teens were struggling with- mental health issues before COVID-19, early findings indicate that feelings of hopelessness and serious contemplation of suicide have increased due to the pandemic. This is very concerning…

What Does it Mean to Be in Recovery From a Mental Illness?

It’s Recovery Month! When people hear “recovery,” many only think of recovery from substance use disorders. However, recovery applies to mental illness as well. Some people may experience passing episodes of depression and/or anxiety due to a current life situation, however, the majority of mental illnesses are lifelong. So if…

Resources for Parents, Teachers & Students

In May 2021, The Hub participated in Stamford’s Community Mental Health and Wellness Summit. Our planning committee included many organizations and Stamford Public Schools. We came together to discuss the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers, students, and families. We identified a need to share knowledge and resources, as…

Celebrate Safely This Fourth of July!

Fourth of July is the Deadliest Weekend on the Road Due to Drunk Driving In 2019, 515 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period and 38% of fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, we want to remind…

The Psychology of “Coming Out”

What is coming out? In the life of someone who identifies within the LGBTQIA+ community, “coming out” can bring up any number of emotions ranging from relief to rejection. Coming out is the process of voluntarily sharing one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity with others. This process is unique for…

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Can Affect Anyone

What is PTSD? PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a fairly common psychological disorder in which a person experiences intense or disturbing thoughts or feelings related to a past traumatic event. These episodes often last long after the traumatic event itself. While PTSD has a high rate of occurrence in…

Postpartum Depression in Men? Yes, It’s Real and Can Happen!

As we explore mental health issues impacting men during the month of June, we are raising awareness about an issue that is often associated only with women — postpartum depression. According to Postpartum Support International, 1 in 10 dads develop postpartum depression and up to 18% develop an anxiety disorder.…

5 Ways Parents Can Support a Queer Child’s Mental Health

The relationship between mental health and LGBTQIA+ individuals has historically been extremely fraught. “Homosexuality” was considered a serious mental illness in the DSM until 1987. American society has only recently begun to recognize LGBTQIA+ individuals and their rights, including the marriage equality act in 2015. There is also an increase…

Anxiety: When Worry Goes Too Far

What is Anxiety? An anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder in which a person experiences excessive anxiety or worry about things like personal health, work, social interactions, and other routine daily occurrences. It is completely normal to experience anxiety every now and then when you’re facing a difficult challenge…

Older Adults & Mental Health

Depression an anxiety are not a normal part of aging. Growing older should be filled with relaxing days spent with friends and family. However for almost 20% of Americans 55 and up, their “golden years” are clouded by mental health struggles, the two most common being depression and anxiety. Major…

The Dangers of Binge Drinking

Alcohol Consumption in the United States In 2019, almost 66% of Americans enjoyed at least one drink over the course of the year and almost 50% of Americans considered themselves to be regular drinkers. But what happens when a person’s alcohol consumption becomes excessive? What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking…

Connecticut’s Social Host Law, Underage Drinking, and What It Means For Your Family

As parents, your number one priority is keeping your child safe. When it comes to underage drinking, you may think the safest option is to allow your teen and their friends a safe, supervised place to taste beer for the first time by allowing them to drink in your home.…

Connecticut’s Social Host Law, Underage Drinking, and What It Means For Your Family

As parents, your number one priority is keeping your child safe. When it comes to underage drinking, you may think the safest option is to allow your teen and their friends a safe, supervised place to taste beer for the first time by allowing them to drink in your home.…

Supporting the Asian-American Community

The following information was shared from Amplify. Help us stop anti-Asian violence Just a handful of examples of the suffering that has taken place. The videos are appalling and difficult to watch. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/03/18/asian-american-attacks-elderly-woman-beats-attacker-san-francisco/4745168001/ Here are some local and national efforts, please consider attending, supporting, and/or sharing with others: WNPR Where…

Kids Can Buy Drugs Easier Than You Think

What You Need to Know About Drugs on Social Media Kids used to have limited options for where they could get drugs: friends at school, medicine cabinets or on the street. Now they don’t even have to leave the house. Buying drugs online has become increasingly popular and drug dealers…

Moms, Stress & Rising Alcohol Use Rates

We’re continuing to explore the impact of the pandemic on moms. Last week we discussed the significant increase in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. This week we’re looking at the stress moms are facing and the rise in alcohol use among women. Why Moms Are So Stressed The pandemic has…

Pandemic Caused Increase in Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

2020 was a year that was hard on everyone, but moms were especially struggling. It has been widely reported in the news, but most of those articles focus on the economic and career impact for women. While those are valid concerns and very real challenges that exist, we are exploring…

Advocacy Matters!

Your voice can make an impact. The Hub leads and supports advocacy efforts for behavioral health, substance use and problem gambling by educating community leaders, elected officials and the community at large. What is an advocate? An advocate is someone who supports and promotes a cause, policy or interest with…
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