Happy 2024!
As mental health professionals, we recognize the importance of our profession in helping those in need of mental health services. Your work is critical in helping people live better lives. This is especially critical in working with patients from underserved populations. We hope to reach more of these populations in 2024.
Thank you for being integral to our mission as we continue to work together to make a meaningful impact—bringing positive change to those needing our services.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2024,
Annette Conway
PsyD CEO
Help Therapy
The January Blues: 7 Ways to Beat It
Embrace winter activities: Get outside and enjoy the season by engaging in winter sports like skiing or ice skating. Embracing the cold can invigorate your spirits.
Take a trip: Consider planning a short getaway to a warmer destination to escape the winter chill and rejuvenate your mind.
Skip resolutions and take up a new hobby: Instead of setting strict New Year's resolutions, try picking up a new hobby or pursuing a creative passion. It can bring excitement and purpose to your life.
Warm up: Combat the cold by cozying up with a warm drink, a heated blanket, or a crackling fireplace. Small comforts can make a big difference.
Find something fun to do with friends: Socializing with friends and loved ones can boost your mood. Plan enjoyable activities together, even if it's just a game night or movie marathon.
Eat well: Incorporate nutritious and mood-boosting foods into your diet. A balanced and wholesome diet can positively impact your mental health.
Check for SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real condition that affects some people during the winter months. If you experience severe symptoms like persistent sadness or lack of energy, consult a healthcare professional for guidance and support.
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month
January is a time to raise awareness and call attention to poverty in America. It’s reported that 1 in 10 children in San Diego live in poverty. The United States Census Bureau reports that 37.9 million Americans live in poverty. Those living in poverty often lack the resources for safe and adequate housing, maintaining health, receiving a quality education and obtaining employment. As pandemic-era relief programs have ended, the problem of poverty has worsened. Click here for a list of non-profit organizations that support people in need.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: a Viable Treatment for Depression?
In a clinical trial led by researchers from the University of Cincinnati at the Lindner Center of HOPE, a novel approach to addressing depression is being studied. The study focuses on the feasibility and tolerability of electrical spinal cord stimulation to treat mood disorders such as depression.
The study examined the intricate pathways of neural communication between the spinal cord and brain regions responsible for mood regulation. The research shed light on the possibility that conditions such as major depressive disorder may, in part, result from an overload of information along these pathways.
Researchers explored noninvasive spinal cord stimulation to modulate the intricate interplay between the brain and body. The goal is to subtly decrease the flow of information within the brain-body circuit, allowing for more effective self-regulation by the brain.
Virtual reconstruction reveals that the stimulation reaches the spinal gray matter without extending to the brain. This finding supports the hypothesis that influencing these information pathways may affect mood-relevant areas within the brain.
Patients undergoing active spinal stimulation had a more substantial reduction in the severity of their depressive symptoms compared to the control group. Although the results are promising, larger-scale studies are needed for conclusive validation.
Resources
Resources
Hike for Mental Health
HIKE for Mental Health, a registered nonprofit, envisions a world where everyone, including those with mental illness, can experience the joy of living. They promote hiking's healing power and aim to raise awareness about mental health challenges. Through fundraising wilderness hikes, they fund efforts to prevent mental illness suffering and maintain wilderness trails.
Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society of San Diego assists low-income and vulnerable individuals and families with information, legal representation and advice on a variety of subjects, such as eviction defense, immigration and name and gender changes, to name a few. Visit Legal Aid of San Diego or call 1-877-534-2524 for more information.
Subsidized Childcare
The San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List is a local resource that connects families to agencies offering subsidized childcare assistance. Visit San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List for more information or to apply.
Partner with us.
Are you a psychologist, LCSW, LMFT or NP?
We’re always looking for exceptional mental healthcare providers. Visit helptherapy.com for more information and fill out the quick and easy application.
Events
No Name-Calling Week
January 15-19, 2024
See National Today for more information.
National Compliment Day
January 24, 2024
See Calendar for more information.
National Fun at Work Day
January 26, 2024
See National Today for more information. Do you have something to share? We’d love to hear about your successes and accomplishments! Contact us at newsletter@helptherapy.com.
Partner With Us
Are you a psychologist, LCSW, LMFT or NP?
We’re always looking for exceptional mental healthcare providers. Visit helptherapy.com for more information and fill out the quick and easy application.
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