A process addiction is any disorder that does not involve chemical usage.  Process disorders can include compulsive gambling, sexual addiction, Internet addiction, or compulsive shopping.  These addictions are considered behavioral in nature such as visiting a local casino when feeling overwhelmed or when experiencing stress, or excessive shopping to alleviate anxiety or depression.   The...Read More

“Depression can be treated,” says the World Health Organization (WHO). “The first step is talking.” A message that the organization hopes will reach some 300 million people around the world battling this serious mental health disorder. On World Health Day (April 7, 2017) the goal this year is to encourage people to talk about depression,...Read More

“I haven’t lost my mind, it lost me.” The sobering words of late sci-fi fantasy icon Carrie Fisher, better known around the world as Princess Leia, are chilling to say the least. While Fisher is best known for her cinnamon bun hairdos and brandishing laser blasters, she was also an advocate for mental health and...Read More

Mental illness impacts millions of Americans’ lives, especially those who do not receive any form of treatment. While efforts to improve access to mental health services throughout the country have been strong in recent years, the clear majority of affected Americans do not find the help they need. Experts overwhelmingly agree that those whose mental...Read More

We have a come a long way with regard to insuring people with mental health disorders in the United States. In the last decade alone, with the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), more Americans than ever are able to access lifesaving treatment. Insurance...Read More

Depression is a mental health disorder which affects millions of Americans, and even more around the globe. Left untreated, this mental illness can severely impact the quality of one’s life. People will often turn to drugs and/or alcohol to cope. While self-medication may provide some temporary relief, in the long run such actions only serve...Read More

It has been some busy couple weeks in the U.S. House of Representatives with regard to addiction and mental illness. After years of hard work and difficult negotiations, the House adopted the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA). The bill is meant to address the American opioid epidemic, a crisis that now takes...Read More

In the United States, we have a long history of leaving people with mental illness behind. Two of the major causalities for this is the fact that there is a huge stigma associated with mental illness and it is an extremely difficult to gain access to adequate care. The result is that millions of Americans...Read More

“It is an odd paradox that a society, which can now speak openly and unabashedly about topics that were once unspeakable, still remains largely silent when it comes to mental illness.” – Glenn Close Men·tal ˈmen(t)l/ adjective of or relating to the mind. Health helTH/ noun the state of being free from illness or injury....Read More

par·i·ty ˈperədē/ noun  the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay.  The word parity is one that is particularly important, especially to those living with mental health disorders and/or addiction. If you have been following the news regarding the prescription opioid epidemic, and the scourge of heroin addiction that has followed...Read More