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Giving yourself permission to take care of yourself is essential for good mental health care. None of us can burn the candle at both ends and up in a good place. We eventually wear down. When you feel yourself being emotionally tapped out, take time to refuel. This will look different for each of us. For some, getting away with family and friends is reenergizing. For others a weekend of solitude does the trick. However you are wired, make sure you keep a check on your emotional tank and when it is getting empty, take the time to recharge. 

Being mentally healthy requires us to take a holistic approach. As Mr. Miyagi said in the 1st karate kid movie, “our whole life is a balance”. We need to make sure that we are taking care of our mind, body and spirit. We do that through activities and exercises that connect us to those domains of our life. Behavioral Health care is part of our mission at Appleseed.

As we watch things start to grow and enjoy more and more daylight, it's a good time to recommit ourselves to our mental health care. Do some mental health spring cleaning.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing or being an active bystander in instances of sexual assault. There are many different ways that you make a difference.

During times of high stress we are more likely to engage in unhealthy or addictive behaviors. We can easily get caught up in spending all of our mental energy focusing on how menacing our world is. The message we are getting right now is “You should be afraid and hypervigilant.” Worry becomes easy.

Ohio Governor Mike Dewine has appointed Ashland County’s Jerry Strausbaugh, EdD, LPCCS, Executive Director of Appleseed Community Mental Health to the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

When we set these boundaries with others and have much-needed time for ourselves, remembering to spend that time in a positive way is important. It’s easy to get caught up in negative self-talk, but one way to improve your mental health is to talk to yourself rather than listen to yourself. Too often we listen to ourselves and hear complaints, self-doubt, fear, and negativity.

February is Black History Month, and I believe it is important to highlight important ideas from Black leaders that support your mental health. The U.S. is and has been made up of the stories of countless individuals who have unique life experiences. Validating someone’s story by honoring their life experience as true-important-and meaningful is essential to-a healthy mature self esteem. You have the power to make someone else know they matter. 

Nationwide, youth age 12 to 19 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault.  Studies show that approximately 10% of adolescents report being the victim of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner during the previous year.  Girls are particularly vulnerable to experiencing violence in their relationships and are more likely to suffer long-term behavioral and health consequences, including suicide attempts, eating disorders, and drug use.

It is important for us not to judge others' reactions to the fear and stress they experience. Everyone is living the ongoing pandemic differently and everyone has different levels of coping. Strive to be more forgiving and open to the differences and needs of others. Together we can move through the difficulties, fears, and anxieties we are experiencing, and with each other's help, we can find hope and healing from this international ongoing pandemic

Being stalked is a frightening and traumatic experience. SPARC reports that stalking victims suffer much higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and relationship issues than people in the general population.

According to HumanTraffickingHotline.org, human trafficking can happen to anyone, but we also know that some people may be more vulnerable than others.