Teenage Addiction and Self-Harm: Co-occurring Disorders

Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder, better known as self-harm, is characterized by the purposeful actions of causing physical harm to oneself without the intention of committing suicide. Cutting and burning are the two most common types of self-injury behavior.  This behavior is more common in teenagers and adolescents and occurs due to severe underlying emotional pain and […]…

“My Teen is Cutting: Please Help.”

Updated on 2/10/2023 Cutting is a form of self-harm behavior that is used to relieve inner stress and anxiety. Cutting refers to taking a sharp object to the skin to make small cuts in the body, usually on the arms and legs. Like other forms of self-injury behavior, when a teen is cutting, it is […]…

World Aids Day: Mental Health Disorders Associated with HIV/AIDS

Globally, there are an estimated 36.7 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. December 1st is known as World AIDS Day and is celebrated throughout the world […]…

Suicide in Adolescents

Suicidal ideations are thoughts involving killing oneself and often are directly related to mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. Unfortunately this subject matter is not discussed regularly and as a result suicide is often overlooked in the United States and in some areas may even be […]…

Substance Abuse: A Disease Among the Elderly

Substance abuse affects every age, gender and ethnicity, but individuals may choose to use different substances depending on their age. For example, sniffing glue or paint is more common among high school-aged individuals, whereas illicit use of prescription painkillers, also known as narcotics, is common among the elderly. Another commonly abused substance among older-aged individuals […]…

National Prevention Week for Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Mental health disorders and substance abuse disorder affect millions of people in the United States each year. These disorders are often under diagnosed by healthcare professionals, overlooked by the media and carry a negative stigma within our society. Over the years, more recognition and awareness has been raised however our society can continue to make […]…