The Power of Connection and Community

Human connection and community are tools that are often underutilized and not talked about enough. Connecting with other people, both strangers and close friends, can have a positive impact on our physical and mental health that we never anticipated! Being able to connect with others allows us to feel understood, heard, and seen. We are […]
Counseling vs. Therapy: Is There A Difference?

While the terms “counseling” and “therapy” are typically used interchangeably when talking about mental health interventions, there are vast differences between the two types of services! While both are treatments for mental health issues that involve interacting with a mental health professional and working through an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, there are key characteristics […]
Beyond High School: How to Manage Mixed Emotions in the Real World

Congratulations on making it to the end of the school year! Chances are you are moving up a grade or will be graduating soon. Quite likely, you are experiencing a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and sadness. Having a combination of feelings about moving on to the next chapter in school or in life […]
Stress: The Good, The Bad, and The Benefits You Never Knew Existed

While it might be difficult to accept, stress is a part of our everyday life. You might think that all types of stress are bad, but that isn’t true! In most cases, we believe that stress is a negative thing that wreaks havoc on our physical and mental health, but it can actually provide us […]
Spring Forward from Teen Depression: Action Steps for Parents

Teens Need Resources More Than Ever The world has temporarily become more complicated, but the level of our teen’s stress and teen suicide overall continues to be at epidemic levels. Your teens, more than ever, need resources to deal with this depression more effectively, while their parents are being bombarded with negative headlines and news. […]
Understanding Teen Self-Harm: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

*Content/Trigger Warning: This article discusses self-harm, injury, and violence. Experiencing an overwhelming amount of emotions from mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety leads some people to harm themselves, also known as “self-harm.” While everyone processes their emotions in different ways, some people have developed unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage their feelings. What is self-harm? […]
Don’t Rely on Luck: Protect Your Teen’s Mental Health

Every day, whether through face-to-face interactions or podcast conversations, I have the privilege of speaking to hundreds, even thousands, of adults about the reason A Brighter Day Charity exists and the positive impact we are having on families. Our resources on stress and depression for teens and their families, with the ultimate goal of preventing […]
Kindness and Teen Mental Health: A Vital Connection

While kindness is a term most of us have heard and used before, we rarely connect the benefits of being kind to improving our mental health and wellness. Many studies have shown that kindness has been linked to increased well-being and has positive effects on happiness. Although kindness is most commonly thought of as acts […]
Mental Health vs. Mental Wellness: What Parents Should Know

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] During the month of January, we at A Brighter Day, along with many others, choose to celebrate Mental Wellness Month. Mental Wellness Month is focused on recognizing the importance of attending to our mental health […]
How to Manage Stress: Best Practices, Tips, and Tricks

During this time of year, it is normal and common to feel an increased level of stress. Some things that can contribute to this include the holidays, finals at school, deadlines at work, and traveling to see family. While a low level of stress can be healthy to accomplish tasks, projects, and assignments, high levels of […]