Blog
Iowa MHDS Regions blogs offer discussion and thought leadership related to personal wellness, brain health, intellectual disabilities and more.
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Mental Health Month is a reminder to take action year-round
May is Mental Health Month. It’s the perfect time to think about the importance of brain health (mental health) and to take action year-round to maintain it.
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Bullies and brain health: How Iowa MHDS can help
Whether on the school bus, online or even in the workplace, bullies have been around for years. Their taunting tactics are nothing new, and their ability to cause hurt feelings, trigger anxiety or negatively impact brain health (mental health) can leave a person wondering how to end the targeted treatment for good.
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Suicide prevention, resources come at critical time
September is National Suicide Prevention Month; a somber reminder of those affected by suicide and an opportunity to end stigmas surrounding brain health (mental health) issues.
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Relationships, caretaking essential skills as a direct support professional
From an early age, Jenny Shepperd knew she was a caretaker, a nurturer. Her path as a direct support professional (DSP) has been peppered with opportunities to assist others at various stages in their lives.
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A history of colorful careers leads Johnston to find his fit with Goodwill Industries of Iowa
Michael Johnston’s career path has gone in a lot of different directions: Waiter. Bartender. Writing coach. Adult educator. Addiction services technician. And a short seven months ago, he began working as a job coach for Goodwill Industries of Iowa. But this job, he said, has felt different from the beginning.
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Training, growth leads McHugh to an evergreen career in human services
As Bonnie McHugh, a knowledge acquisition and transfer specialist with Optimae LifeServices, reflected on her career in human services, she kept coming back to the idea that no matter where a person is in their career, the ability to help others live a better life never gets old.
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Improving Our Brain Health in 2022
If the past two years have shown us anything, it’s the importance that brain health (mental health) plays in our day-to-day wellness.
As we turn the page into a new year, the 14 regions of Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) are offering ways we can improve our brain health in 2022. It’s never too early (or late) to put a focus on building the strength of our mind through simple lifestyle habits.
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Preserving Your Brain Health During the Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … until it isn’t.
Reminders of the upcoming holiday season are all around us. From nonstop product advertisements to an increasing number of social gatherings, it can become overwhelming for even the jolliest of souls.
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More Than the ‘Winter Blues’: Identifying Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the days turn colder and the hours of daylight shorten, many of us can feel a difference in our bodies and minds. It’s natural to have a physiological reaction to the onset of cold weather months, especially in Iowa where winter seems to last for months upon end.
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Military service and brain health: Help for Iowa veterans
Since 1919, Americans from coast to coast have observed Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.
Iowa has a long and storied history of stepping up to protect and serve. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates nearly 200,000 veterans live in Iowa, spanning the spectrum of ages, races, and branches of service. There’s a strong likelihood you or someone you know has a connection to the military. Ensuring veterans of all ages are cared for includes paying attention to their brain health (mental health).
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Mental health screening doesn’t have to be intimidating or complicated.
If you’ve been feeling “off,” it may be a good idea to get screened for depression. It’s possible for people to live with a brain health issue and not even realize it.
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Depression is a brain health disorder; it’s OK to talk about it.
Feeling down and not yourself lately? You may be suffering from depression. Depression is real, it’s serious and more than 16 million American adults struggle with major depression in any given year. Depression can affect any person at any age, and it can affect each person differently. Luckily, there’s hope and help available through Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Regions. Here are some common questions about depression and information on how our brain health experts can help.
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Suicide Prevention: Help and Hope Are Available
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. More than 47,500 Americans died by suicide in 2019, and there were more than 1.3 million suicide attempts that same year. In Iowa, the suicide rate has increased each year since 2000. In the first year of the millennium, there were 286 suicide deaths in the state. By 2020, that number had nearly doubled, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data. These statistics are serious, and so, too, is the brain health of anyone who has thoughts of suicide. Untreated brain health stressors can be an underlying factor. In fact, according to Mental Health America, the most common mental health disorders that lead to thoughts of suicide are depression and bipolar disorder, which account for 30 to 70 percent of suicide victims.
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Back To School: How All Age Groups Can Cope with Anxiety
Though they may never admit it, some kids look forward to the start of the school year so they can reconnect with friends, join extracurricular activities and even learn new topics. However, returning to the classroom can make students anxious, especially for some children and teens who attended school remotely last year.
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Children’s Brain Health: Supporting Our Most Vulnerable Population
Millions of people experience brain health challenges, including young children and adolescents. However, one of the biggest challenges for parents and caregivers is learning how to recognize if a behavior is part of normal childhood development or a sign of a brain health issue. Parents may sometimes dismiss concerning behaviors, attributing warning signs to hormones and developmental phases or refusing to accept that their child needs help. Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Regions are available to support children and their families with their brain health needs. Read this FAQ for answers on how to identify if your child needs help and what you should do.
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Different Backgrounds, Different Impacts on Brain Health, One Resource
People from all walks of life experience brain health struggles. And people who experience disparities in their everyday lives may feel it even more. Stressors such as income, housing, education, economic resources, access to healthcare or even past trauma can contribute to brain health struggles. Getting help is a must. It’s important for all individuals to understand and recognize how disparities such as race, cultural, socioeconomic, gender and sexual orientation, can affect brain health.
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Rural Iowans: Brain Health Support is Available When and Where You Need It
Weather woes. Crop loss. Livestock health. Farm debt. Supply chain issues. Limited access to health care. Several stressors can exacerbate brain health issues for rural Iowans. This is especially true for those in the farming and ranching industry whose financial livelihood is tied to unpredictable factors and ag workers who are experiencing long, strenuous hours and supply chain issues. The good news is, there’s brain health support available no matter where you live.
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Commemorate Mental Health Month by Understanding, Prioritizing and Connecting
Join Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Regions in commemorating Mental Health Month in May. When we all unite to better understand mental health, find ways to prioritize our own brain health and connect those who are struggling to available resources, we create communities for all to thrive.
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Iowans’ Benefit from Mobile Crisis Services Across the State
Thanks to a new law, Iowans in every county will have access to mobile crisis services to receive immediate care during a crisis. Trained brain health experts can travel to an individual’s home, workplace or school to help.
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The Connection Between Brain Health and Physical Health
Brain health and physical health are two distinct components of one’s overall health that influence each other. If you’re struggling with brain health issues, you might experience physical health issues and vice versa. There is a strong connection between the two that should not be overlooked.
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Five Brain Health Tips to Cope Through the Pandemic
Last year was challenging for all, and there’s no guarantee that 2021 will be easier. The COVID-19 pandemic has put an extra strain on brain health for many Iowans, causing or exacerbating feelings of stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression and more.