What exactly is public stigma related to mental health, and is it affecting either you or your loved ones? According to Kalichman (2019), mental health stigma can be described as the shame, disapproval from society, or the act of discrediting individuals dealing with mental health issues.

The idea that we should “look great and feel amazing” has been prevalent in health for years. Social media, product marketing, and even health campaigns have strongly influenced how we eat and our opinions on how our bodies should look (Rounsefell et al., 2019). While wanting to look and feel attractive is not bad, it is important to remember that achieving a lean, attractive body is not the same as being healthy. Instead, mental and physical health benefits the most when the focus is on fueling the body with the nutrients it needs.

September is more than just the transition from summer to fall; it’s also a time when we come together to raise awareness about an issue that affects millions of people worldwide—suicide. National Suicide Awareness Month is a crucial period during which we focus on spreading hope, support, and resources to help those in need. We wanted to fully explore the significance of this month, the objectives of many suicide prevention organizations, and how you can get involved in the efforts to prevent suicide and promote mental health.

We know that fine and gross motor development are important skills, especially for little people in their early years of life. Motor skills can range from writing or playing with small blocks (fine motor skills), to jumping, walking backwards, or riding a bike (gross motor skills).

One of the times children grow and develop gross motor skills is during unstructured play times, such as playing with family or friends at home, in the community gym, at the park, or at school during outdoor play. These are times where children use their imagination to explore and acquire new gross motor skills without specific directions they must follow. Unstructured play times are beneficial for young children because they allow them to test their own limits and try new things when it comes to their gross motor development.

The preschool years are a time of rapid motor and cognitive development. Some children, particularly children with disabilities, may need structured support to develop foundational skills in these domains. Preschool teachers can help their students develop motor and cognitive skills by integrating them into their daily curriculum.

Balancing the demands of caregiving with your own well-being can be a challenging task. However, by implementing effective tips and strategies, caregivers can seamlessly integrate essential respite moments into their daily routines, ensuring both their own health and the quality of care they provide.

Family stress is defined as any stressor that concerns one of more members of the family, or the whole system, at a defined time (Randall & Bodenmann, 2013). When families experience stress, it can reduce their capacity for providing a nurturing environment for their children, which in turn can impact their children’s mental health and development. In the short-term, unaddressed family stress can affect a child’s ability to regulate their emotions and behavior (Cohen & Roderick Stark, 2017).