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Mental Health Center

4 Ways to Heal from Heartbreak

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heartbreak

By Ashley Barnes Perhaps one of the most impactful and profound experiences of young adulthood is our first heartbreak or break up. The pain is certainly emotional in nature but can also show up somatically, hence people describing break ups as resulting in a “broken heart.” The pain is undeniable and valid, especially when considering the time, energy, and meaning that is placed on our first serious relationships. For many, the first serious heartbreak occurs as a result of college. Relationships may end due to partners being far away from each other at different schools. Some couples may strive to make long-distance relationships work despite this, but find that it is too difficult and ultimately part. Others may go to the same school but end up breaking up. We may meet a partner at school, date for a while, and then things may not work out; after breaking up, we …

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

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heartbreak

By Ashley Barnes About Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States on September 15th – October 15th, beginning “in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21” (Pew Research Center, 2021).  The celebratory month recognizes the incredible ways that Hispanic individuals and communities have contributed and influenced the culture, history, and achievements of the United States.  It is important that readers understand the vast umbrella term that the word “Hispanic” is, as within the Hispanic community are many subcommunities with distinct identities and experiences. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines “Hispanic or Latino” as a person of “Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South …

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Physician Spotlight 1: Welcome, Dr. Lydia Ann!

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Lydia Ann

By Ashley Barnes   Welcome! In today’s physician spotlight we welcome Dr. Lydia Ann to the Mental Health Center with great joy and gratitude! Dr. Lydia Ann is our newest psychiatrist specializing in general adult psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry, as she is a current geriatric psychiatry fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Her vast experience in both inpatient and outpatient, hospital and emergency settings, correctional settings, and crisis residential programs has equipped her with robust knowledge and experience. Her clinical approach is integrative in that she views a patient’s support system as integral to the treatment process, emphasizing individualized care for each of her patients.  About Dr. Lydia Ann. Dr. Lydia Ann started her journey at UCLA where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. She started her journey into medicine at UCLA’s prestigious and highly selective David Geffen School …

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Vicarious Trauma

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heartbreak

By Ashley Barnes What is vicarious trauma? In understanding vicarious trauma, it is important to have knowledge about trauma itself. When many people think of and conceptualize trauma, they may immediately think of trauma as an event that occurs; for example, one may explain a near death experience as trauma. However, such situations are traumatic events. Trauma is a response to a deeply distressing or disturbing traumatic event; it often manifests through changes in psychological and physiological responses.  Vicarious trauma, “also known as secondary trauma, can be described as indirect exposure to a traumatic event through first-hand account or narrative of that event” (Good Therapy, 2016). Vicarious trauma often involves a shift in someone’s worldview with repeated exposure to traumatic content, such as viewing the world as an inherently dangerous place or people as inherently untrustworthy. Who is at risk? Those in helping professions such as counselors, medical professionals, first …

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National Suicide Prevention Month

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heartbreak

By Ashley Barnes   What is National Suicide Prevention Month? National Suicide Prevention Month spans the entirety of September with the goal of uniting mental health professionals, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members to promote suicide prevention awareness; this is achieved through educating others with the use of resources, research, and powerful stories. September also hosts National Suicide Prevention Week from September 4th through September 10th as well as World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Suicide Prevention. It is important to recognize warning signs of suicide as well as understand it’s prevalence in order to work towards suicide prevention. Suicide describes the act of ending one’s own life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (CDC, 2021). Research has found that around 46% of people who die by suicide have a known mental health …

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