Post-Holiday Guilt vs. Valuing the Memories

By Wesley Gallagher The holidays are winding down, and it’s time to get back into the swing of things. For many, however, the holidays still linger, and not in a good way. The season of giving can also be a season of splurging and overindulging, and feelings of guilt often… Read More

Classes Closed for Mental Health: A Growing Mental Health Crisis?

By Anna McKenzie In the wake of two suicides on each campus in fall 2021, two universities (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Saint Louis University) cancelled classes to give students a mental health day while they investigated the incidents. These tragedies raised an alarm: Are college… Read More

Navigating COVID Burnout From Every Angle

By Beau Black         Tired of hearing, talking, and thinking about COVID, mask-wearing, social distancing, virus testing, work-life balance, and lockdowns? Burned out on hearing about COVID burnout? Emotionally exhausted by the mention of emotional exhaustion? You’re not alone.  As we round the corner on two years of the coronavirus, many of us feel ground down by… Read More

Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish

By Wendy Lee Nentwig We all know the importance of getting enough sleep and eating healthy food, but during times of stress those things — and other healthy habits — can fall by the wayside. In juggling work, school, relationships, family obligations, finances, and fun, it’s easy to get off-balance. But self-care… Read More

The Beauty of Exploring Others’ Holiday Traditions

By Christa Banister When it comes to holiday traditions and how they’re observed, there’s plenty of debate to go around. In Italy, the traditional Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve may not even feature seven fish-centric dishes, depending on the family you dine with. In Germany, a sparkling glass… Read More

COVID & The Classroom: The Impact on Kids & Teachers

By Wesley Gallagher It’s nearing the end of 2021, and in many ways it feels like the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Even if it’s not yet over like we had hoped, we’ve settled into a new normal, and there seems to be a light at the end… Read More

Suicide Prevention Awareness: The Connection to Mental Health

By Anna McKenzie In addition to being National Recovery Month, September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Globally, suicide accounts for 1.4% of all deaths, and most suicides are related to mental health issues. In the US, suicide ranks No. 10… Read More

Olympic Athletes Champion Honesty About Mental Health

By Anna McKenzie The postponed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo showcased more heroes than those who won medals. The aftermath of COVID-19 and an extra year of training took its toll on many athletes, and several of them spoke out about their physical, emotional, and mental health struggles. In fact, the… Read More

Approach ‘13 Reasons Why’ with Curiosity Instead of Fear

By Lindsay Merrell, Therapist, Remuda Ranch at The Meadows Since the years of my internship, working with patients facing suicidal thoughts has been concerning, challenging, and inspiring. Individuals struggling with such hopelessness come to professionals in desperate need of relief from what is starting to feel like an inevitable outcome. Our responsibility as professionals is to be persistently and empathically interested in the individual’s struggle. Our curiosity gives them the courage to look at the very pain they fear. Read More

The Heart of a Healer

The following is a transcript of the speech read on behalf of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare CEO Sean Walsh at the 2016 Gratitude for Giving Breakfast Awards Ceremony. Sean was recognized with the Compassion Award. I want to start by apologizing for not being able to attend the Gratitude for Giving… Read More