Making change, “doing good” can be magically easy. Today I spin a little tale for you between two countries that illustrates how international activism and community can come together pretty effortlessly. About a month ago I got a call from my colleague, Alissa Hauser, the Executive Director of the Pollination Project. She told me that…
Backyard barbecues with the family and parades are Memorial Day customs but how about adding 22 pushups to your tradition? That’s what Dr. Dennis Rebelo has been doing for the last 22 days as part of the 22Kill project, which challenges individuals to do 22 pushups to raise awareness for the 22 veterans that die…
Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy–the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will…
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month which brings with it the gift of thirty one days to focus on all aspects of brain health. During Patrick Kennedy’s 2016 State of the Union in Mental Health, he talked about the obstacles to parity for mental health conditions which includes implementation: “The challenge for us is…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one of the important things to remember is that mental health is a family affair for many reasons. First, it is crucial that people understand that many mental illnesses are genetic disorders and knowing the brain health history through the generations in a family can be very helpful…
Now that the springtime is here in the Northern Hemisphere, it feels a bit like everyone has came out of their hibernation and started moving at full speed! This past week was a particularly busy one for me and my staff at the Flawless Foundation; while it was a rewarding and productive time with four…
Sometimes, the most important work we can do is just to share our stories and have some fun. Trillium Family Services’ recent Black & Gold Gala was a reminder of just how powerful and transformative this can be! Recently, I had the honor of being named one of Trillium Family Services 2016 Mental Health Heroes…
Friday morning, after I dropped my son off at school, I had a phone meeting with one of my favorite colleagues, mental health advocate Gina Nikkel of the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care. Suddenly, there was a loud crash; I abruptly ended the call. A car had rear-ended me. I was okay, and…
In a recent tweet, presidential candidate Donald Trump threatened, ominously, to “spill the beans” about Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi Cruz; Trump’s Twitter followers ended up doing the dirty work for him, “spilling the beans” that Heidi Cruz has had a history of depression. It’s certainly not the first time Trump has said something inexcusable about…
“I am strong, I am bold… my own power, I can hold.” — Bent on Learning Student Mantra In keeping with our series inspired by the Kennedy Forum’s Mental Health State of the Union, this week we focus on prevention. Recently, we attended a gala to benefit Bent on Learning, a nonprofit that brings yoga…