Total Brain Blog

Reclaiming the Narrative from Your Non-conscious Brain

Christine Schulz — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:09:10 GMT

As evolution's way of protecting us, the brain is wired to rapidly identify cues as they come at us and evaluate them for threats or rewards. This nonconscious (or subconscious) processing happens within a fifth of a second and drives most of our decision making. We presume we make fully conscious, rational choices, but our nonconscious has a lot more influence than we realize.

Supporting Patients of Color: Addressing Racial Disparities in Mental Health Care

Christine Schulz — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:21:11 GMT

Individuals seeking health care encounter a number of barriers which may prevent them from receiving the help that they need. Patients of color, in particular, face compounding obstacles to accessing health care.

Caring for Those Who Care for Us: Mental Health for Healthcare Workers

Christine Schulz — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:29:00 GMT

It's World Mental Health Day! And in addition to spending some time to focus on your own mental health, we'd like to dedicate some time to thanking the healthcare workers who have been there to help us with our struggles and encourage us to be the best we can be. But in light of their generosity, they may be dealing with mental health concerns of their own.

How to Implement Measurement-Based Care with Digital Platforms

Beverly Hansen, RN, MBA — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:34:14 GMT

While most treatment plans are based on information gathered during sessions, measurement-based mental health care bases treatment on specific data collected regularly. This is often through client evaluations in the office as well as through digital training and assessments in between sessions.

Supplementing Mental Health Care with Digital Solutions

Christine Schulz — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:19:49 GMT

Many people struggle with mental illness. In the United States, nearly one in five adults lives with some type of mental health issue (52.9 million in 2020). Despite this prevalence, research suggests that only half of the people with mental health issues receive adequate treatment. So why is this number so low? And how can digital solutions improve mental health care access for those who need it?

No more secrecy, stigma and shame: It’s time to move suicide out of the shadows

Christine Schulz — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:34:40 GMT

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Suicide Prevention Week begins Sept. 4. This is an excellent time to rethink our approach to and understanding of suicide.

Create a routine to lull yourself to sleep with NeuroTunes for Sleep

Katie Critelli — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:16:01 GMT

We've all been there at some point: You're tired and exhausted after a long day, but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your mind goes into overdrive. And if your thoughts aren't restricting you from a restful sleep, maybe it's the temperature of the room, distracting noises from outside, or even a partner snoring.

New 988 Crisis Line Improves Access to Mental Health Support

Christine Schulz — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 23:31:03 GMT

Last month, it became a lot easier for people in distress to get help. After two years of planning, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) went live July 16.

The primary care system is the default mental health system: Now what?

Beverly Hansen, RN, MBA — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:16:15 GMT

In the U.S., primary care has been the de facto mental health system for years. It's the first, and usually only, place many patients turn for behavioral health issues. Primary care physicians (PCP) provide most of the care for depression, anxiety and mental illness in general, and roughly a third of care for severe mental illness.¹

What are we so stressed about and how does it impact your mental health?

Christine Schulz — Mon, 16 May 2022 14:39:33 GMT

Stress doesn't discriminate against age, sex, ethnicity or religion. While everyone has a different definition of stress and ways to cope with it, no one is completely immune to its effects. In fact, according to the Mental Health Institute of Stress, 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress and 73 percent say that stress impacts their mental health.