The Harris Center Blog

Welcome to the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Blog, your source for topical white papers that delve into key areas of interest and concern, that provide valuable insights, practical strategies, and expert perspectives on mental health and IDD. Thank you for joining us on this journey of knowledge and understanding.

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Youth Mental Health
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Supporting Adolescents Through the Struggles: Navigating Academic, Social, and Mental Health Challenges

Adolescents face a lot of stressors such as schoolwork, extracurricular activities, sports, and social pressure from their peers. It can be difficult to balance everything, especially when teens feel there’s an expectation to excel in all areas of their lives.

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The Heart-Mind Connection: Managing Stress for Heart Health

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time when many of us think about our physical heart health, but it’s also an important time to recognize how our mental health impacts our heart.

Stress, depression, and anxiety can take a toll on us in many ways. Prolonged stress can have a significant impact on our heart and overall health.

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Congratulations on Completing Dry January—What Comes Next?

Having successfully navigated Dry January, you're likely reaping benefits such as improved sleep, sharper mental clarity, and possible weight loss—common outcomes for those who abstain from alcohol. But for some individuals, especially those previously engaged in heavy drinking, Dry January may have brought negative side effects, including serious medical issues during detoxification. For others still, the experience of cravings or withdrawal symptoms may have revealed a previously unrecognized dependency on alcohol.