You might be surprised to learn that the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 2022 population estimate reports that 53% of Yavapai County’s population is concentrated in the Quad Cities area. Nearly 34% of our 122,370 Quad Cities neighbors are age 65 or older. That’s 41,606 seniors, 3,328 of whom live in poverty. Our county’s 65+ population is nearly 32% of 232,400 residents, while state-wide, it’s 18%. 18,600 (8%) of seniors are widowed. Why is this data important? Prescott became a retirement … [Read more...] about Volunteer Companions Needed for Isolated Seniors
Deanna Eder
Preventing Suicide Through Connectedness
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Now more than ever we need your help to stay connected. This Suicide Prevention Month, we ask our community to connect and reach for support when needed. While support may look different to each individual, Suicide Prevention Month highlights the various factors that play into suicide prevention. It includes strengthening communication skills to safely talk with others about suicide, taking precautions to safely store lethal means such as … [Read more...] about Preventing Suicide Through Connectedness
Understanding the Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
According to thousands of years of tradition, Buddhists meditate to understand themselves and their connections to all beings. By doing so, they hope to be released from suffering and ultimately gain enlightenment. In recent decades, researchers have been gaining insight into the benefits of practicing this ancient tradition. By studying different versions of mindfulness meditation, they’ve found that learning to pay attention to our current experiences and accept them without judgment might … [Read more...] about Understanding the Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
Reimagining Crisis with the Mental Health Lifeline
On July 16, 9-8-8 will officially become America’s mental health crisis hotline number. It’s meant to serve as an immediate resource for people experiencing mental health emergencies like suicide ideation, addiction, depression, panic attacks and more. Considering the fact that more than 12 million people had serious thoughts of suicide and one in 20 adults experienced a serious mental illness in 2020, it’s clearly a much-needed outlet. “9-8-8 will be a tremendous resource for people in … [Read more...] about Reimagining Crisis with the Mental Health Lifeline
How the 988 Suicide, Crisis Lifeline is Designed to Save Lives
In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800-273-8255) network of more than 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country. On July 16, the U.S. will transition to using the 988 dialing code, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen and expand the existing Lifeline. The 988 dialing code is more than just an easy-to-remember number, it’s a direct connection to … [Read more...] about How the 988 Suicide, Crisis Lifeline is Designed to Save Lives
Celebrating, Raising Awareness about Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the United States since 1949. Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, let us join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Let’s help to fight stigma, provide support, learn to take time for ourselves, seek professional help when needed and check in on family, friends and neighbors. The global pandemic has forced us to cope with situations we never imagined, and … [Read more...] about Celebrating, Raising Awareness about Mental Health
Mental Health Community Featuring Documentary to Spread Hope, Fight Suicide
A suicide attempt left 16-year-old varsity cheerleader Emma Benoit paralyzed, but propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience to help others find hope and shine more light on the fact that 20 young people die every day by suicide in the United States. “My Ascension” is a feature-length documentary that chronicles Emma’s inspiring journey and quest to walk again, as she works to bring Hope Squad, a school-based suicide prevention program, to Louisiana. The film also highlights the … [Read more...] about Mental Health Community Featuring Documentary to Spread Hope, Fight Suicide
Coping with Stress
Stress is a natural part of life. The expressions are familiar to us: “I’m stressed out,” “I’m under too much stress,” or “Work is one big stress.” Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about and those around you become more resilient. Stress is hard to define because it means different things to different people; however, it’s clear that most stress is a negative feeling rather than a positive feeling. You may feel physical stress that is the result … [Read more...] about Coping with Stress
Supporting Youth Mental Health
Earlier this month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that young people are facing overwhelming mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation. This 53-page report noted that the pandemic intensified already widespread mental health issues. Dr. Murthy issued an urgent call to address the youth mental health crisis. The Surgeon General also recognizes what we know to be true: that mental health cannot be treated separately from our overall … [Read more...] about Supporting Youth Mental Health
How a Short Meditation Can Help
Meditation, which comes in many variations, has long been acknowledged as a tool to master the mind and cope with stress. Research shows that meditation offers not only calm, but also helps with anxiety and depression, cancer, chronic pain, asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure. Mindful Meditation might enhance our capacity to rein in our emotional and physiological responses to stressors, so that the news is less likely to activate our fight or flight system. It might also help us … [Read more...] about How a Short Meditation Can Help