Recipe for Health: World Mental Health Day is TODAY- Get the Help YOU and YOUR Family Need! (book reviews)

 Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received these ebooks, free of charge,from Callisto Publishing, and post info from Deborah Ann Davis, for blog posting and review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about them. All opinions are my own. 

This year’s World Mental Health Day, IS so so IMPORTANT to remind us that not everyone has has an easy year- we all have had our lives changed, but for some, the COVID-19 pandemic have brought not only challenges, but difficult circumstances, a constant fear of losing those they love, an unknown situation for schooling, having to spend extended time with their family (good and bad), fear of loosing jobs, and an uncertain economic future. Add to that social isolation and for people with mental health conditions, the situation could be more dire, and they find themselves unable to cope with the daily barrage of issues.

Today is a day to shed light on the growing mental health crisis worldwide. A day to call on our leaders to act on this crisis. A day to advocate for those struggling with their mental health. And a day to focus on your own mental health and well being

Deborah Ann Davis, award-winning author, parenting skills coach, and former high school educator of 20+ years, highlights the importance of fostering one’s own mental health as well as the mental health of others this Mental Health Day:

“In general, we respect and respond to the needs of our physical health much more readily than our mental health. When, in fact, they should carry equal weight!! For example, when we’re sick, we check our temperatures with a thermometer. When the thermometer reads a higher than normal reading, we know that my symptoms have a root cause that’s not our fault. Armed with info, we can now repel the attack with rest, sleep, hydration, homemade chicken soup, and a sick day.” “The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day (October 10) is “mental health for all.” 

That includes you and your loved ones, so this week start a new trend with your family, and enjoy a bonafide Mental Health Day,” says Deborah. "There’s no stigma associated with taking the weekend off from your job to recharge yourself, right? It’s a societal-approved method of handling the effects of work overload. However, if you’re a parent or just can’t seem to find the time, leaving work means jumping into home-life with both feet, without a smidge of downtime.” (especially true for single parents!) 

"Just remember to put yourself first, and the rest will fall into place. You need your downtime to recharge and keep yourself healthy, even when it’s difficult to fit it in. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life... just start small. Small changes accumulate into a bigger, positive impact later. Bonus: Your kids or loved ones will follow your lead. For maximum impact and accountability, tell your family or friends what you’re doing, and why. Ask them to mention when they see a change in your demeanor or overall attitude. Their feedback will fuel your motivation."

FYI- these mental health breaks should be media free- put the cell phone away and recharge from within, without constant distractions, that can actually give you MORE anxiety and stress!

Now here are some books we've checked out recently, in anticipation of today's post:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression by Monique Thompson PsyD

Discover the help you need to manage negative thought patterns and reconnect with those around you. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression delivers an easy-to-use toolbox that provides you with straightforward and actionable exercises. Learn how to reexamine the way you think and act so you can start creating positive change in your daily life.

We've been using CBT for Miss Grace for her anxiety and depression, for about a year now. To say it's made a huge difference is an understatement! Especially for tweens and teens right now, who may be still adjusting to a new social norm, finding their way can be filled with obstacles that seem hard to overcome. This book helps them to rethink the basics, like motivation and stress, and learn better ways to function and time skills, so that depression can be better dealt with, giving them more time to do the things they want to do. We highly recommend it!

and out second book:

Understanding Bipolar Disorder, The Essential Family Guide by Aimee Daramus PsyD

A compassionate approach to understanding and supporting loved ones with bipolar disorder

If your loved one was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder,  then you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about how to help them live the healthiest life possible. Understanding Bipolar Disorder answers those questions and offers helpful guidance with essential information, practical strategies, and support for families of people suffering from bipolar disorder.

Learn about what bipolar is, how it’s diagnosed, the science behind it, and the treatments available, including medication, therapies, and community support. You’ll find effective tools for dealing with a diagnosis as a family, advice for exploring therapy options as a team, and simple techniques for managing your family’s stress levels to prevent emotional burnout.

There is a LOT if misinformation out there about Bipolar disorder. It's not a one-size fits all disorder! This book helps parents, especially, explore the questions they have with easy to understand answers and guides to help them though what may seem like a tunnel of too much information, By offering ideas that have worked with others, like boundaries, dealing with moods and daily stress, the book offers parents a model to try, to keep their relationship with their child healthy, so that the disorder can better be addressed, and everyone can keep from having unnecessary drama and more stress. well worth reading for the entire family, this book may be a literal life saver for some! We highly recommend it, if bipolar is affecting YOUR family!

This World Mental Health Day the World Health Organization will, for the first time ever, host a global online advocacy event on mental health.

 At this event—the Big Event for Mental Health—world leaders, mental health experts and celebrity guests will join WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to tell the world what we can all do to improve our mental health and how we can help make sure that quality mental health care is available to everyone who needs it. The event will be streamed live on major social media channels, you can:

- learn how WHO, together with our partners, is helping improve the mental health of people in countries throughout the world;

- hear from national and international leaders about why they are making mental health a priority;

- hear first-hand why internationally-renowned artists have become mental health advocates and listen to their advice for those who are struggling; and

- listen to critically-acclaimed musicians perform some of their most popular music. 

 Tune in from one of WHO’s social media channels:Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels, the start time: 10:00 New York (eastern), and the event  is expected to last three hours. Check out their web page for a list of participants and more info!