Blogs

Physical Well-Being Part 3: Physical Activity

Sarret Seng Jan 21, 2021

The easiest way to consistently reach physical activity goals is to look forward to your exercise. This requires that you find something that is both physically challenging and enjoyable. Try thinking of exercise as a hobby that you want to dedicate time to do.

Physical Well-Being Part 2: Fueling Your Body

Sarret Seng Jan 20, 2021

We should strive for a well-balanced whole foods diet, which may look different for each individual depending on personal preferences, time available to cook and meal prep, and food budget. There are many resources online that can point us towards creating the ideal diet to provide our bodies with the fuel it needs, but here are some everyday practices to be mindful of.

Physical Well-Being Part 1: Sleep

Sarret Seng Jan 14, 2021

“Getting started is the hardest part.” a thought that we tell ourselves and others when they ask how our diet, exercise plan, or other physical well-being goal has been going. The idea of starting being “hard” is an idea that we must take the time to dismantle. For those of us who try to obtain physical well-being through unsustainable levels of discipline, we often end up frustrated with how unrealistic these behaviors are to maintain in the long run. We should not suffer and struggle our whole lives to reach physical well-being.

Motivational Interviewing

Lovoria Williams Jan 12, 2021

Motivational interviewing is a way for the clinician and client to talk about the clients reasons for change. The clinician helps the client understand reasons for change and helps elicit the clients desire for change. It has been effectively used for addiction behaviors, tobacco treatment, weight loss interventions, and other situations where an individual wants to change their negative health behaviors. The approach expresses empathy, avoids arguing, develops discrepancy, and supports self-efficacy.

Winter Solstice: Coming Out of the Dark

Claudia Robertson Dec 21, 2020

"Winter solstice is on December 21st this year. It is the shortest day of the year. Perfect time to let go of one thing that has been keeping you in the dark!”

Kicking Social Anxiety to the Curb

Janet Otachi Oct 23, 2020

Social anxiety is very common, in fact, approximately 5 to 16% of adults in the US have been diagnosed with a Social Anxiety Disorder in their lifetime. Social Anxiety is a situation where you have excess fear in social interactions because you think you may be judged or scrutinized by others, you worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself, or offending someone. This video examines the symptoms and treatments for social anxiety disorder.

Staying Connected Enhances Social Wellness

Janet Otachi Oct 8, 2020

Social wellness impacts the quality of one's life. This video addresses the human need for social wellness and the importance of staying connected with others. The benefits of social wellness are endless but some examples include greater focus on tasks, increased responsibility, and a more meaningful life.

Physical Fitness and Mental Wellness for the Win

Beck Pennington Oct 1, 2020

Beck Pennington, former UK Men's Tennis Team player at the number one singles and doubles position and current Assistant Tennis Coach at the University of Miami, talks about the importance of eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising your body. Click below for the video.

Overwhelmed? Keep Your Boat Steady.

Bassema Abu-Farsakh Sep 23, 2020

Overwhelmed? BH WELL's very own Bassema Abu-Farsakh relates to feeling overwhelmed as a wife, parent, graduate student, and student worker. This video shares practical tips to help keep our boats steady as we cope with day-to-day stress.

Suicide Prevention

Marc Woods Sep 10, 2020

Today on the vlog we have with us Marc Woods, Assistant Chief Nurse Executive for Behavioral Health at UK Healthcare. Marc discusses suicide prevention and emphasizes the importance of understanding your ability to have an impact on the lives of those you love. He explains that simply asking friends and family about concerning changes in their behavior is a simple start to a conversation about suicide prevention. Asking someone if they are contemplating suicide can make a difference.

Simulation For The Win!

Stephanie Kehler, PhD, RN, CHSE Aug 6, 2020

These days, many people think of video games when simulation comes up in conversation. Did you know that simulation is also an effective way for learners to grow in self-belief and knowledge? Simulation is a great educational tool to practice what is learned in the classroom. Using simulation allows learners to practice in a real-life clinical setting with a “patient” that is safe for both the “patient” and the learner. Meet some of our “patients!”

Tips For Taking A Mental Health Play Day

Lee Anne Walmsley, PhD, EdS, MSN, RN Jul 30, 2020

As you may have heard, “Mental health isn’t about having days to escape life, it’s about living the kind of life where you don’t feel the need to escape.” What better way to live your best life than to allow yourself play days!

Mental Health & Our Environment: How the Architecture Around Us Affects Our Mental Health

Hunter McKenzie Jul 15, 2020

Managing mental health problems should incorporate factors beyond medicinal approaches. Our environment plays a major role in either assisting or hindering positive mental health. As such, architects can use design and construction to build environments that convey a feeling of comfort and security. The importance of architectural design on mental health can be seen in the designs of modern mental health facilities, particularly within the psychiatric hospital system in North America.

6 Ways Occupational Therapists Can Support People Living with Mental Illnesses

Claudia Robertson Apr 29, 2020

Occupational therapists work to help individuals improve everyday life skills so that they can better participate in home, school, work or wherever they may be. Many people know occupational therapists help children with disabilities or adults recovering from injury. BUT did you know that occupational therapists also help people living with mental illnesses? According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, there are six main evidence-based ways that occupational therapists can help individuals living with mental illnesses.

Suicide Task Force

Marc Woods Apr 7, 2020

Today on the vlog we have with us Marc Woods, Assistant Chief Nurse Executive for Behavioral Health at UK Healthcare. We are in the midst of a national health crisis in regards to suicide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults and 2nd cause of death among college students. This is in part due to the many stressors surrounding young people and the few tools they have to handle stress. It is so important to eliminate the stigma of discussing suicide. Stepping out to ask about concerning behavior could save lives.

Gardening as a Stress Reliever

Madelyn Strong Apr 2, 2020

Today on the vlog we have Mady Strong, a nurse and gardener. She discusses how gardening provides exercise, vitamin D from the sun (which helps to absorb calcium, and aids in mental health by relieving stress), and allows for mindful time alone, which is a source of self care for many. Gardening decreases cortisol levels and boosts serotonin and dopamine which relieves stress and boosts mood. Like caring for patients as a nurse, Mady enjoys nurturing her plants from seeds to full grown.

The Tobacco Quitline: Things You Should Know

Sophie Matheson Mar 30, 2020

1-800-QUIT-NOW is a toll-free number run by the National Cancer Institute. Calling this number will connect you directly to your state’s tobacco quitline where you can be further assisted. All states have quitlines with counselors and quit coaches who are trained specifically to help smokers quit.

Musical Expression

Silas Deane Mar 25, 2020

Silas Deane is the artist who created the theme music for BH WELL videos and other resources on our website. He is a musician and a producer. In this video, Silas discusses the key role that emotions play in music creation. Silas says he is not outwardly emotional but his emotions come through in his music. Music resonates with us on a deeper level than we even know how to communicate. In this video, he plays an impromptu tune that expresses his calm and excitement at the time of filming. He describes the dichotomy of chaos and order present in music that is mirrored in our minds.

5 R Questions to Help Patients Be Ready to Cut Tobacco

Chloé Robertson Oct 25, 2019

Ever tried motivating someone to cut tobacco use but not sure if they are ready?

Lung Cancer Screening

Lovoria Williams Oct 16, 2019

Today on the vlog, Dr. Lovoria Williams discusses lung cancer screening. The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) created a lung cancer screening guideline after extensive research via a national study that observed the best screening test for lung cancer prediction. The study revealed that an annual low dose CT scan test is the best method for screening lung cancer. The lung cancer screening test is quite unknown so only 5% test whereas breast cancer and colon cancer are more familiar tests and have an 80% test rate.

Join us for BH WELL's upcoming free workshop, Normalizing Tobacco Treatment in Mental and Behavioral Health Treatment Settings, on December 4th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn More