Episode 33: The Pandemic of Loneliness & how our mental health is like an ocean

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Oxford languages defines mental health as a person’s condition w/ regard to their psychological and emotional well being. Although not “clinically diagnosable” loneliness often accompanies and even exacerbates many mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and dementia as well as physical health challenges like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.   In this episode, I share my unique framework for viewing our overall mental health as a vast ocean. I also take a moment to focus on loneliness because even at 3 years post pandemic, according to a recent NY Times article, we are and have been in an epidemic of loneliness.

Resources mentioned:

Mental Health of America Take the depression screener as well as download the free Mental Health Toolkit

The Trevor Project – connect with a crisis counselor for immediate support, available 24/7 chat, text or phone call

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness

Want to talk to someone in person?  Southern Area Behavioral Health has a walk-in clinic. Go to sabhc.org. Dallas area only.

Call 988 – Suicide and Crisis line, 24/7 call, text, chat. Access trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.

Sources cited: 

Surgeon General: We Have Become a Lonely Nation

proposing a national framework

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The The ⁠Beyond the Shadow of Doubt™⁠ podcast is a proud member of the Dialogue Podcast Network found at ⁠DialogueJournal.com/podcastnetwork⁠. Part of the Dialogue Journal, the Dialogue Podcast Network was founded by Eugene England, a Mormon writer, teacher and scholar. “My faith encourages my curiosity and awe,” Gene wrote in the very first issue of the journal. “It thrusts me out into relationship with all creation” and “encourages me to enter into dialogue.” My hope is that this podcast is an extension of his vision.

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