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Written by: Jacqueline Kim, The Conversation and Michelle McAdams, The Conversation

Published: 31 July 2022

 

As of July 16, 2022, people have only to press three digits, 988, to reach the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline when they need help during a mental health crisis.

Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression were a leading cause of global health problems even before the spread of COVID-19; however, they’ve gotten worse. Since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression rates worldwide have increased by an overwhelming 25%. In the U.S., 4 in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic, compared with 1 in 10 from January to June 2019.

Among the most affected are young adults and women. The surge in people struggling with mental illnesses has coincided with gaps in mental care services as well.

Research suggests that the pandemic has exacerbated the impacts of loneliness. Additionally, people’s fear of missing out, also known as FOMO, hasn’t decreased even since in-person social gatherings became less frequent. But small daily actions – such as a short walk, break from social media or even a catnap – can add up to have an impact on mental health. Separately, counseling, therapy and medication prescribed by health care providers are effective treatments for those experiencing mental illness.

The Conversation U.S. gathered four essential reads that explore some daily habits and practices that have been shown to improve mental health. These are food for thought, not guidelines or medical advice, but reading these articles could be the first steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

1. A short break goes a long way

Reducing screen time can alleviate feelings of isolation, loneliness and envy, which may arise from scrolling through social media, according to Jelena Kecmanovic, adjunct professor of psychology at Georgetown University.

“Several studies have shown that even a five-day or weeklong break from Facebook can lead to lower stress and higher life satisfaction,” she writes. “You can also cut back without going cold turkey: Using Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat just 10 minutes a day for three weeks resulted in lower loneliness and depression.”

2. Exercise is like medicine for the brain

Arash Javanbakht, associate professor of psychiatry at Wayne State University, shares the science behind the connection between exercise and mental well-being as well as his personal experience with the positive impacts of physical activity.

“Working out regularly really does change the brain biology, and it is not just ‘go walk and you will just feel better,’” he explains. “Regular exercise, especially cardio, does change the brain. Do not see it as all or none. It does not have to be a one-hour drive to and from the gym or biking trail for a one-hour workout vs. staying on the couch.

"I always say to my patients: ‘One more step is better than none, and three squats are better than no squats.’ When less motivated, or in the beginning, just be nice to yourself. Do as much as possible. Three minutes of dancing with your favorite music still counts.”

3. Think therapy is navel-gazing? Think again

People in need of therapy and counseling have long suffered from social stigma around mental illnesses, but these services are vital to protecting and improving our health.

“Decades of research show psychotherapy is effective for alleviating the most common forms of psychological suffering, such as anxiety and depression. But wellness is about more than reducing suffering,” writes Steven Sandage, professor of the psychology of religion and theology at the Boston University School of Theology. “Counseling informed by positive psychology can be effective in improving well-being and increasing such qualities as forgiveness, compassion and gratitude.”

4. Doing ‘nothing’

Though it may not always feel plausible or even comfortable, slowing down and allowing yourself a dedicated moment of rest can do wonders for mental well-being, especially when speed and efficiency seem to have become integral to our lives.

“In this 24/7, ‘always on’ age, the prospect of doing nothing might sound unrealistic and unreasonable. But it’s never been more important,” writes Simon Gottschalk, a professor of sociology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“To equate ‘doing nothing’ with nonproductivity betrays a shortsighted understanding of productivity,” he explains. “In fact, psychological research suggests that doing nothing is essential for creativity and innovation, and a person’s seeming inactivity might actually cultivate new insights, inventions or melodies.”

Jacqueline Kim, Editorial intern, The Conversation and Michelle McAdams, University Relationship + Internship Manager, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Written by: PRESTON DYCHES

Published: 31 July 2022

What's up for August? Grab your binoculars for planet viewing, the outlook for the Perseids, and flying with Cygnus the swan.

The morning planet parade we've been enjoying the past few months comes to an end in August, with Venus and Saturn making their exits on opposite sides of the sky. But that still leaves Mars and Jupiter high overhead to enjoy.

In fact, August begins with a close conjunction of the Red Planet and distant ice giant planet Uranus. Uranus can be difficult to find without a self-guided telescope, but it's an easy object for binoculars if you know where to look. And on the 1st, you'll find the tiny, bluish disc of Uranus just northwest of Mars in the morning sky. They'll easily fit within the same field of view through binoculars.

Moving on to the morning of the 15th, you'll find the Moon only a finger's width from Jupiter. Like Mars and Uranus, they'll make a great pairing through binoculars, and you'll also likely catch a glimpse of Jupiter's four largest moons.

The Moon then works its way eastward, to join Mars on Aug. 19. This is another nice pairing for binoculars, plus you'll find the pair super close to the Pleiades — you may even be able to fit them all into the same view.

Moving to the evening sky, Saturn is transitioning from a late night and early morning object to an all-night sight. It's rising as night falls in August. Look low in the east around 9 p.m. to find it as a steady, yellowish point of light. You'll find that the Ringed Planet rises a bit earlier each night over the course of the month.

Saturn's at opposition this month, meaning it's directly on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. It's around this time when the Ringed Planet appears its biggest and brightest for the year.

By the end of the month, you'll start to notice Jupiter rising around 9 p.m. to join Saturn.

This means Jupiter will be pulling double duty as an early evening object, appearing in the eastern sky, and an early morning one, appearing in the west.

The Perseid meteors are an annual event many of us skywatchers look forward to, as they often produce lots of shooting stars to enjoy. Unfortunately, this year all but the brightest Perseids will be washed out by a full moon on the peak night of Aug. 12.

So, this is probably not the year to make a special trip in order to see the Perseids, but, if you find yourself outside between midnight and dawn on Aug. 13th, don't forget to look up anyway. Because you never know – you might just catch one of the bright Perseid meteors that defies the glare of the Moon. And don't forget the occasional early Perseid can streak across the sky as much as a week beforehand.

You'll find the constellation Cygnus, the swan, flying high in the eastern sky after dark in August. Cygnus has an overall shape like a T or cross, and contains a star pattern sometimes called "the Northern Cross."

Cygnus is anchored by its brightest star, Deneb, which represents the swan's tail. Deneb is the northernmost of the three stars in the Summer Triangle, and it's visible even in bright city skies. On the other end of Cygnus from Deneb is double star Albireo, which is a stargazing favorite, as it shows beautiful blue and gold colors through even the most modest telescope.

Now, Cygnus lies right along the plane of the Milky Way, so it's dense with glittering stars and dark dust clouds, with lots of interest for telescope observers and astrophotographers to enjoy, including the North America Nebula, the Veil Nebula, and the Blinking Planetary Nebula. It also includes the open star clusters M29 and M39, which are visible with binoculars.

However you're observing the sky where you live, August is a great time to discover the constellation Cygnus, the graceful swan soaring across the dusty lanes of the Milky Way.

​Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 30 July 2022

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — An Oroville-based nonprofit that has been operating Lake County’s emergency COVID-19 shelter said it will cease operating the facility in September.

In a statement published on its website, the Elijah House Foundation said it will no longer operate the shelter at 1111 Whalen Way in Lakeport as of Sept. 4.

The shelter has been operating in the county’s former juvenile hall facility which Elijah House has been in negotiations with the county to purchase.

“The reason why Elijah House is pulling out is due to funding,” Behavioral Health Services Director Todd Metcalf told Lake County News.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors — as part of its consent agenda — approved a request from Metcalf to extend the use of the former juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County's chronically homeless population through Sept. 30.

Metcalf’s report for the item explained that on July 20, 2020, the board approved a contract between Lake County Behavioral Health Services and Elijah House to fund continued COVID-19 homeless shelter operations at the old juvenile hall.

He said Elijah House is confident it can continue to run the shelter through Sept. 30, “however, due to funding constraints, operations may cease before then.”

He said Lake County’s Space Use Committee “has provided ongoing support for the use of the former juvenile hall facility on a temporary basis for the purpose of a homeless shelter.”

The Elijah House Foundation said in its online statement that it is talking with the Lake County Continuum of Care and other agencies that address homelessness in hopes of identifying a nonprofit willing to take over operations of the emergency shelter.

Metcalf said he’s met with a nonprofit which is potentially interested in taking over the shelter, with a follow-up meeting planned for Aug. 4.

Since the 32-bed shelter opened on July 27, 2020, Elijah House said it has served more than 400 individuals, offering meals, laundry service, showers and personal items, and providing case management to connect shelter residents with services.

Elijah House said it offered housing navigation to help clients gain permanent housing, and provided independent living training and job development with the Back2Work program.

The organization said its employees have helped more than 100 people find permanent housing, reconnected 41 people with families and helped 38 people gain employment.

All of the shelter’s 32 residents will be placed in alternate housing, which Elijah House said was managed through working with Lake County agencies and connecting clients with their families, and with the generosity of local philanthropists.

Elijah House said it will continue to offer housing navigation, case management, employment development through the Back2Work Program, general counseling and placement into sober living housing at its Lucerne location, 6110 East Highway 20, the site of the former Lake County visitor center.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.