Health and Human Services Professional Development

Depression in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood by   Sierra Rhymes   on   September 24, 2013   Many adolescents and emerging adults suffer from depression although individuals tend to associate depression with middle or older adulthood. Adolescence is a time marked with rapid physical development (e.g., hormonal changes), and emerging adulthood is often characterized by increased autonomy and responsibility. These are also periods where many individuals critique themselves and explore their identity.  A variety of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes and experiences, such as the aforementioned, have been linked to depression in adolescents or emerging adults. Depression is a common condition for every age, gender and race. However, it is often unrecognized, or it may not be diagnosed, especially during adolescence and emerging adulthood. According to Arya, R., Baroilhet, S., Fritsch, R., Montero-Marin, J., and Montgomery, A. (2013) approxim...

Alive and Sleep Deprived  by  Paige Crutchley, Guest Author   on   October 24, 2013   There are many things that take up your time: class, work, volunteering…sleeping. With so many responsibilities, sleep hours are often forfeited. You may find yourself asking, “How much sleep do I really need?” Unfortunately, there is not a definitive answer for this question yet. This is partly because it is not yet understood  why  we sleep. Additionally, sleep needs can vary greatly from person to person. In fact, your own sleep needs will vary across your lifetime. On average, professionals recommend that adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Take Advantage of the Time You DO Have Set Aside for Sleep Make the most of the time you have dedicated for sleeping.  It can be quite frustrating if you are not actually sleeping for a significant portion of this time. Parenting experts recommend that bedtime routines for children include baths, reading,...

Stress Management by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 Although stress can be a normal part of life, especially for those of you who are on the job market and experiencing additional demands and pressures to succeed.  At the same time, too much or frequent stress can negatively influence your physical health (e.g., headaches or weakened immune system), mental health (e.g., mood swings, irritability, or depression), and relationship health (e.g., finding with friends, family, or romantic partners). Although everyone handles and reacts to stress differently, it is best to avoid being overly stressed. See tips for  stress management  and  how to fight stress with healthy habits  here. Source:  http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-topic-overview  and http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FightStressWithHealthyHabits/Fight-Stress-with-Healthy-Habits_UCM_307992_Article.jsp Additi...

Depression May Not Be What You Think! by   Mikki Sherwood   on   February 22, 2014 Anyone can struggle with depression.  Kevin Breel discusses depression in this Ted Talks video,  “Depression May Not Be What You Think.”  He says that everyone sees him as a typical teenager, but he sees himself differently. He is an individual that battles depression. Kevin makes the point that there are misconceptions about depression, stating that those that are depressed are not just sad when a situation is negative, they are sad when everything is going well in their lives. He explains that he was often afraid to tell people he was depressed for fear they would run away. In reality, Kevin says it is better to look someone in the eye and be truthful, saying “I’m going through hell and need help.” If you, or someone you know, is depressed, this video is a resource for helping you know that you are not alone. If you believe you are depressed and need help, here ar...

Alive and Sleep Deprived by   Paige Crutchley, Guest Author   on   October 24, 2013 There are many things that take up your time: class, work, volunteering…sleeping. With so many responsibilities, sleep hours are often forfeited. You may find yourself asking, “How much sleep do I really need?” Unfortunately, there is not a definitive answer for this question yet. This is partly because it is not yet understood   why   we sleep. Additionally, sleep needs can vary greatly from person to person. In fact, your own sleep needs will vary across your lifetime. On average, professionals recommend that adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Take Advantage of the Time You DO Have Set Aside for Sleep Make the most of the time you have dedicated for sleeping.  It can be quite frustrating if you are not actually sleeping for a significant portion of this time. Parenting experts recommend that bedtime routines for children include baths, reading, or othe...

Final exam stress, self-care, and Starbucks by   Jill Bowers   on   May 8, 2014   Many of you are swamped and feeling the end of the semester heat.  The exams and final papers you are turning in could be critical to your course grade, GPA, or graduation. And, it’s important to stay focused and discipline yourself to study and complete coursework. At the same time, you have to take care of yourself along the way. Emotional and academic stress have been associated with  disturbed sleep  among college students, and the links between  sleep habits and academic performanc e are well-documented. Getting adequate sleep is just one example of how you can take care of yourself as you are mastering your end of the semester tasks. See the article,  Be Kind to Yourself , written by college student, Sofiya Ballin, for The Huffington Post and think about other ways you can engage in self-care during final exam week. You may also be comforted ...

Don’t Let Credit Card Use Drown You in Debt! by   Ashley Bigard, Guest Author   on   November 17, 2014 It is not uncommon to graduate from college with a high amount of debt. While student loans can quickly add up, another contributing factor is the use of credit cards. Credit cards are more available than in the past, enticing a majority of today’s college students to use credit cards to pay for their living expenses. This is making it even easier for students to end up in debt upon graduation. Knowledge about positive financial behavior is related to responsible credit card use among college students. Luckily, there are many tools that can help students gain the knowledge they need to live within their means so that credit cards do not have to be an option. There are apps, websites and calculators that can assist with budgeting. In addition, many universities provide financial literacy education to students. The best thing a student can do is figur...

The morning of your job interview…just eat it. by   Natasha Chong Cole, MPH, RD   on   August 26, 2015   There are many ways that you can prepare for your job interview (see  here ), but one method of preparation that you may not have thought about involves nutrition. Here are 4 dietary tips to help you perform your best during your job interview: 1)       To Clear Your Mind Eat omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain health and  antioxidants  can enhance cognitive function. Excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish (like salmon and tuna). Foods high in antioxidants include grapes, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, green tea, and red beans. 2)       To Give You Energy Eat lean protein and complex carbohydrates. These nutrients will help you stay full for longer and help regulat...