Posts Tagged ‘alcohol’
How does food and drink affect mental health?
To eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and monitor their intake of alcohol and caffeine is important for everyone. For people with mental health challenges, this is even more important. There is some evidence that: a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of depression omega-3 fats can improve mental health diets…
Read MoreTeenagers and Alcohol
Alcohol is generally considered to be a socially acceptable drug, yet it is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population. Alcohol use also has a variety of serious health risks. It is difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents and carers can encourage sensible drinking habits. The safest level of…
Read MorePlanning Pregnancy
Three months prior to pregnancy (the preconception period) is the time to make life changes that can help boost fertility, reduce problems during pregnancy and assist in recovery from birth. If you and your partner are planning to conceive, start taking folic acid before you get pregnant. Folic acid helps to provide the best health…
Read MoreDependence on Alcohol and Drugs
It is often difficult for people to recognize that they have become dependent on alcohol or other drugs. They may see it as a temporary situation because they are in physical pain or because they are dealing with a difficult situation such as grief, loss, anxiety or trauma. Some signs that you may have an alcohol…
Read MoreHow to Celebrate Safely?
Over summer, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate: birthdays, parties, weddings and even just catching up at a barbecue with friends. Socializing is an important part of maintaining our mental health, helping us stay connected to family, friends and loved ones, but celebration can often come with the “social lubricant” alcohol, which is America’s…
Read MoreSafe Drinking
Drinking can be fun, but too much alcohol can lead to injury, accidents, serious embarrassment, and long-term health problems. Drinking can be part of a healthy lifestyle as long as you learn as much as you can about the effects of alcohol on the body. It is recommended healthy adults drink a max of 2…
Read MoreSubstance Abuse and Mental Health
When someone first starts to use drugs, it is called substance abuse. We say someone is addicted to drugs when they have no control over whether they want to use the drug or not. That person feels that they HAVE to have that drug. Substance use disorders are a major cause of mental illness. People…
Read MoreYoung People, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
Many parents worry about whether their son or daughter is using illegal drugs and what they should do about it, but it is important to know that most harm to young people comes from using legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and medicines. More young people are involved in violence, are hospitalized or die from…
Read MoreRisky Behaviors
Testing the boundaries and trying new things occurs across all developmental stages from birth to old age. When it involves engaging in activities that have the potential to result in harm to oneself or others, it’s defined as risk taking. However, the potential for negative outcomes from their behavior, young people may not understand, particularly…
Read MoreHow to Get Through Tough Times?
What can you do to get through tough times? There are lots of things you can do to deal with difficult circumstances and find solutions to your problems. Here are some practical tips on how to get through tough times: Recognize when you aren’t coping Sometimes men find it difficult to realize that they are…
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