It is more likely than not that you know of someone who has been affected by suicidal thoughts. Perhaps you have dealt with them yourself. When one suffers from a lengthy or intense battle with mental illness, hope can seem like a distant memory. However, even in your darkest moments ... you are … [Continue reading...] about Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – Inaugural Post
Feel Good Friday 09/04/2020
At Optimae LifeServices, we constantly strive to make ourselves available for our customers as well as our peers and loved ones. We are not invincible ourselves, however ... and occasionally need to be reminded to be available to ourselves as well. Recently, an internal newsletter penned by our … [Continue reading...] about Feel Good Friday 09/04/2020
Feel Good Friday 08/28/2020
One of the best remedies for stress is a good night's sleep. After all, as E. Joseph Cossman said, "The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep." As such, for this week's Feel Good Friday we will focus on helpful sleep tips that can get you back on track for a healthy … [Continue reading...] about Feel Good Friday 08/28/2020
Feel Good Friday 08/21/2020
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Rochelle Phelps and her Recovery Center teams in Fairfield and Bloomfield provided free lunch to those in need. When the pandemic hit, Optimae LifeServices largely switched to a virtual setting. Phelps knew, however, that there would be many customers who would … [Continue reading...] about Feel Good Friday 08/21/2020
Mental Health Month – Observing the Past, Planning the Future
Per Mental Health America, "Since 1949, Mental Health America and our affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings .... While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during … [Continue reading...] about Mental Health Month – Observing the Past, Planning the Future
Mental Health Month – Anxiety and COVID-19
Anxiety, per the National Institute of Mental Health, is a perfectly natural response to stressful stimuli. However, this is different from anxiety disorders, which are persistent and seemingly random. Often these disorders will affect daily activities and inhibit growth in several areas, such as … [Continue reading...] about Mental Health Month – Anxiety and COVID-19
Mental Health Month – Nurses Week
Nurses Week runs from May 6 - May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday, every year. As such, it would be prudent to dedicate our first Mental Health Month post to our men and women in the nursing field, and their relationship with their own mental health. One of the main dangers to a nurse's mental … [Continue reading...] about Mental Health Month – Nurses Week
Mental Health Month Announcement
May is known for several holidays (Mother's Day and Memorial Day among others), but did you know that May is Mental Health Month? Originating in 1949, mental health service affiliates throughout the United States have observed May as a month to reach out and communicate the importance of healthy … [Continue reading...] about Mental Health Month Announcement
Suicide survivor finds renewed purpose
October 10 marks World Mental Health Day. 2019's theme is suicide prevention. According to the World Health Organization, every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide. Two hours. That’s how close the doctors said Andrea Huston was to death by suicide. Last December was bleak for the … [Continue reading...] about Suicide survivor finds renewed purpose
Honoring our veterans by offering our help
Suicide rates increased in 49 states, including Iowa, from 1999 to 2016. As overall rates rise, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has reported veterans are twice as likely as civilians to die by suicide. While the factors contributing to deaths by suicide are far too complex to nail down in … [Continue reading...] about Honoring our veterans by offering our help