This National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, Talkspace wants to spread the word that we’ve entered a new era in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use. We turned to experts at the forefront of addressing substance use disorders through telehealth to get their insights on how to prevent substance misuse and help people access the right treatments. As you may have noticed, we avoid the words “addict” and “alcoholic” both because these terms are stigmatizing and because substance use disorders occur along a spectrum—meaning there is no clear line one crosses from being a heavy drinker to an “alcoholic” and you don’t need to fit a label in order to seek treatment....

College is an exciting yet often overwhelming time in life. Everything from academic pressure to navigating new social circles can cause students to struggle. Being a college student takes its toll, and the mental health crisis among college students is more urgent than ever. Multiplestudies have revealedthat anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are at unprecedented levels. Onesurveyof nearly 100,000 students from over 100 U.S. college campuses found that 36% of students experienced anxiety, 41% showed symptoms of depression, 14% contemplated suicide, and 29% engaged in non-suicidal self-injury....

Teaching is widely regarded as one of the noblest professions, as teachers play a vital role in shaping the minds of the future. Their job requires patience, time, energy, will, and dedication, and even though it can be rewarding, teaching is also incredibly demanding. Lesson planning, grading, classroom management, meetings with parents, staff and faculty meetings, and professional development obligations leave many teachers little time to care for their own well-being....

For many women, life is a juggling act where responsibilities pull them in multiple directions every day. From managing a career to maintaining friendships to keeping up with household duties…women are busy. In the middle of all these demands, it can be easy to put yourself last, butself-careisn’t a luxury. A self-care routine is a necessity for maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Prioritizing your needs is anything but selfish. It’s a lifeline to becoming the best version of yourself in every aspect of life....

If you’re feeling the weight of loneliness in motherhood, knowing you’re not the only one is crucial. Many mothers grapple with the feeling that motherhood is lonely. In fact, recentresearch showsthat 66% of parents experience loneliness, anda staggering69% of mothers are likely to feel mom loneliness at some point. One of the biggest challenges for anew momis that motherhood is so often touted as one of life’s greatest joys. This perception can cause serious damage to struggling moms....

Everymother is a working mom, but raising children while maintaining an outside career can be an incredibly daunting and isolating experience. If you’re juggling a job, child care, and trying to find time for yourself, learning how to be a working mom who thrives inallareas of life is crucial. Keep reading to learn actionable strategies that will empower you. The working mom tips here are designed to help you today so that tomorrow, you can feel more in control, supported, and successful in every role you fill....

We must address the alarming state of men’s mental health. Recent studies reveal a stark reality: Even those who do seek helpoften find itinadequate.Men and stressare deeply intertwined, yet usually go unaddressed due to societal pressures and expectations. Yet, this issue is still overlooked and not discussed nearly enough. It’s not all that hard to find people askingwhy mental health is important. Societal expectations and the pressure placed on men to be strong and self-reliant have been rampant for generations....

Stress is an undeniable part of life. It’s even healthy in some instances — but for a lot of men, it’s something they struggle silently with.Research estimatesthat 8 in 10 men experienced moderate to extreme stress in the last year. Societal expectations and stigmas that exist around mental health prevent some men from even acknowledging they feel stressed at all — and seeking help is out of the question. After all, we live in a culture that promotes toughness in males, which leaves some stressed men resigned to endure pain on their own....

Men live in a fast-paced, high-pressure world today. Societal pressures, outdated stereotypes, and a widespread cultural belief that they need to be tough have discouraged some men from prioritizing their mental well-being. Many men equateself-carewith weakness or ‘feminine indulgence,’ but self-care is more important than ever, even for men. As the perspective shifts and men start to recognize the benefits of taking care of their physical, mental, andemotional health, self-care might be something you want to implement in your life....

Caregiver depression is a concern for anyone who provides long-term care for someone else. Whether it’s your profession or you’recaring for an aging parent, child with special needs, or partner with a chronic illness, depression and caregiving often go hand-in-hand as a result of the overwhelming emotional, mental, and physical demands the job requires.Research suggestsup to 20% of caregivers experience some form of depression.Caretakers may experience a profound sense of isolation, sadness, hopelessness, and even guilt....

Taking care of someone who needs you is noble, but it can be taxing, too. Compassion fatigue and burnout are common for people who work in high-stress caretaking professions — and while the terms are often used interchangeably, they’re not the same thing.With a growing awareness about mental health issues in caregiving, it’s important to explore the differences between compassion fatigue vs. burnout. Understanding as much as possible will help you recognize symptoms so you can seek help and find support when you need it....

Retirement is supposed to be an exciting time in your life. You’ve worked for years and are more ready than ever to relax — and you’ve earned it! Sowhy are you feeling lonely? Loneliness in retirement is more common than you might realize. Fortunately, thereissomething you can do to combat loneliness and prevent it.Read on for practical tips and insights to help you cope if you’re retired and lonely. Retirement is supposed to be an exciting time in your life....

Even if you willingly sign up to do it, as most people do, feeling trapped when caring for elderly parents is normal. The job can be one of the most rewarding — but overwhelming — things you’ll ever take on. In fact, it can be downright exhausting some days.First, there’s the emotional aspect of coming to terms with the fact that the parent has become the one being taken care of....

The term “gray divorce” was coined to describe the growing trend of older couples ending their marriage. Whileresearch suggeststhat overall divorce rates have gone down in recent years,studies also showthat one age group — adults 65 years and older — has increasing rates of divorce. Today, nearly36% of adultsin the United States who divorce are older than 50.Divorcing during the golden years brings unique challenges that can be emotionally devastating and socially isolating....

Dealing with difficult family members is never easy, and challenging relationships can be overwhelming, stressful, and painful. When you have the right strategies to help you manage your interactions, though, you can improve a difficult family dynamic in big ways.It’s important, too.Research showsthat families rely on one another for support in several areas of life — including emotional, economic, and physical aspects, to name just a few. It also suggests that the quality of family relationships can have a positive or negative impact on health....