The University of Vermont Medical Center HealthSource blog is your leading source for mental health articles and information from industry experts. Read through a collection of mental health articles on a variety of conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and autism. The HealthSource mental health blog features an array of regular authors and contributors from the medical world including doctors, nutritionists, nurse practitioners and healthcare executives.
Bullying. For a long time it was seen as part of growing up, something unpleasant, but ultimately an experience children recover from. Now, new research shows that bullying can actually have long-lasting effects similar to emotional, verbal and physical abuse. This is a big shift in our thinking on bullying. Here are three new ways […]
Today suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. But in Vermont it’s the eighth leading cause of death. In recent years in Vermont, people have died by suicide at a rate more than 35% higher than the national average. With the recent deaths of high profile celebrities like Kate […]
National Suicide Prevention Week occurs this year from September 9-15, including World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. This is an important time to focus attention on what remains a serious public health concern that all too frequently remains hidden. Here are some myths and facts about suicide that are important to remember: MYTH: Suicide […]
When I was first asked to write a blog post on how to assess one’s own mental health, I first thought that this would be easy. After all, I’ve been a psychiatrist for more than 15 years! But therein lies some of the complexity. Even though I call myself a mental health professional, most of […]
Claire Barker joined the UVM Medical Center’s Sleep Program in 2012. She is a registered polysomnographic technologist and a clinical sleep educator, certified in clinical sleep management. Her job? To help people sleep in a healthy way. We asked her about her career path and learned that a career in sleep medicine is anything but a snooze. […]
We noticed our daughter was losing weight in the fall of her freshman year of high school, but didn’t think much about it. She was growing a lot, playing soccer, and seemed healthy. As the year went on, we noticed her diet changed, but she was taking a wellness class to learn about nutrition and […]
Eating disorders are a complex set of psychological illnesses that can lead to significant medical complications. Eating Disorders: 7 to Know Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is only one of seven eating disorders listed in the the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The other eating disorders currently listed include: Bulimia Nervosa Binge […]
Major depression diagnoses are on the rise, especially among adolescents and millennials, according to a new study by Blue Cross Blue Shield that evaluated medical claims data. Dr. Robert Pierattini, chair of Psychiatry at the UVM Medical Center, comments on the study and explains what it means. What did the study examine? Robert Pierattini: This report prepared […]
Alcohol use is part of the American culture and its recreational landscape. Recreational use does not require a secret contact member, or a drive to the vendor in the inner city. It is the universally acceptable way “we enjoy ourselves” at the backyard barbeque, the neighborhood party, and the family celebration. Non-drinkers must courageously exclude […]
April is National Autism Awareness Month. Although ‘awareness’ is important, so is inclusion, acceptance, understanding, respect, and advocacy. What is Autism? Autism (or Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It presents with a range of impairments in social relatedness and communication. These are accompanied by restricted interests and repetitive mannerisms. We identify signs of […]
