by Elsie Ramsey, Dr. Jarone Lee, Dr. Bob Arnot and Marianna Petrea-Imenokhoeva For a sector that experts used to call a “closed market,”, the humanitarian aid economy has undergone enormous growth in the last several years. Jump-started by the acute need produced by the pandemic, relief work’s integration of telehealth gives numerous sectors the ability […]
The Virtual Cavalry: Telehealth & Crisis Response Read More »
There’s no arguing with numbers but that doesn’t mean that the recently released BMJ study suggesting the pandemic’s impact on mental health was negligible isn’t perplexing. The study’s authors, listed here, compared symptoms reported before and during the pandemic, finding “most symptom change estimates for general mental health, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms were close
Is It Time To Revise The COVID Mental Health Narrative? Read More »
Before a new season begins, I want to catch you up on news from the world of mental health research. I’ve decided to feature some POSITIVE studies because we (actually “I”), need the uplift as a bitter winter rages on. There is some devastating news in here like # 10…skip it if you’re already hurting
It has been three years since I started talking and writing openly about my depression and life with a bipolar 1 family member. Being transparent about my struggle has changed the rules of engagement in my conflict with mental illness. I discovered that by talking only to therapists and an inner circle for so long,
Today I listened to a message about ego. The Reverend Phil asked a congregation worshipping virtually — many likely disheveled and still in pajamas — ”what is the source of your righteousness”? Is it the clothes you wear? The restaurants where you (used) to eat? Your political affiliation? Your preferred streaming platform? That last one
What Does Radical Self Love Mean? by Elsie Ramsey Read More »
My body has been used to sell products. I don’t mean ‘my’ in the collective female sense, though that is also true. All women have the right to feel personally exploited by a culture of fascination with our sexuality and form. In my case, the interplay between commerce and my body is especially personal. Starting
New Photo Series “I Am Not My Depression” by Elsie Ramsey Read More »
On the East Coast, we’ve now been living in phases of quarantine for half a year. The finish line is still not in view. Let’s take a moment to pause and think about the miracle of MAKING IT THROUGH SIX MONTHS. Sure, it’s taken me two tele-therapy sessions a week, additional medication and YouTube energy
I’ve had many therapists over my lifetime. I remember something about them all, though not always a name. Clothes, an insight, a physical gesture repeated over many sessions. I was given gifts by them all; gifts I carry with me when I meet the world every day. I’m fortunate to have this grab bag; each
In New York and elsewhere in the States, we’re starting to close down. A hush falls. A new place emerges. Memories come back of emergencies large and less so: 9/11, the 2003 blackout, Super Storm Sandy. The standard rules of engagement are off. We enter into more creative and intimate encounters–less transactional; more substantive. “How
Crisis and Collective Vulnerability by Elsie Ramsey Read More »
Hi, Jack: You came into my life 18 months ago. I introduced myself as your aunt by touching, kissing, and whispering in your tiny ear. When I hold you, I think about how I never want you to feel alone. I’ve often felt alone because of something called depression. I’ll tell you what that means
