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Mental(izing) Health

Newsletter, #58
Mental(izing) Health is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Elliot Jurist

Alcohol and Mental Health

Mr King, why don't you tell it like it is?
UPDATE: This newsletter was previously paywalled but is now public and available to all. Thank you kindly to the paying subscribers of Nick’s Kōrero.
Nick Rockel ∙ 169 LIKES
Darien Fenton
Mike King got the money because he is a celebrity of sorts, and sucked up to NZ First. Which other organisations had specific mention in the Coalition Agreement? - and had to have the rules bent to meet contract requirements? That's right, none. Meanwhile good organisations have been defunded. The police are stopping mental health callouts, we don't have enough mental health workers and the many programmes already existing are struggling. Suicide ideation is a serious issue. So is self medicating with drugs and alcohol. I should know. Bottom line for me if you are getting $24 mil from the govt to run a programme you have some higher responsibilities. This was all about getting an alcohol licence for one Mike's fundraisers. That's when he made the comments. I agree with Labour ; review his funding. Urgently. Now.
Mike Friend
The worst aspect of this whole debacle is that ALL the funding goes to Mike King's Gumboot Friday. So whilst he swans around ponificating about things he knows absolutely nothing about, reputable agencies are starved of funding and have been forced to close down. Mike is an unwell man by any measure and by his own admission, he deserves help in his journey towards personal wellness, what he doesn't deserve is a platform, funded by the tax payer, to spout his ignorant and ill informed nonsense. But then again he's not alone in being afforded this privilege, Seymour, Chour, Costello, and McKee are all bedfellows with no real mandate for the garbage they spew day in day out. How did New Zealand come to be controlled by such a circus of clowns?

Thoughts on Hope, Acceptance, and Finding Quality of Life

and a story about rats
As I write this, I’m fighting through layers of grief and embarrassment as I grasp awkwardly for accurate words - like a toddler might thrust their entire clumsy body through the sticky heat of a dark summer night, trying to capture a single elusive firefly with swoopin…
Steph Fowler, LCPC, CADC ∙ 3 LIKES
Lesa Schultz
Sending love and solidarity as you navigate the rollercoaster! I've found brain dumping rough drafts of ideas for future blogs helpful in getting started, then fine tuning it as I have the brain power to do so. Removing any pressures to release new posts on a schedule also helps me in my creative process. Is my content sporadic? Sure. But I don't know that those of us with Long Covid mind. What is time anyways? 😅 Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. I always appreciate and value your content. 💗🙏

Reinventing mental health

A modern spin in Thales' famous quote: "healthy mind in healthy body"
Welcome to the 17 awesome new readers who joined in the past two weeks!
The Greek Analyst ∙ 9 LIKES
David Lehnherr
I would not trust Heritage Foundation for anything. Of course, they are the architects of Project 2025. It's ironic that the Heritage Foundation mentions freedom, when Project 2025 is about as anti-freedom as you can get.

Rethinking the Mental Health Crisis

Hello and welcome to rewilding philosophy. Your letters for ekophilosophical health in the Anthropocene.
Jessica Böhme ∙ 18 LIKES
Simon Grant
As usual, very interesting approach 🙏 Where I would go from here is to try to clarify which illnesses are rooted in philosophy as opposed to those rooted in the body or conventional psychology; while holding on to the sense that they are all interrelated anyway. So maybe I mean, which areas of ill health can usefully be approached through philosophy? Other people for a long time have also pointed to spiritual health... to what extent does that overlap with philosophical health. Definitely worth a conversation!


A drawing exercise for mental health

Sketchbook as self care
Tough days can sneak up on you when you least expect them. You can’t change what happens, but there is a simple way to improve any day.
Andrew James ∙ 96 LIKES
Lucy Wadham
Thank you for the reminder that drawing is good for the brain. Doodled a pinecone and it felt great.
grace
Love this ❤️ trying to draw more without making a big deal about everything I’m drawing and letting go of perfection

Let's Talk About Midlife Mental Health

The Sage Forum ∙ 6 LIKES
Judy Allen
I too am surprised that the numbers aren’t higher. Too many stuff feelings of depression or anxiety and maybe don’t even acknowledge to themselves how they are feeling. Thank you, Dorothy, for the reminder to eat right, get enough sleep (which is almost impossible for me too), stay on top of medical screenings and check ups, and pay attention to how I’m feeling. I want to remain active and productive into my 80s!
Charm
Do these stats surprise me? Yes, I think they should be higher. IMHO, I think that while ANY stigma remains, the numbers reported will be lower than the number of people actually afflicted. We simply have not done enough, starting with insurance companies to recognize that mental health is a legitimate condition requiring the same recognition as other diseases and conditions. The church needs to do its part to remove any perception that mental health issues are a lack of faith. Together, we can help those in need to get the best possible care, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, through support, encouragement, and prayer.

A Montaignian Guide To Mental Health

Guest article by Jamie Ryder
Jamie Ryder is a UK-based mental health advocate, copywriter and author who explores the connections between philosophy, writing and mental health. His books Japanese Fighting Heroes: Warriors, Samurais and Ronins and Norse Fighting Heroes: Kings, Conquerors and Shieldmaidens
The Plato's Academy Centre, jamie, and Jamie Ryder ∙ 30 LIKES

Natural mental health medicines.

Creating daily habits to recover your inner peace.
I thought I'd share some ways in which I personally manage my mental health on a day to day basis - what has worked for me at different stages of recovery and what's helped me to cope and to stay balanced when I go off track.
Cathy Shah ∙ 2 LIKES


Kate
What brand of CGM did you try?!
Susan Kuenzi
I recently started using a CGM, too. It’s been very useful (though my first one fell off long before the 14 days, so I need to call the company). I didn’t realize how much fluctuation certain foods were causing. I believe it’s going to help me get a handle on health.

Alcohol is no solution for what ails us

CW: Suicide, mental health, alcohol
This week I was utterly floored to hear a leader of a nationally recognisable mental health organisation claim the following, on national radio no less:
Dr Bex ∙ 26 LIKES
Fiona McKenzie
Good call. I know Mike, I like Mike, but this isn't okay - he simply isn't qualified for this. It's irresponsible all round and unfortunately endorsed by this current govt who operate on what their mates say in private, their own reckons and disregard actual evidence. Not Mikes fault necessarily - he's perfectly illustrated what happens when unqualified people are given authority
Dani Marks
Ngā mihi e hoa. As someone who's had addiction problems that have dramatically exacerbated my mental illnesses, it's shocking that we've allowed a govt who disregards ethics to support someone who makes comments like these. It's further distressing that in retaliation, people have then used kupu that shouldn't be flung around(seeing the article by the Spinoff saying that he has a god complex doesn't actually deal with the fact that the govt has endorsed GBF/I Am Hope or patriarchal ideologies that people exhibit).

The Leader's Primer on Well-Being

making space for mental health
Between pandemics, wars, elections, relationships, the job market, and the workplace itself, life can be difficult to navigate for a lot of us these days. Our employees are feeling anxiety, stress, and burnout - but too few of the linkedin posts and the leadership articles I read want to address this. In fact, I think far too many leaders
Alan Page ∙ 4 LIKES
Skilletsnail
Hey as a millenial I have only once worked at a job where there was honesty. I have had multiple coworkers who have treated me with respect and been shocked when I got laid off for a failure at a levels higher than I could control. I have also had a manager get in trouble for me responding to a question at maybe the wrong time.
So given this context are there jobs that even exist right now that want honesty from their employees or plan to be honest with their employees and/or act with integrity and follow through on their promises both to their employees and/or share holders?
I'd happily switch fields if it meant I got leaders who acted with integrity and ate the cost of their mistakes instead of laying people off and further burning out the employees. Especially if it meant I could work on making things more accessible or intuitive UX etc.
One of the companies I've worked at felt like the leadership ever had skin in the game. Some great managers but...a few good managers doesn't create a mentally healthy work culture.

How photography helps my mental health

How creativity helps my overall well being.
Welcome once again to my regular Sunday long form post. This week, I’m talking about how photography, and generally being creative, helps my overall well being - both physical and mental. As someone who never thought of himself as overly creative, I will always be thankful for finding photography, or perhaps it found me, as it has delivered so many happ…
Bimbles With A Camera ∙ 23 LIKES
Pamela Leavey
I can so relate!
Les Longino
Fantastic photographs!
I agree re: listening to music while doing other things. I end up focusing on the music instead of on what I'm actually trying to do....

Georgia O'Keeffe: Where Art History Meets Mental Health

Each article looks at a different part of O’Keeffe’s creative journey and how they were shaped by both her mental health and her relationships.
Here you’ll find all of my articles about Georgia O’Keeffe all about the ways in which her creative work and her mental health intersect. Each piece…
Kathryn Vercillo ∙ 13 LIKES
Jo Taylor
I love this. She’s one of my favourite artists 🩶
Sue Clancy
Love it!!!!! Thanks @Kathryn Vercillo !!!

How My Mental Health Benefits From Being Childfree

Having or not having children affects everyone’s mental health in individual ways
Life Without Children is entirely reader-supported, and while the Substack will always be fully accessible to all, if you read it regularly and benefit from the content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Or, you can show appreciation for the content and
Ali Hall ∙ 12 LIKES
Jill Holly
Thank you so much for this, Ali. I resonated with so much. Although I don't have tokophobia, I have never wanted kids and very much feel that having them would cause havoc to my mental health and I wouldn't be able to be the parent needed. I feel so lucky to have a choice, even if it isolates me from the "norm,"particularly seeing what is happening in Russia right now.
Sheila (of Ephemera)
Much of this resonates with me. 💕 You are not alone in your feelings. I’ve always known that I never wanted children, and the thought of being pregnant scared me to the doctor when I was a teenager to ensure that I took responsibility for not ever, ever getting pregnant. I’m thankful to have that choice.

MANAGING MINDSET

Words for World Mental Health Day
I just finished my book tour, I am home now for the foreseeable.
Donna Ashworth ∙ 29 LIKES
Candice Diana Wylde
I truly think work places should take on board what you write Donna, if bosses did, the world would be a much kinder and understanding place.
Darlene Deal
Love you Donna!! Your words are so encouraging and right on!!

It’s time to talk about mental health.

Mental health is one of those taboo topics, especially among men, and even more so within certain communities of men.
Mark Mazzone ∙ 5 LIKES
Tracy
So proud of you for this. The truth is - it is a stronger man (or woman) that seeks help than those that simply bottle it up, refuse to deal with and take it out on life by being absusive to others or even just not living the best life possible with what we are given. Life can be hard, horribly hard, but it is worth it in the end. Thank you for this piece.



mental health, song salvation & belonging

Notes from Midwest walkabout - shout out to J.
Hello dear ones, friends ~
Alexis Slutzky ∙ 5 LIKES
Ariana Saraha
Oh love, what a beautiful sharing and honoring of your dear soul kin! Indeed, how do we welcome and even work with those who are “neurodivergent,” as so many cultures actually have been able to throughout time? This question has been on my mind since even before I took the “abnormal psychology” class for my undergrad psychology degree some 30 years ago.
It heartens me how much the needle of mental health and what is “normal” (or at least acceptable) has already moved in my lifetime. May we continue down this road of inquiry so we might become a richer peoples, with wider, possibly even wiser perspectives.
Kate
Thank you for your insight, empathy, and compassion. You are a Blessing. For more information about mental health resources, check out NAMI (National Alliance on Mentally Illness) Santa Barbara (Educational ZOOM on Tuesdays, 7 pm.)

Hopeful News on Mental Health and Icelandic Labor Policies

There's a headline you don't see every day.
This newsletter is free. I think Substack would rather I charge you money, which is understandable and not what I wish to do. But it does take time and effort to provide the world with the newsletter and the Depresh Mode podcast.
John Moe ∙ 1 LIKES

ADHD: Why Can't the Mental Health "Business" Define Normal?

We have a culture which has become obsessed with illness while it often ignores or overlooks wellness…
When the patient loves his disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied.
Thom Hartmann ∙ 45 LIKES
Greg McKim
Thom, If you haven't already, I recommend a book that examines this topic from your perspective titled "Bad Therapy, Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" by Abigail Shrier.
Gloria J. Maloney
When you put an intelligent, sensitive child in a setting that resembles a penal institution more than a place of learning, they probably won't fit in when they are not compliant with mind-numbing exercises and forced conformity. To get the child into an individual educational program, it may be necessary to accept a diagnosis of some disorder, such as ADHD. This country has the resources to educate all children to their potential. Still, it would necessitate raising taxes on the wealthy, and the elites would feel threatened with a large population of educated persons who can think critically. Getting the oligarchs on board with such a program to improve the educational system would be challenging.