PUBLISHED BLOGS
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My Case for Using and Respecting Trigger Warnings
Trigger warnings give people autonomy. They allow people to compose themselves, to enter a healthier mindset or simply to decide, “I cannot handle this today.” After all, trauma is very real — and people’s reactions to their life experiences are valid and do not require the approval of other people. Trigger warnings, as I understand them, are an act of compassion, not a sign of a weak generation.
Navigating Baby’s First Doctor Appointment
The time has come for you and your little one to go to their first doctor’s appointment. While this milestone is exciting, you might also be nervous as you’re unsure what a first appointment entails. First, take a deep breath and recognize that what’s new for your baby will also be new for you to navigate. Give yourself some grace. You’re not supposed to know it all. There’s certainly no rule book to follow.
Guide to Understanding Baby’s Cough
It is common for young children to cough, however if your little one is experiencing persistent or intermittent coughs, it could mean something more.
NJ AFSP collaborates with the NJ Devils and Prudential Center
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) had the honor of participating in the New Jersey Devils and Prudential’s Mental Health Awareness Night on January 25th. This night was in support of the Hockey Talks annual initiative which began in 2013 to honor the legacy of Vancouver Canuck player, Rick Rypien who fought depression.
What Being a Mom Has Taught Me
Often, as a new mother or father, we expect to bestow wisdom onto our children. But mostly, we tend to learn from our kids on how to best support them, enjoy our time here, and unlearn biases while embracing imagination. Our kids see the world differently than we do and it’s refreshing to be able to explore the everyday in a new lens.
Motherhood: What You Give Up and How to Adjust
For some women, their journey to motherhood is complex and full of struggles. So eventually, being called a mom means even more despite the obstacles it took to get there. While adding to your family and taking on a new role as a mom is a wondrous thing, it also asks a lot of individuals. The most important thing to remember as a new mom is that you’re not alone in making these adjustments. We see you, and we know what you’re going through. As a newborn mother, these are some of the things you may have given up along the way:
Volunteer Spotlight
Nutan Chaturvedi got involved in the New Jersey Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention over two years ago. Like many, she had a personal story attached to the cause. She did research on organizations promoting mental health and suicide prevention, found AFSP, and filled out the volunteer form.
Grieving Your Past Self
When we think of grief, we often think of the exact definition according to google: “deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death.” Another thing that comes to mind is probably the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. And while this is a significant aspect of grief and the meaning of the word. We can also use suffering to describe other situations in life that don’t have to do specifically with death.
Harry is Home
Harry Styles’ single As It Was has made waves worldwide with its beautiful chords, emotional lyrics, and imagery associated with the music video. His third solo album, Harry’s House, is dropping on May 20th, and it cannot come soon enough.
Baby’s Safety is More Than What Meets the Eye
When it comes to your baby, their safety is your number one priority. If it is your first child, you may have extra cautious attitudes towards care-taking. Everything we do and all of the products we launch are to help put a parent’s mind at ease and allow them to give their baby that extra care they deserve.
How to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Easter
With Easter fast approaching, we’ve put together a list of how to celebrate your baby’s first Easter in a meaningful way. While your baby probably won’t remember their first Easter, you and your loved ones will. However, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate your baby’s first Easter. After all, it is inherently up to you and your family. Your traditions are personal and they may even change as your baby grows. So try not to put too much pressure on this day and instead, enjoy it.
How to Adjust Your Baby’s Schedule to Daylight Savings Time
Your baby’s sleep schedule is sacred and shifts in that clock can be incredibly disruptive not just to your baby, but to you. Daylight savings time can cause hiccups in your baby’s usually well-established sleep schedule which of course will affect how many hours of sleep you get yourself. When a baby’s schedule gets disrupted, it can cause their mood to change. Your baby might act out, have mood swings, or exhibit cranky behavior. That is why it is so important to adjust your baby properly to daylight savings time.
Self-Care Journal Prompts
Typically, when we think of self-care, bubble baths and face masks come to mind. But is there more to these practices of wellness? Of course, filling up the tub or painting on a mud mask can alleviate negative feelings; but these actions are often temporary fixes. Self-care and healing are not always easy practices to implement within our lives. They can take a lot of emotional and physical labor out of us. But self-care is incredibly important, especially in our current times.
Ricky Gervais’ After Life is a realistic depiction of grief
With the Netflix show just releasing its third and final season, fans had to say goodbye to a show that made grievers feel seen in a world where loss is typically ignored. Ricky Gervais, who plays Tony, writes and directs this British series that follows his character’s journey coping with the death of his wife, Lisa. Each season is a mixture of emotions: giving the audience a raw depiction of loss and the mental health impacts while also offering moments of comedy and lightness.
How dating apps worsened my mental health
Like most women in their twenties, I downloaded a dating app over the summer. All my friends were raving about them and the dates they had gone on from it. Even a miraculous few started dating someone from one of the many dating apps available. With this in my face and the still very harsh reality of covid-19, it seemed like meeting people virtually was the way to go. Or really, it was modern dating and I could either get on board or be single forever. So, with the help of my friends, I put together the perfect profile: just the right amount of solo and group photos with insightful prompts that made me seem outgoing yet laid-back. A lot of thought goes into these profiles, I soon learned. And for an over-thinker, I wouldn’t say I liked this.
TikTok is full of rising stars
It seems that each day, a new artist is being discovered on the social media app, TikTok. Doubt the power of this video-sharing platform? Just check out Spotify’s public playlists labeled, “Viral Hits,” or “big on the internet,” which features songs made popular (or re-popular) from viewers on TikTok using snippets of the sounds. But it is not just already known pop songs that are being used in viral trends online, music from new artists are gaining traction and giving spotlights to unknown names.
Volunteer Spotlight
Cherise Krug is a part of the Social Media team for the New Jersey Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Her typical day in her role is going onto the social media ambassadors page, usually over the weekend, and looking at a spreadsheet that the National organization of AFSP shares which outlines content, information, and more that local chapters can use for their social posts.
Volunteer Spotlight
Jessica Kwok is a volunteer for the New Jersey chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Specifically, she is a part of the Spring into Wellness committee, an event that began last year during the peak of COVID-19 which aimed to give individuals an online space to practice wellness by setting goals for the month of May which is also Mental Health Awareness Month.
Lessons I Learned from Sharing Stories with Send Silence Packing
For the past two months, I’ve been traveling across the country to host Send Silence Packing, Active Mind’s award-winning suicide prevention exhibit. When I began, I knew this position would be just as impactful as when Send Silence Packing came to my college and touched me as a student. But, I’ve also learned new lessons through this work that I didn’t expect. Mostly, this role has reminded me that as a mental health advocate, I too, am always learning new ways to become a better ally.
Ways to Honor Your Baby You’ve Never Met
Losing a child is a different kind of grief for everyone, but what is the same is the love you will always hold for them. Just as the way you process and mourn the passing of your baby; the way you choose to remember them is also your own. For every parent, healing or learning to live amidst this grief will vary. As October is Infant Loss Awareness Month, Cubo Ai wanted to put together a list of ways for any parent to honor the baby they lost.
I am a mental health advocate, but still feel shame about my own struggle at times
College was a pivotal point in my life regarding mental health advocacy and confronting my own struggles with mental illness. After joining a student organization on campus that aimed to raise awareness for mental health and open dialogue, I felt that I could genuinely sit with what I was feeling for the first time. Those four years were not always easy on my mental well-being: I struggled with anxiety, depression, body issues, and loss while balancing a social and educational life.
Moms, It’s Time to Take Care of Yourself
Parenting is not an easy job. Taking care of your child can be emotionally and physically draining. In order to be as present as possible in your home life, you need to prioritize your own wellbeing, moms!
7 Ways to Create a Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace
So many mamas give up on breastfeeding when returning to work due to scrutiny, unclean environments, or time pressure; but a healthy work environment will do all it can to allow a mother to continue what is best for her baby and thus foster a positive and productive work space.
Breastfeeding and Other Choices for Mamas
Cubo Ai celebrates all mamas and caregivers who are involve with feeding their little ones. Breastfeeding is recommended by many health organizations for infants as it can help fight infections, lower their risk in later years for certain diseases, offer beneficial nutrition, and is convenient when it comes to time and cost.
Combatting the Myth: How Social Media Bettered my Mental Health
Social media is often seen as something that negatively impacts mental health, particularly among young adults. While such social platforms can have their downsides and affect people differently, many of these apps do exactly what they were designed to do: connect.
Meet Our 2021 Emerging Scholars
At Active Minds, we believe that an emotionally healthy world is not possible without a just world. Systemic racism is a mental health and public health crisis and changing the culture around mental health includes ending the systemic racism in that same culture. This month, as we acknowledge BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, we wish to highlight our Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program.
LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Mental Health Matter All Year Long
June (Pride month) and July (BIPOC Mental Health Month) are historically times in our society to recognize, celebrate, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. While it is important to acknowledge the strides our society has made during particular moments; it is vital that the conversations around the well-being of those in these communities continue beyond the summer.
A Letter to My Active Minds Chapter
Going off to college was both exciting and terrifying. A part of me was ready to experience somewhere other than my small town in New Jersey. But, another part of me was so overwhelmed by the idea of change. And having been recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, I was worried about how overwhelming this change would be. And it was for a while.
Stress less this April, and beyond
This year, Stress Less Week might be more important than ever. Not only are there the typical stresses of classes, social life, and club responsibilities, but the fear of COVID-19. It is so incredibly valid that any student would be overwhelmed this year! But there is always help.
Women Who Advocate for Mental Health Everyday
March is Women’s History Month, a time to applaud the contributions all women have made in our society. Women have made significant impacts in changing the conversation around mental health, providing resources to those struggling, and sharing their own stories to bring mental health out into the open. This following list we compiled in honor of Women’s History Month is, of course, not comprehensive by far. Instead, these are some of the exceptional women who use their voices, platforms, and experiences to center mental wellbeing in the everyday.
Active Minds Remember Peter Deibler
Active Minds is deeply saddened by the passing of Peter Deibler, better known as “Kane,” to his radio listeners.
Meet our Spring 2021 Interns!
Welcome our amazing group of spring 2021 interns! We are so thrilled to have these individuals on our team and to advocate for mental health alongside them.
Black Individuals and Organizations You Should Know in the Mental Health Field
Black History Month is a time where the contributions of Black Americans are specially recognized and applauded. While it is important to acknowledge Black individuals that have changed history during this month, this appreciation, recognition, and acknowledgment should occur at all times. Black history and Black mental health matters all year long. Below, we have compiled a list of Black psychologists, leaders, advocates, and experts that changed (or are changing) the conversation around mental health. These individuals and organizations create a space of healing and safety for Black people by Black people.
Event Recap: Scaling and Hiring
Captivate Talent as part of The Building the Modern Revenue Team series spoke with Kevin Mulrane, VP of Sales and CX at GlobalWebIndex, Brianna Brown, Head of Talent at Stripes, and Kunal Kapur, VP of Account Management with Jobvite on scaling and hiring. The Building the Modern Revenue Series is aimed to share knowledge, advice, and perspective for anyone building or developing the revenue side of their business.
Event Recap: RevOps — The Rising Star
This past Tuesday, Captivate Talent hosted another discussion as part of the Building the Modern Revenue Series. This week our virtual panel was moderated by Kevin Mulrane. It featured Allye O’Brian, Director of Revenue Ops at Chief, Jeff Ignacio, Head of Revenue and Growth Operations of UpKeep, and Rosalyn Santa Elena, Head of Revenue Ops with Clari. Our panelists discussed the functionality of Revenue Operations and, as always, gave insightful advice.
It’s time to stop asking “How are you?”
It’s become a greeting, an automated response to seeing someone, or a way to express care without actually caring: the infamous “How are you?” Not many people put much thought into asking this question. Yet, in a COVID-19 era, this phrase is heavy.
“home for the holidays” Multi Mix
The newly renamed Multi Mix series are playlists curated for different phases and experiences our lives. This Multi Mix is all about cozy vibes for winter, grab some hot cocoa, go under fuzzy blanket & turn on this Multi Mix!
Chadwick Boseman was more than his cancer
It has been almost three months since actor Chadwick Boseman, 43, died from colon cancer. His death came as a collective shock as no one knew he was terminally ill.
The Bold Type’s Aisha Dee calls for change
The Bold Type’s Aisha Dee pens a letter discussing the lack of diversity on set of the hit Freeform show.
Event Recap: Scaling the SDR Function
As a part of our Building the Modern Revenue Team Series, Captivate Talent hosted a virtual panel “Scaling the SDR Function”.
Event Recap: Revenue Driven Marketing
Captivate Talent, in association with The Addicted to Growth Show, hosted a virtual panel discussion on Revenue Driven Marketing.
Struggling with Mental Health while Abroad
Advice for those struggling with mental health struggles studying abroad based on my own experience.
Some Days
A piece I wrote for the Active Minds blog on my experiences with anxiety and depersonalization disorder.
Thoughts I had on a Thursday night
There is a reason we are all here. In Philosophy class, my professor keeps questioning me on this. “What is the reason? Happiness? Success? Love?” It might be all of these things or none of them. I’m not really sure. It’s hard to describe why I believe we all have a reason, why we all matter. I can just feel it.