Finding Joy – Treating Depression with Dr. Samarth Bhandari
The atmosphere at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus is welcoming and non-institutional. We designed it that way on purpose. The hallmarks of Sanford, such as original artwork, custom furniture, and an abundance of light, are apparent at Sanford West. Although it is a big, sprawling campus, program areas are strategically divided into more intimate spaces. […]
Healthcare Decisions and Moms’ Leading Role
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make about 80 percent of family healthcare decisions in the United States. They decide which doctor to see, which insurance to choose, and which treatments to pursue. Women still take on the primary role of caregiver in families, even if they also hold a prominent position […]
Announcing 24/7 Easy Admissions – Because Crises Do Not Happen 9 to 5
Mental health crises often happen at night for several reasons. Factors may include intoxication, nighttime anxiety or depression, secretive eating or purging, lack of daytime distractions, circadian rhythm disturbances, lack of empathy or argumentativeness from family members, or even the need to urinate (alcohol is a diuretic). Nocturnal anxiety makes everything seem more problematic. Likewise, […]
Spring Fever? 10 Ideas to Inspire Anticipation (and Mental Health)
I am already preparing for the family Easter egg hunt. An extravaganza that attracts new participants each year. It means dragging bins of plastic eggs from the attic, buying candy and trinkets, and planning brunch. Looking forward to the gathering of family and friends, children running on the grass, and the inevitable sighting of the […]
12 Hopeful Ideas to Improve Your Mental Health 2025
In January and February each year, Sanford Behavioral Health creates an article series that looks at hopeful ways to improve your mental health. As a behavioral health organization, we know that treatment and medication management are important elements of improving and maintaining mental health. However, science has shown that community, passionate interests, and even limiting […]
It’s Hard to Photograph Awe – When to Leave the Phone at Home
My family had an incredible experience recently. We were on a boat in Tampa Bay, and we saw the familiar dorsal fin and sleek flank of a dolphin in the near distance. We slowed the boat, and suddenly, a pod of dolphins surrounded us. A mother and calf performed in tandem; they leaped from the […]
Meet Chief Executive Officer Tracy Rogers, LMHC
Tracy Rogers was perfectly happy as a healthcare operations consultant until she met Sanford Behavioral Health Founders Rae and David Green through a mutual colleague. As she puts it, “They are the reason I wanted to serve as a Chief Executive Officer again.” Because Sanford is privately owned and small enough to feel manageable, Tracy […]
How’s Your Mental Health Today?
If you are feeling alone with your mental health struggles, read the quote below from Mental Health America’s 2024 Report. Nearly 60 million adults experienced a mental illness in the past year, and only half of them will receive treatment. The good news? The report advocates for upstream prevention and early intervention, which is exactly […]
Clinical Director Tessa Sterling on OCD, Access to Care & the Campus Concept
Tessa Sterling graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Afterward, she moved to Chicago to get her master’s in social work with a specialization in mental health in the advanced standing program at Loyola University. Tessa has a wide range of experience in the mental health field. She has worked […]
The “Lady” With the Lamp – Modern-Day Nursing in Mental Health
What would life be like without nurses? Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern-day nursing, devoted her life to the service of others. She felt called to help as a young woman and made it her life’s passion. Florence worked deliberately to educate herself in the art and science of nursing at the cost of the […]
