What I Wish More People Understood About Suicidal Thoughts: The Power of Connection
When people are feeling pain and suffering, the thought of suicide makes complete sense. When someone feels hopeless, like there’s nowhere else to go and no end in sight, suicidal thoughts can create a sense of comfort and a way out. Often, the conversation that I have with suicidal clients is about hope and a […]
A 30-Year Law Enforcement Veteran on Suicide, Survival, and Speaking Up
September is Suicide Prevention Month. We have lost members of the law enforcement community in Michigan recently, and across the country, first responders continue to die by suicide. We need to talk about it. Not as administrators or statisticians. Not with another training slide or poster on the wall. We need to talk about it […]
It’s Bigger Than Baseball: The Mental Health of the Young Athletes We Love
Being the mom of a competitive baseball player has taught me something I never expected. I spend my professional life as the CEO of a behavioral health company talking about mental health, trauma, anxiety, resilience, emotional regulation, identity, and the importance of creating environments where people feel safe enough to be human. I spend my […]
Admissions Without Barriers: A Client-First Approach to Behavioral Health Treatment
In behavioral health, we talk a lot about being client-centered, but that commitment must start at the very first touchpoint: admissions. Too often, admissions departments look for the “ideal” client. The right diagnosis, acuity, or insurance. A perfect fit on paper for the treatment center. But people don’t come to us because they are ideal. […]
Excuses Veterans and First Responders Use to Avoid Treatment, Debunked
At JOHN (Just One Hero Needed), we are used to getting the excuses Veterans and first responders give to avoid treatment. As an exclusive treatment center for Veterans and first responders, we receive calls after incidents occur and when individuals feel suicidal or fear the loss of their careers or relationships. Interestingly, we may talk […]
The Gripe Session Continues: Mental Health Working Moms, Episode 2
The gripe gals are back in Episode 2 of the Mental Health Working Moms’ Gripe Session Podcast. The podcast is a candid, funny, and compassionate space created by moms for moms. Our host is Sanford Behavioral Health CEO Tracy Rogers, LPC, LMHC, NCC. Significantly, Tracy is the mother of an 11-year-old boy who spent much of […]
The Silent Backbone of Behavioral Health: Meet the (Often Overlooked) Revenue Cycle Team
When people think about healthcare, they think about physicians, nurses, and frontline clinical staff. But there is a vital component: the revenue cycle operations team, who are largely unsung. I call them the “silent backbone” of behavioral health. I feel I should say they are not silent with me. I have known these folks forever. […]
Is It a Diet, a Phase, or an Eating Disorder? Why Getting the Right Diagnosis Matters
Food is rarely just fuel. It is the centerpiece of our holiday celebrations, the backbone of our family traditions, and a primary medium for cultural expression. Because eating is so deeply entwined with our social and emotional lives, the line between acceptable variation, such as a new diet, a period of picky eating, or a […]
Recovery Doesn’t End When Treatment Ends: How Sanford’s Alumni Program Keeps You Connected
When was the last time you felt proud at work? Or had (joyful) tears in your eyes from the full-circle impact of your organization’s efforts? As a person in recovery, two experiences spring to mind. Both occurred during the Sanford Behavioral Health Alumni Program and underscore the concept that recovery doesn’t end when treatment ends. […]
Ask Rae: Playing Whack-a-Mole with Eating Disorders and Addiction
Dear Rae: I have spent many years using alcohol to calm my anxiety. It worked for a while, but recently my relationships have been impacted by alcohol, and I am trying not to drink. I haven’t had a drink for 27 days. Weirdly, my long-dormant eating disorder has reared its ugly head. What is going […]
