5 Ways to Keep the Sunday Scaries from Ruining Your Monday
What is the difference between the cheerful greeting “Happy Friday” and “Happy Monday?” Happy Friday is genuinely celebratory and widely shared; it brings people joy and relief as the weekend approaches. On the other hand, “Happy Monday” is ironic and meant to counteract negativity. We have a whole week ahead of us; let’s make the […]
Veterans and First Responders Exclusive Programming – JOHN Opening October 27, 2025
JOHN Executive Director Matt VanLiere has waited patiently for an exclusive first responders and Veterans program at Sanford Behavioral Health. He first raised the idea nearly four years ago, after joining Sanford to build its safety team. Matt has a BA in Criminal Justice and 29 years of experience in law enforcement. He also has […]
Suicide Prevention Resources All Year Long
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we practice suicide prevention every day, and we joined the community during Suicide Prevention Month to come together to save lives. It means sharing awareness campaigns, offering training, and spreading education about the risks, warning signs, and protective factors that help keep people safe. We asked a few key staff […]
Alcohol Use is Down, Cannabis Use is Up – Is There a Correlation?
A recent Gallup poll found that 54% of US adults drink alcohol. The latest data represents the lowest percentage since Gallup began tracking in 1939. In 2024, 58% of adults drank alcohol, and in 2023 62% indulged. The perceived reason for the decline is that beliefs about the health risks of alcohol have changed. More […]
Recovery Stories: Breaking Up with Addiction
Addiction is like being in an abusive relationship with yourself. And, like all toxic love affairs, after years of pain, guilt, secrecy, and deception, the chickens eventually come home to roost. When we finally decide to face those demons, it can seem like an insurmountable task – a mountain too high to climb alone. […]
Fun & Camaraderie at the JOHN Veterans & First Responders Open House!
Thank you to everyone who attended our JOHN Open House last week in honor of our new facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thanks also to Sanford Director of Nursing Natalie Frelix for the fabulous photos! The party was a great success, with Sanford Behavioral Health team members mixing with neighbors, veterans, referral partners, veteran services […]
Addiction Treatment – Social Model or Medical Model?
Treatment for substance use disorders (addiction or SUD) comes in many forms. The”best fit” may vary significantly depending on an individual’s background, history of use, medical comorbidities, support system, and other factors. Two specific models of addiction treatment are often discussed—the medical model of addiction treatment and the social model of addiction treatment. The […]
Overnight Admissions Calls: A CEO’s Wild Ride
As the CEO of a behavioral health company, I never thought I’d be taking overnight admissions calls again, but it has been awesome! We created 24/7 EZ Admissions because nighttime or weekends can present an opportunity for an individual to seek help that they may talk themselves out of during the daytime or workweek. When […]
The Consequences of High-Intensity Drinking
In an old Ella Fitzgerald song that has stood the test of time, she sings, “You say either, I say either. You say neither, and I say neither. Either, either, neither, neither, let’s call the whole thing off!” It springs to mind when we talk about a new category of alcohol consumption called “high-intensity” drinking. […]
A New Record in Super Bowl Monday Absenteeism? It’s a Hangover Thing
Are you going to a party for the big game? UKG’s longtime Super Bowl survey finds that an expected 22.6 million American workers will miss work on Monday, a record number compared to the previous record 18.8 million who missed work in 2023. Interestingly, that game also featured the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Kansas City […]
