What Real-Life Recovery Means to Me
(first published in The Sanford – internal newsletter) Years ago, when Sanford Behavioral Health was a 10-bed women’s facility, we had an alumni event. These days, we have robust alumni programs for eating disorders and addiction, but in 2017, it was the first time our clients had the opportunity to return to the place where […]
Sleep-Friendly Environments & Mental Health
One of the hallmarks of active addiction and other mental health conditions is insomnia. When you wake at 3 a.m. (blood sugar dropping) and rise like a vampire for a glass of cold water, it might be the worst time of day to be wide-eyed. Every problem seems insurmountable, rehashing regrettable behavior on an endless […]
Suicide Prevention – Resources for Loved Ones & Professionals
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we sat down with Sanford Clinical Liaison Lisa (Murphy) Rector, MA-LPC, NCC, for the Limelight Interview. Lisa has worked in the mental health field since 1997. She is the Co-chair of the Macomb County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Lisa’s career began on the Wayne County Crisis Line, answering crisis/suicide […]
5 Questions to Support Veterans’ Mental Health
September is suicide awareness month, and I sat down with my colleagues at Detroit VA to ask five questions about Veterans’ mental health resources, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and the prevention of Veteran suicides and other accidental deaths. Thanks to Katrina BeShears, LMSW, CAADC, and Christina Mariani, LMSW, CAADC Detroit VA Community Engagement […]
Reflections on Lasting Recovery – Limelight Interview
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we have invested in our workplace culture to provide a pleasant space for patients to recover and a great place for staff to work. Why? Because a positive workplace culture impacts patient satisfaction and the team’s performance. Today’s Limelight Interview with Substance Use Disorder Program Manager Garrett Dunn, CADC, reflects […]
Do I Have Binge Eating Disorder? Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., affecting about 3% of the population at some time in their lives. Of people with eating disorders, 47% have binge eating disorder. BED is characterized by recurrent binge eating without compensatory measures to counteract the binge, such as purging, laxative overuse, and […]
Chronic Pain and Mental Health with Dr. Gilbert Masterson
It is a beautiful morning, the sun shining through the blinds, and you are ready to meet a brand new day. But hopping from the bed with optimism has become a problem because your back, knees, hips, or that lingering migraine sends a shock of pain with the first footfall on the bedroom floor. You […]
Psychiatrist-Led Mental Health Treatment with Dr. Gilbert Masterson
The internet is full of addiction and other mental health treatment websites that tout having a psychiatrist on staff. This is important information to challenge when seeking treatment, as there is a growing psychiatrist shortage in the U.S. “Psychiatrist on staff” may mean psychiatrist on call or shared with other treatment facilities and available infrequently […]
Early Birds Enjoy Improved Mental Health
I will admit to being a card-carrying early bird. I am known for greeting house guests at 5 am with a hearty “good morning” when they stumble to the bathroom or drink water before returning to sleep. Twilight till noon is when I feel most productive and alive. Watching the sunrise on a deserted beach, […]
Mental Health Awareness Month – Join the Community
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, the time to bring attention to mental health and its importance to overall health and well-being. At the same time, we are also experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States. In a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, Dr. Murthy raises the alarm about the impact of loneliness […]
