a woman hands a gift to her friend while spending the sober holidays with a group of her friends

10 Tips for a Sober Holiday

  My family has a legend we talk about from my non-sober holidays past. It’s about the time “Mom,” with a bottle of chardonnay coursing through her system, put hot stuffing into a Pyrex bowl. And while the rest of the Thanksgiving meal was sliced, mashed, and dolloped into serving dishes, I attempted to keep […]

Dear Rae: No Alcohol for the Holidays? I’m Mad!

Dear Rae: I just got an email from my aunt saying our cousin (we’ll call him Bill) is in early recovery from addiction, and to support him, she is not allowing any alcohol in her house for the holidays. I have to admit it makes me mad! My aunt is always the center of our […]

no alcohol for the holidays

What’s the Connection of ADHD and Substance Use?

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to use substances as a way to cope with their symptoms, such as impulsivity and hyperactivity. There is also some evidence that ADHD medications may reduce the risk of developing problematic substance use behaviors, making ADHD treatment a critical part of preventing or managing substance use in […]

a therapist sits on a couch with a patient consoling them and writing notes while discussing the connection between ADHD and substance use

The Effects of Alcohol on the Whole Body

  Whenever I think of the ill effects of alcohol and drugs on the body, I think of the 1980s Partnership for a Drug-Free America campaign with the egg. This is your brain (hold up a pristine egg). This is drugs (grease bubbling in a frying pan). And this is your brain on drugs (crack […]

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Michigan Autumn is Good for Your Mental Health

  I was speaking to a colleague of mine yesterday. She asked if I had any ideas for inspirational thoughts on the monitors at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus. As the Sanford Marketing Director, my answer to questions of this sort is always, “Yes.” I had been thinking about the mental health benefits of a […]

Michigan autumn mental health

Commemorating Those We Have Lost to the Disease of Addiction

  October is Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. In honor of those we have lost to the disease of addiction and mental illness, Sanford Behavioral Health hosted its first annual event to commemorate the lives of clients, friends, and family members who have died.   Remembering […]

Memorial Sanford West (2)

Focus: First Responders – New Podcast for Sanford

  How do first responders manage the stress of the job? In a new podcast, Focus: First Responders, host Matthew VanLiere explores the mental health issues associated with being first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and exhausting situations. Matt comes by the subject naturally, as a 29-year veteran of the Ottaway County, Michigan […]

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Sanford Behavioral Health Founders Earn Distinguished Alumni Award

Rae and David Green Honored with Top Award from Alma College   ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September 30, 2022 – Rae and David Green, founders of Sanford Behavioral Health, a regional mental health treatment center, were awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award at the Alma College Homecoming last weekend.   The Alma College Distinguished […]

Rae and David Green ALMA

Hiking and Addiction Recovery – Nature’s Dynamic Duo

  September boasts both Michigan Trails Week and National Recovery Month. I could not let the month end without comment, because the combination of hiking and addiction recovery is brimming with mental health benefits! More than that, Michigan outdoors has been a lifesaver in my own recovery story. My glowing accounts of dune scaling and […]

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Michigan Business Beat – David Green on Sanford’s Expansion

September is National Recovery Month, and mental health is a timely topic. We would like to thank Jeffrey Mosher and the Michigan Business Network for welcoming back David Green, Founder and CEO, Sanford Behavioral Health to talk about the subject.  A lot has changed at Sanford since the last time Green was interviewed in 2020. […]

Sanford Behavioral Health facilities