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 […]

Combating Fear of Detox: Taking the First Steps to Recovery

There is a large parking lot outside the welcoming entrance to Sanford Behavioral Health’s Detox Center. A common scenario unfolds when our clients and their families arrive. We can only imagine the discussions happening in the car and the second thoughts being expressed. Often, it takes time for them to leave the car and approach […]

Early Risers & Reduced Risk of Depression

The old saying, “The early bird catches the worm,” underscores the benefits of taking action early in the morning. Motivational speaker Mel Robbins uses the “5-second rule” (counting backward from 5 to 1) to get you out of bed and start the day. She also espouses getting up at 5:00 am with a powerful routine […]

Michigan Fentanyl Seizure and Overdose Update

Last week, the Grand Rapids Police Department seized 500 grams of fentanyl from an apartment complex in Grandville, Michigan. GRPD Deputy Chief Maycroft said it was enough fentanyl to “kill the entire population of Grand Rapids and Grandville combined.” Fentanyl is an FDA-approved rapid-acting synthetic opioid that alleviates pain. However, fentanyl also depresses the central […]

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 […]

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 […]

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Announcing Therapy Dogs of Sanford!

Sanford Behavioral Health is launching a new Instagram account called @therapydogsofsanford. Jacqueline Campbell (Jacq), a licensed vet tech with a certification in animal-assisted therapy, spearheads the account. Jacq is also the daughter of Sanford Founders Rae and David Green. She is familiar with the beneficial experience of communicating with  Apollonia (Apol) and Lola, Sanford’s working […]

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 […]

Sanford Founder Rae Green On Our Most-Read Articles of 2024

12 Days of Hope Series #5 Every year at this time, we look back at our best articles and discuss why people want to read what we have written. “Best” means most website clicks and social media shares, and a couple of these articles (with regular updates) have been going strong for years. Looking at […]

Best of Resolutions for a New Year

12 Days of Hope Series #3 This time of year, the word “resolution” is on the mind. There is something about a clean New Year and the hope for change. For those with active addiction or an eating disorder, the holidays exacerbate their disorders and accentuate emotional triggers. Social media says we should keep resolutions […]