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Tag: mental health crisis

Four pictures depicting caregivers in their different roles and with their challenging significant other dependent.

The Challenges of mental illness caregiving

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Disability, Grief and Loss, holistic mental healthcare, Public Health Issue, Relationships, Schizophrenia.

The realities of the care and responsibility when a family member is disabled with a schizophrenic illness

Parents or caregivers can find themselves in uncharted waters

Many get caught unprepared when a mental illness affects a loved one, spouse, child, or significant other. Though previously fully independent and entirely responsible, the person now disabled rapidly or slowly becomes dependent on a caregiver’s help, support, and management. The descent into illness and dysfunction caused by the mental disorder calls on the extreme resourcefulness of the one beset with an unimaginable level of additional responsibility.

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Man contemplting shooting self with gun with alcohol, depressed

Gun Deaths, Mental Health, & Laws

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in Death and Dying, Depression, gun violence, Hate Crimes, Public Health Issue, Trauma, Uncategorized. 1 Comment

The Harsh Reality of Gun Deaths

I remember the day I first experienced tragedy as if it were yesterday. What happened left a deep sense of sadness within me. My best friend, Tony, and I met on the school bus. It was on the first morning of our 6th-grade year in rural Maryland and we were both wary of the bigger kids. We hit it off immediately and as the year progressed, we took to hanging out at each other’s house. I used to enjoy visiting his house, as his mother used to make us peanut butter cookies and lemonade. It was the happiest of times.

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Lightning in a thunderstorm and natural disaster

Crises, Career, and Mental Health

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in Addiction, Bipolarity, Death and Dying, Depression, Grief and Loss, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, Holistic Views on Mental Health Issues, Integrative Therapies, Meditation/Mindfulness, Mood, Neuroplasticity, PTSD, Public Health Issue, Spirituality & Health, Trauma, Viral Pandemics.

My journey from crises to a career in medicine and mental health began early in life.

Growing up in the rural countryside, I loved to run and play, in the open fields and woods, with my friends and dog. I became good at swimming and other sports. Even though polio was in the news with pictures of children paralyzed from the untreatable illness—there was no effective treatment or vaccine. I felt invincible and in robust health. But with a turn of fate, the virus found me one summer day.

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Sun breaking through clouds

Covid-19 Depression & Grief

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in Coronavirus, Death and Dying, Depression, Grief and Loss, Mood, PTSD, Public Health Issue, Trauma, Viral Pandemics.

With a catastrophic pandemic as COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) with exposure to overwhelming circumstances and a high number of deaths, survivors have to manage the aftermath of potentially occurring anxiety, grief, major depression, and PTSD.

Mental health services have, at times, been overwhelmed because of an inadequate number of available trained professionals and preparedness to handle such a high demand on available resources.

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Rooster crow morning wakeup

COVID-19 Wake Up Call

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Coronavirus, Death and Dying, Grief and Loss, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, Integrative Therapies, Meditation/Mindfulness, Public Health Issue, Spirituality & Health, Trauma, Uncategorized, Viral Pandemics.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call to understand all the contributing factors, and steps needed to protect ourselves and future generations from recurrences and the devastation.

Hopefully, soon, COVID-19 will peak and subsides. Its rapid spread and lethality have had a devastating and tragic effect on the most vulnerable people and the vital infrastructure of our society. 

When the final analysis is done, what will be learned and taken away as practical ideas or as more profound wisdom? Some useful areas of interest and inquiry may focus on

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overwhelmed, grief, man covering fsce and crying, monochromatic image © Igor Stevanovic/123RF.com

Horrific Synagogue Shooting Precursors

Written by Ron Parks, MD on . Posted in gun violence, PTSD, Public Health Issue, Trauma. 3 Comments

Are the issues with guns, mental health, or current politics?

The standoff between powerful and influential groups with conflicting positions continues while there seems to be little change or constructive action taking place in public discourse or government. Perhaps a fresh overview of this tragedy would be helpful, along with the examination of possible contributing factors. Getting caught up in debate or dialog can polarize people. Rigid positions or ideologies interfere with meaningful action or needed change – a type of “insanity” in itself. How can our outrage and “position taking” channel itself into an effective dialog and constructive actions?

The senseless killing of worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburg leaves many unanswered, perplexing questions.

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