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Dr. Val Farmer | ||
Rural Mental Health & Family Relationships | |||
Depression CounselingBright Light Helps Winter Depression (December 1998) Winter is here! With the abrupt beginning of winter, many people are having mood problems. Research has shown that mood can be affected by the reduced amount of sunlight during the winter months. This pattern occurs winter after winter. Mental health professionals have a name for this winter depression - Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. How common is SAD? Studies in Alaska and Canada show that up to 10 percent of the population has a recurrent winter depression. Two to ... Help Is Available For Depression (April 1996) Do our moods come and go without any control on our part? Thank heaven that is not true. We can do something to manage our moods and stress and even our susceptibility to depression. Lynn Rehm, a psychologist at the University of Houst How To Help A Depressed Teenager (March 2004) This article summarizes symptoms of depression in teenagers and offers ideas for coping with depression for parents, teachers, clergy and teens themselves. Avoiding Pitfalls Of Growing Old (November 1999) This article highlights some common dilemmas of aging: overmedication, dementia, alcohol use, driving, and depression. There is practical advice for older people and their family members on how to address these issues so they do not hinder their quality of life. Dr. Robert Olson from Fargo sees these issues frequently in his geriatric practice. Helping Rural Children With A Farm Crisis (November 1999) This article describes the main ways the farm crisis affects children. Their reactions are mediated by parental depression and parental conflict. The acrticle hightlights ways parents can help their children during difficult financial times. What Are The Facts About Suicide (May 2000) This article summarizes what is generally known about suicide, the signs of suicidal behavior and how best to intervene. How Teens Can Change Poor Self-image (March 1998) Alana - not her real name - is an unhappy teenager. She has a negative self-image and it shows. You can see it in her eyes, in her appearance. Her dress, body posture, lack of eye contact and general nervousness communicates an apologetic message: I'm not important. Ignore me. Alana is a scared rabbit. She hangs back in conversations. Her loneliness in a crowd is painful. Beneath Alana's scared exterior is anger. For those few who get to know her, she unleashes a scat ... What To Do If You Suspect Suicidal Risk (January 2011) This article gives several specific pointers on how to help a person you suspect is struggling with suicidal thoughts. It's True! No Man Is An Island (January 1997) How satisfied are you with your friends? With your close friends? Are you disappointed in the frequency or quality of your social contacts? If so, you probably feel lonely. Loneliness is the psychological experience of being alone. You Why People Attempt Suicide (April 1995)
Dr. Roy Baumeister, psychologist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio has outlined a theory of suicidal death. The following questions and answers are based on his research and ideas. Why do people |
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