Valleywise Health is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living.
Managing your Mental Health during the Holidays
Many people look forward to the holidays as a time of festivity and joy. For others, this time of year can bring on a heightened sense of loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression.
It's easy to understand why these feelings can be triggered. The busy schedules, cost of gifts and travel, or tension among family members can be overwhelming.
If the holiday season is a challenge for your mental health, psychiatrists at Valleywise Health encourage you to take care of yourself first and set realistic expectations.
"Don't feel like you have to do it all," said Dr. Alicia Cowdrey, Outpatient Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at Valleywise Health and a Psychiatrist with District Medical Group. "Make sure you're taking care of yourself first. If that means canceling plans or not overspending on presents this year, so be it."
If you or your loved one are living with mental health issues, the care team at Valleywise Health offers timely, compassionate treatment.
Thanks to a recent $650,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Valleywise Health is integrating behavioral care into its Community Health Centers across the Valley. This involves training primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses to inquire about and identify behavioral health issues during patient exams. Already, four Community Health Centers in Avondale, Mesa, Maryvale and Phoenix have expanded behavioral care through this training.
Other Valleywise Behavioral Health programs include:
· Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - A safe, non-invasive treatment that stimulates the part of the brain associated with major depressive disorder (MDD).
· First Episode Center: treating young people between the ages of 15-25 years who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
· Assertive Community Treatment: A flexible and customizable team approach to mental health treatment for people experiencing serious mental illnesses and substance use challenges.
Click here to learn more https://valleywisehealth.org/services/behavioral-health/ or call 1-833-VLLYWSE (855-9973)
