I am a bit breathless. This has been a week chock full of public news and life events that push mental health to the forefront of our attention. The variety of topics reminds us that mental health is linked to stories near and far, joyful and painful, universal and particular.
Most people gush with joy and pride when a loved one completes a course of study – whether high school, university, professional training, or even nursery school. But these same proud friends and family members grimace when they talk about attending the actual graduation ceremonies: too long, too hot, can’t
In recent years, and accelerated by the pandemic, employers are recognizing that mental health matters at work. Of course it does. We don’t leave our mental health at the door when we enter the office regardless of whether we are physically going to our workplace or signing in to work
June is National Pollinators Month. Butterflies, beetles, hummingbirds, bats, and most importantly, bees are among the 200,000 pollinators who are responsible for transferring pollen from one plant to another. In doing so, they provide an essential service to plants, and ultimately to us all, in the production of flowers, nuts,
VUCA. This acronym, first coined by the military, refers to a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In a VUCA world, we count on and look to leaders for direction and guidance, especially in times of crisis. Where are these leaders now, and what does it mean to
Having never been prone to headaches, the experience of having one on and off every day for the past two weeks has been quite a jolt to my system. A well-documented by-product of COVID, these headaches can last from a few days to several months. The headaches are fatiguing. At
In addition to waking up to cards, flowers, and loving messages from my kids on Mother’s Day, I also woke up with COVID. As one of the thousands of New Yorkers to test positive in this recent wave of the pandemic, I had time to do some daydreaming and reflecting
With Mother’s Day this Sunday, we are invited to celebrate all the moms in the world, especially the ones we call our own. Five women in my life have been mothers to me. Over the years, each has taught me many lessons about mental health. 1. Mother Mary. The Original.
This past Monday, April 25th, was the annual luncheon and meeting of the Columbia Council for the Advancement of Global Mental Health Research. Council members, current and past grant recipients, faculty, and staff gathered in person and online to celebrate this growing network and learn about projects that are underway.
The Hare with Amber Eyes is an extraordinary memoir pieced together with exquisite care by British ceramicist Edmund de Waal. He tells the story of his family, the Ephrussi, who went from Jewish shtetl in Odessa in the 1800s to opulent palaces in Vienna and Paris by the early 1900s.
This weekend, and for the first time in over 30 years, Jews, Christians, and Muslims will be celebrating the holidays of Passover, Easter, and Ramadan on overlapping days. Whatever you might be celebrating this weekend, enjoy!
The appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court is a historic moment in this great experiment of democracy that began nearly 250 years ago. As the first Black woman to take a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, Justice Jackson’s appointment embodies aspirational
