Knowing this, where do we go from there?This information creates awareness for mental/brain health disorders. But we also need solutions that aid our teens and young adults, especially in the unfiltered modern world we live in. Suicide rates have been growing way before COVID-19 and yet the stigma is still very much alive. A lot of us are creating mental health awareness content and developing material we hope most find helpful and comfort in. Unfortunately, many also don't have the platform a well-known artist does. However, few celebrities like Glen Close with BC2M (Bring Change to Mind) and Jameela Jamil with I Weigh are ones that are not only shining a light on the issue, they're acting on it. But truth is, they can't do it alone. We need more people with a platform to help end the stigma and offer a way out of the darkness many humans are experiencing, including but not limited to teens and young adults. This is where Mary Albertoli comes in. She's here to contribute and work against the stigma by facilitating the conversations we need to have in an open platform. A clinical social worker who has worked with children and adolescents for 11 years, in both individual and group settings with depression, PTSD, and suicidal and homicidal ideation. Albertoli, who has a Master's degree in social work from Columbia University, understands that it is only through effective conversations about ourselves and with each other that real growth and change takes place. "There's so much stigma around mental health, but the truth is not one of us is alone in struggling with something"
"Our goal is to provide a relatable and even fun format for young people to engage in discussions they might otherwise avoid, often because of not knowing how to begin," says Isern. Maureen Isern is a social impact strategist, brand manager, and seasoned digital content producer with a 20-year track record working across new categories and start-up environments.
Q & A with Mary Albertoli
Final Question...IC: What are you grateful for today? MA: I am grateful for the amazing people in my life that I can authentically communicate with, my health and, the amazing team on The Shift. If you are in emotional distress or experiencing thoughts of harm to yourself or others, help is available 24/7.
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Life isn’t always easy. While there are times when it feels like we’re on top of the world, at others, it can feel as if we're at the bottom of a ditch. And the thing about these low moments is that they can come from nowhere; even if everything seems to be well in our lives, it’s not always possible to be in a cheery mood. The first thing is to recognize that it’s normal to feel this way, and that there are many other people in the same position. The one upside of the prevalence of mental health conditions is that researchers have learned a lot about the things we can do to get ourselves in a mentally healthy state of mind. We take a look at a few of these solutions below.
 Into Nature Nature is amazing; it’s just that most of us live in cities, where nature is limited or non-existent. It really is worthwhile looking at taking regular trips into the outdoors, since studies have shown that just fifteen minutes of nature is enough to give our brain a boost. And if you spend two hours in nature each week, you’ll significantly boost happiness and reduce your anxiety levels, too. Do Something For Others Finally, remember that sometimes, we have to avoid digging ourselves into a negative state of mind. One of the best ways to do this is to do something for others. Studies have shown that volunteering and random acts of kindness can have a tremendous effect on our confidence, self-worth, and happiness levels, so look at making it part of your schedule.
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