According to the American Psychological Association (APA), suicide rates increased by 50% among girls and women between 2000 and 2016 and 21% among boys and men. A recent article from Time Magazine points out 'depression among teens in the U.S., particularly with girls, has jumped 37% in the last decade'. In the article, mental health professionals mention the overuse of technology and social media as a possible culprit. Knowing this, where do we go from there?The stigma around mental health has been shifting. Stars like Glen Close with BC2M (Bring Change to Mind) and Jameela Jamil with I Weigh are among those shining light on the issue. Voices are getting louder and more people across various disciplines are joining the conversation. Mary Albertoli, 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 is working against the stigma by facilitating the conversations we need to have in an open platform. 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 IC 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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