Ecological Systems Theory, or EST, is an integral part of the Skyland Trail adolescent residential treatment program for teens.
Get to know Molly Mercer-Deadman, M.Ed, education outreach director at the Skyland Trail mental health treatment program in Atlanta.
by Sheila O’Shea The holidays are a joyous time for many, but they can also be stressful. Cooking huge amounts of food, meeting with crowds of family and friends, the pressure to make everything perfect, the list goes on. Mindfulness—especially sense-based mindfulness—can be helpful in easing holiday stress when dealing with hectic situations. However, focusing…
Holidays don’t have to feel lonely. Skyland Trail CBT experts share tips on ways to stay connected over the holidays. Plan in advance and get a few things on the calendar so you have something to look forward to. 1. Plan ahead and reach out. If this is your first holiday away from your loved ones…
Show people who are struggling that it’s ok to not feel good during the holidays. You are here for them despite their holiday blues.
By Gordon Corsetti, Skyland Trail adult programs graduate It’s shocking what a text message or an email can do for my mood. Since I told my friend group a month ago about the resurgence of my depression, the amount of unexpected well-wishes has truly blown me away. Some came from friends of mine that I…
by Sheila O’Shea One of the things Skyland Trail gave me when I was there was structure. After losing my job due to a mixed episode that sent me to a mental hospital, my life threatened to slide in a very aimless direction. The regular schedule of classes and activities helped stabilize things, and one…
by Sheila O’Shea One of the things I learned from my time at Skyland Trail was how essential good sleep was for recovery from mental illness. Setting up a bedtime routine was an important part of that. Over time, I established a routine to signal to my brain that it’s time to go to bed.…
The decision of whether or not to take psychiatric medication is ultimately a decision for the patient to make in partnership with their physician. Decisions informed by the current foundation of research on best practices in prescribing, patient education, and adherence strategies will yield the best long-term outcomes for patients and likely prevent adverse reactions and side effects that make some people skeptical about the utility of psychopharmacology.
by Sheila O’Shea I’m a pretty introverted and self-contained individual, which are not always the best traits to have when dealing with mental illness. To really handle your symptoms and flourish despite them, you need help from other people. Help can take all kinds of forms, so let me introduce you to three people—who were…