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DIY “Hope Notes” with Fresh Flowers and Stationary

October 7, 2015

Horticultural therapy is a unique part of the recovery experience at Skyland Trail. Clients work with our expert horticultural therapist in our greenhouse and in the many gardens on our campuses to use nature as a tool for growth.  Unique hands-on projects in each season help clients reconnect with a sense of purpose and wonder…

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3 Categories of Mental Illnesses Treated at Skyland Trail

October 1, 2015
DSM-5 diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

1. Mood Disorders Mood disorders include an array of illnesses characterized by shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. Mood disorders include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, among others. They often cause disability and, because they are linked to suicide, can be life-threatening. Major depression is the most common mood disorder. Between 7 and…

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3 DIY Fall Nature Craft Ideas

September 23, 2015
DIY finger labyrinth

1. Let Bulbs Show Your Potential for Recovery Grab a few tennis balls and a sharpie. Write words on the tennis balls that describes your POTENTIAL in recovery. Toss the balls into your yard, garden, or wooded area. Plant bulbs where the balls land. Anchor the tennis ball at that spot with a stake. Watch…

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6 Habits to Improve Mental Health

May 5, 2015
man sleeping 8 hours a night

1. Exercise Cardiovascular and strength training exercises help physical conditioning and also contribute to better mood and anxiety control. 2. Sleep Adults require as close to 8 hours of sleep per night as possible. Sleeping more than 9 hours can trigger depression in certain people, and less than 7 can contribute to mania in others. Sleep also is essential to learning. Instead of…

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3 Ways Skyland Trail Ensures Excellent Mental Health Care and Customer Service

July 21, 2014

1. Accreditation by The Joint Commission The Importance of Accreditation and Quality Measurement It is very important for behavioral healthcare organizations to be accredited. Individuals and families should not consider a treatment program that is not accredited by a nationally recognized evaluation organization. Further, most insurance companies in the U.S. will not contract with an…

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WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan

May 21, 2014

Relapse is part of recovery. Be prepared. Have a plan. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan, developed by Mary Ellen Copeland, Ph.D., is a structured system for monitoring uncomfortable and distressing signs and symptoms, and through planned responses, reducing, modifying, or eliminating those signs and symptoms.  It also includes plans for responses from others when your…

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Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment

February 3, 2014
brain made of tools, nuts, and bolts

An interview with Skyland Trail Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH What is evidence-based psychiatric treatment? Evidence-based medical treatment means that, as a physician, you look at the research literature to determine, according to reputable studies, which treatments successfully help patients improve and recover and which treatments do not.  Just because someone…

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