Here are the topics recently explored in our mental health discussion group, Stronger Together:
1/1/26: New Year’s Resolutions
Do you like New Year’s Resolutions, or avoid them like the plague? How about setting a Mental Health New Year’s Resolution? Let’s discuss resolutions after watching a short video about setting New Year Resolutions made specifically about Mental Health.
1/8/26: Hope in the New Year
This week we will talk about Hope, but from a TED talk of a personal account of struggling with serious depression and suicide. The video is 16 minutes, but hopefully worth it.
1/15/26: Addiction and Mental Health
We all realize there is a connection between mental health and addiction, but what is that all about? Let’s watch this short video and talk about it.
1/22/26: How to Talk about Mental Illness
Our topic this week will be “How to Talk about Mental Illness.” We’ll read this article: How to talk about mental health and ask for help.
1/29/26: Social Media and Mental Health
This week we will watch a short video on teen mental health and social media. Although it discusses specifically how social media impacts the developing teen brain, the issues it brings up are applicable to all ages.
2/5/26: Immigration and Mental Health
This week we’ll discuss the mental health impact of current immigration policies. The following six-minute video talks about the issue, giving us a starting point for discussion. How Fear of Deportation Affects Immigrant Mental Health.
2/12/26: The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets
Are you a pet/animal person? If not, what comforts you? You’re invited to join us for a discussion about how pets can be beneficial to our mental health. We’ll read this short article and talk about it. The article notes: “Pets come with some powerful health benefits… Caring for a dog, cat, or other animal can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress, and improve your heart health.”
2/19/26: No topic – conversation
2/26/26: Internal Family Systems Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS) psychotherapy model is an established therapy model, though not as widely known, and it seems like it could have some practical value for each of us. Join us to watch the video, try the exercise it describes, and talk about what we notice and how it might help us.