Recent Blog Entries

1. 

   How Veterans Can Obtain A VA Referral For Mental Health Services

   If you’re a Veteran seeking a new referral from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for Community Care through Telemynd, follow these steps:
   Step 1: Schedule an Appointment with Your VHA Primary Care Provider (PCP)
   Contact your PCP’s office to discuss your mental health needs and request a new referral for services with Telemynd. You can also send a message on MyHealtheVet to set up an appointment through our online portal.
   Step 2: Discuss Your Mental Health Needs
   During your appointment, explain your specific mental health concerns and why you believe the Community Care Network (CCN) might be the best fit for your situation. Mention the Mission Act as a reference for eligibility. Your PCP will assess your needs and determine if a CCN referral is appropriate, providing guidance on the next steps.
   Step 3: Request a Referral
   If your PCP agrees that a CCN referral is necessary, ask them to submit the referral to Telemynd. Your PCP will submit the referral for services to the VA. Once approved, you will be notified by your VA care team.
   Step 4: Follow Up
   After the referral is submitted, follow up with the Office of Community Care Network to ensure timely processing. Call the CCN Customer Support line at (877) 881-7618 to confirm your referral status. If asked for a provider preference, request Telemynd. Remember to record key details like the referral number and dates.
   Step 5: Coordinate Your First Session
   Once approved, you’ll receive information about your assigned Community Care provider. If Telemynd is your provider, we will contact you to choose a provider and schedule your first appointment.
   Step 6: Stay Engaged and Advocate for Your Care
   Remain proactive throughout the process. If you encounter challenges or delays, reach out to our VHA Community Care team at (888) 966-1665 for assistance. We are here to help ensure a smooth transition to Community Care.
   These steps serve as general guidance. Always consult your VHA health care team for specific instructions tailored to your situation.
   Already Receiving Care Through The VA?
    You can always ask your current mental health provider to refer you out for community care You can also call the CCN Customer Support line at (877) 881-7618 and ask to be switched to community-based support with Telemynd. Once approved, they will send us a referral for services. We will contact you to choose a provider and schedule your first appointment.
    
   

   • August 15
   • 1,799 views
2. 

   How Extracurricular Activities Benefit Students

   Extracurricular activities are more than just fun and engaging ways for students to boost their college admission prospects. They also allow youth to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and discover what they’re passionate about.
   Participating in extracurricular activities helps nurture students’ minds, bodies, and souls. Students build fundamental skills that empower them to dream big and achieve bigger. Learn more about the benefits of extracurricular activities and how to support and encourage your child throughout these moments.
   Broadening Perspectives
   Extracurricular activities help students learn practical life skills they otherwise wouldn’t practice in school. Students can gain new skills and hone in on current ones while connecting with themselves and learning to navigate challenges.
   These activities also strengthen the lessons learned in the classroom. Students can apply these lessons in the real world, enhancing their education and preparing them for the future. Still, the essential lessons students learn from extracurricular activities benefit them beyond the classroom. Here are some vital skills that extracurricular activities amplify.
   Social Awareness
   Social justice clubs and community service increase students’ compassion and social consciousness. These activities expose students to society’s needs and encourage them to do their part to help others. Students foster a sense of civic responsibility through volunteering or fighting for a cause they believe in. Community service can broaden a student’s perspective of the struggles people face every day and nurture a genuine interest in the well-being of others.
   Serving others and fighting for equality helps improve empathy and leadership skills. Social justice activities help students learn to investigate and challenge inequality within their schools and society. Students develop skills to become active change agents and stand up for what they believe in.
   Debating Skills
   Debate clubs and teams teach students how to communicate their thoughts and feelings. They explore real-world topics and issues and create ethical, factual, logical, and emotional arguments to persuade others that their beliefs are correct. Debating encourages students to dive deep into complex information and analyze it from multiple sides.
   By expressing their opinions about a particular topic with others, students learn to engage in critical thinking while considering multiple viewpoints. Debating also requires them to reflect on their personal views while exploring those of others. In addition, social skill development builds confidence and nurtures collaboration and respect for peers.
   Strategic Thinking
   Competitive sports and chess clubs can help students develop strategic thinking. Strategy is crucial for these activities, which require students to analyze strengths and weaknesses, develop a game plan, and adapt in real time. These activities constantly challenge students and encourage them to achieve a common goal as a team.
   Practice and evaluating past performances also help students gain decision-making skills, discernment, and risk assessment. Students develop problem-solving skills and strategic planning, which are essential in academics, daily life, and the future.
   Culinary Skills
   Culinary clubs and cooking classes help students learn about nutrition while exploring creativity. Cooking is a form of expression and hands-on learning. Students learn about food chemistry, budgeting, and creating balanced, nutritious meals. This practical knowledge applies to daily life, helping students understand the significance of portion control, cooking techniques, and time management.
   Learning these valuable skills at a young age can empower youth to make healthy food choices, contributing to their overall health. Cooking can also inspire experimentation and cultural appreciation as they discover different flavors, cuisines, and techniques. Furthermore, learning culinary skills could spark interest in a career students often don’t explore in standard academia.
   Creativity
   Visual and performing arts build self-confidence and creative expression. Students can become more self-assured and recognize and appreciate their talents and abilities. Extracurricular activities like art, drama, and music enhance emotional intelligence by allowing students to be present.
   Focus and mindfulness can manage stress and regulate emotions. These creative outlets empower students to channel negative feelings into a positive, meaningful activity. They also promote problem-solving abilities, helping students handle constructive criticism and use it for improvement.
   Physical Wellness
   Fitness, sports, and dance can reveal fun ways for students to maintain their physical health. These activities encourage fundamental aspects of wellness, like regular exercise and healthy eating. Physical wellness activities help students create healthy habits from a young age that will have a positive impact on success and overall well-being.
   Regular exercise benefits physical and mental health. Students can benefit from better endurance, weight control, lowered risk of health conditions, and reduced depression and anxiety. Incorporating fitness can set students up with a healthy routine to stay active and maintain their overall health.
   Enhancing Personal Development
   Studies show that students who participate in extracurricular activities exhibit multiple benefits in terms of overall psychological growth. Students demonstrated substantial character development, higher levels of academic achievement, elevated social development, and an improved understanding of the importance of community involvement. Furthermore, students who participate in extracurricular activities reported increased self-worth and self-concept.
   Extracurricular activities, like volunteering, sports, and arts, are vital for self-empowerment. Volunteering opens the doors to new skills, experiences, passions, and interests while helping others. According to research, community involvement promotes a sense of belonging and encourages students to contribute to society. Playing sports encourages team spirit, discipline, and accountability. The arts foster self-expression, creativity, and self-awareness. These crucial life skills paint a bigger picture of resilience, self-esteem, and character building.
   These activities also nurture teamwork and leadership skills. Students learn to consider other’s needs and gain insight into the role their actions play in achieving an overall goal. By working with teammates or partners, students can grasp the significance of being a team player and the concept of good sportsmanship. They also practice working with different types of people who may not always share the same beliefs or opinions.
   Students become better leaders by learning how to effectively engage with others. Many extracurricular activities require critical and strategic thinking, communication, organization, charisma, and problem-solving. These qualities create exceptional leaders who are self-aware and considerate of others.
   Mental Health Benefits
   Reduced anxiety and depression are some of the most significant mental health benefits of extracurricular activities. Researchers found extracurricular activities create a sense of school belonging among adolescents, improving mental health outcomes. As students spend much of their days in school, the experiences they have there often influence mental health. Students who participate in extracurricular activities showed reduced depression, anxiety, loneliness, and conduct problems. They also reported higher well-being.
   Extracurricular activities create spaces for expression, connection, self-exploration, and overall mental wellness. Being active can boost self-esteem, increase concentration, and encourage restful sleep.
   Participating in extracurricular activities also creates an outlet for stress relief. Without a positive outlet, school and home stressors can take a toll on adolescents. Students learn to channel negative emotions into positive activities that help them cope with life struggles. That can improve mental well-being, focus, and academic performance, leading to higher academic achievements.
   Supporting Your Child in Extracurricular Activities
   Supporting your child in extracurricular activities can encourage them to keep growing and exploring. Here are some simple tips to help your child stay involved in extracurricular activities:
   Explore their interests: Self-exploration is key in extracurricular activities. Help your child create a list of activities they enjoy and discover activities at school. Encourage them to try something new: Inspire your child to try something out of their comfort zone. Explain the benefits, insights, skills, and connections they can build to help them grow in vital life areas. Use gentle guidance: If your child tries an activity once and wants to quit, gently urge them to try again. You can do your part by making them feel confident and explaining that the key to success is completing what they start. Motivate them to showcase their talents: Every child has innate talents that extracurricular activities can nurture. If your child loves singing, encourage them to join a performing art class to explore their talent. Reward the effort: Encourage your child to focus on the effort, not the outcome. That can help them build perseverance and motivate them to keep practicing and trying, no matter the result. Be involved: Show up for them by attending their games, debates, recitals, and more. Your child will feel encouraged to keep going if they know you’re always there to support them. Balancing schedules can be challenging with such a busy life. Understanding time management can ensure students can perform wholeheartedly in academics and extracurricular activities. To reduce the likelihood of burnout, students should prioritize academics and set limits on their commitments.
   Here are some strategies to help students with balancing schedules:
   Choose activities that they are committed to. Track assignments, extracurricular activities, and other priorities using a planner or calendar. Ask for help. Practice self-care. Take breaks. Plan ahead.  
   Extracurricular activities benefit students beyond academics, enhancing personal development, leadership skills, and social skills. These essential life skills foster growth and impact success. When students participate in extracurriculars, it can help shape them into the best versions of themselves, promoting overall health and a bright future.
   

   • August 9
   • 2,304 views
3. 

   International Self-Care Day

   With commitments like work, family, school, and more, many struggle to find time to prioritize themselves. While caught up in daily responsibilities and stress, it's easy to neglect one's physical, mental, and emotional health.
   Self-care is vital to overall wellness. Taking time to look after oneself holistically encourages a healthy lifestyle and can make managing challenges easier. Keep reading to learn more about the significance of self-care, what it encompasses, and how to build a personalized self-care routine that sticks.
   Why Self-Care Is Essential
   Self-care is about incorporating beneficial behaviors and activities into daily life. This decision-making process helps individuals conveniently and effectively care for themselves while incorporating professional assistance when necessary.
   Small acts of self-care can make a significant difference, such as taking a walk, eating a healthy meal, or meditating for five minutes. Making self-care a priority is an act of self-preservation that has multiple benefits, including:
   More energy Better immune system health Lower risk of illness Stress management Higher self-esteem Increased productivity and focus Higher levels of life satisfaction More fulfillment Better relationships Reduced burnout Types of Self-Care
   Self-care is a holistic practice, meaning it nurtures the mind, body, and soul. The purpose is to create a harmonious balance of positive behaviors that support each life facet. The following are five areas of self-care:
   Physical Health: Physical health is a state of well-being where all internal and external parts of the body function as expected. Emotional Health: Emotional health is a fundamental aspect of mental health awareness. It involves one's awareness and ability to cope with positive and negative emotions. Spiritual Health: Spiritual health balances the other aspects of humanity. It includes a purposeful life, fulfillment, and connection with existence and experiences beyond the human level. Social Health: Social health is the ability to interact and form healthy connections and relationships with others. Psychological Health: Psychological health combines how one thinks, feels, relates, and exists in daily life. It's distinguished by emotional, spiritual, social, and mental dimensions. How to Practice Self-Care
   Proper self-care looks different for everyone. Still, there are common practices that can improve well-being. Here are some tried-and-true behaviors that can positively contribute to overall wellness and self-care.
   Practice Mindfulness
   Looking after mental health is a cornerstone of self-care. Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique where someone focuses on the present moment. Individuals achieve this mental state by calmly recognizing and accepting their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without judgment. People practice mindfulness in many ways, such as meditation, breathing techniques, yoga, and art.
   Mindfulness techniques can reduce stress, increase self-awareness, boost creativity, and even benefit physical health. Blocking out distracting noise and focusing on the present can seem challenging, but starting slow can help with success. Studies show that just 10 minutes of daily meditation can produce lasting benefits over time.
   Exercise
   Physical activity is essential for mental health, along with increasing energy and reducing the risk of illnesses. Regular exercise can reduce mild anxiety and depression, improve cognitive functioning, and enhance self-esteem.
   Fitness doesn't have to mean high-impact workouts or spending hours in the gym every day. Just adding 30 minutes of daily physical activity can greatly improve your health and boost your mood. People can exercise in ways that work for their lifestyles. Some fun ways to incorporate fitness into a self-care routine include:
   Bike riding Walking Skiing Hiking Jumping rope Dancing Martial arts Playing frisbee Yoga Swimming Get Restful Sleep
   Sleep and self-care go hand in hand. After a long day, the body and mind crave rejuvenation. Getting plenty of rest helps with cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and overall psychological functioning. Prioritizing restful sleep is key to giving the body adequate time to rest without interruptions and ensuring that the brain performs optimally the following day.
   With all of life's responsibilities, getting enough sleep can seem tough. However, removing distractions like phones and computers, setting a bedtime, and creating the ideal sleep environment can help form better sleep habits and improve self-care.
   Journaling
   Journaling can help individuals clear their minds by writing down their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A journal is a safe space to write about daily events and reflect on those moments for inspiration, growth, and problem-solving. Keeping a self-care journal can encourage self-awareness, help process emotions, reduce stress, and improve mental health. For those who find journaling challenging, several prompts are available with ideas, questions, or suggestions that can help inspire a start. For instance, individuals can end each night journaling about five things they're grateful for or looking forward to the next day.
   Eat a Balanced Diet
   What someone eats directly impacts their health and energy levels. Maintaining a nutritious and well-balanced diet provides the body with the necessary minerals, vitamins, and nutrients to perform optimally. It also boosts the immune system, supports bodily functions, and greatly benefits overall health. Cooking a variety of healthy home-cooked meals is an effective and fun way to practice self-care while getting vegetables, fruits, and whole grains in.
   Get Outside
   Being outside in nature can drastically improve overall health. Similar to mindfulness, taking time out of the day to get outside can help one feel more relaxed and at peace. This could mean walking on a local trail, going to the park, or relaxing at the beach. The soothing elements of nature can improve mood, relieve stress and anger, enhance self-esteem, and help individuals meet new people.
   Set Goals and Priorities
   Establishing goals and priorities is crucial to self-care. Understanding the things one wants to achieve in life can make it simple to prioritize the necessary steps to accomplish them. This can make daily life more fulfilling and less stressful because the individual knows they are actively working toward the things that matter to them. Whether it's taking up a new hobby or saving up for a vacation, understanding goals and priorities helps people take control of their lives.
   Establish Boundaries
   Setting rules and limits for oneself within relationships is essential in self-care. Boundaries help individuals protect their time and energy and maintain mutually respectful relationships. While it's easy to get caught up in trying to do everything for others, communicating needs, limits, and preferences can build a healthy foundation for empowerment. Understanding one's boundaries makes it easier to say "no" to things that may overwhelm them.
   Setting boundaries can prioritize self-care and reduce feelings of emotional exhaustion, resentment, and burnout. Boundaries are vital in personal and professional relationships to ensure a person puts themselves first. They create a space for self-awareness, autonomy, and honoring values, which are all imperative to self-care.
   Stay Connected With Loved Ones
   Building and maintaining a social network can help individuals feel loved and appreciated. Loneliness and isolation can be detrimental to self-care. Both are linked to a higher risk of developing physical and mental health conditions, including heart disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety.
   Support and camaraderie have the opposite effect. Research shows that people with solid support systems have better health, longer lives, and overall higher well-being. Having positive people to share moments with and lean on in times of need can also encourage self-growth and practical help.
   Limit Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
   Unhealthy habits like excessive drinking, smoking, and poor nutrition can make practicing self-care more challenging. These habits can disrupt your overall health, leading to increased mental and physical strain. Practice self-care by creating a plan to control these behaviors. Unhealthy habits will always be a part of life, but substituting them for healthier behaviors as much as possible can help maintain self-care.
   Ways to Build a Lasting Self-Care Routine
   Building a self-care routine is an individualized process. Self-care is a journey that requires trial and effort to reach a plan that fits an individual's situation. The goal of self-care is to embrace positive behaviors that will improve overall health and wellness. Changing and creating new habits takes time, consistency, and intention, so it's crucial to incorporate self-care in ways that work best for one's lifestyle.
   First, individuals should consider areas in their lives that could be improved and activities that nurture their minds, body, and soul. Dedicate time each day to slowly working on these activities. Start with small daily rituals like a morning jog, a five-minute meditation, or adding vegetables to every meal.
   As one masters these small habits, one can continue to build on them, adjusting the routine as one sees fit. Self-care is crucial every day, but setting aside a special moment for self-care once a week can also help to slowly ease into a routine.
   Family and loved ones can be essential to a self-care journey. A loved one with similar self-care goals can act as an accountability partner. Working together to achieve self-care goals can make it easier to stay committed to the journey.
   Complement Your Self-Care Journey with Telemynd
   Incorporating self-care into your daily routines can make incredible improvements to overall health. Professional mental health care can further enhance your journey.
   Keeping up with regular in-person therapy sessions can seem overwhelming. That's why Telemynd is here to help. Our virtual mental health services connect individuals with behavioral health specialists nationwide, bringing compassionate care to you. Contact Telemynd to learn more about improving well-being and elevating your self-care journey.
   

   • July 24
   • 2,051 views