Human relationships provide us with a sense of connection, purpose, support and, ultimately, overall better health and longevity. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have fulfilling relationships with family, friends and community members are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.

Join us, as we continue our blog series, "Cultivating Mental Health", and learn the importance of social relationships to mental and physical health.

There’s no question that working to maintain a healthy body condition is important to physical health, but to realize our potential for happiness and emotional well-being, we must also focus effort on our mental health. Lucky for us, there is one self-care practice that you can plant into your daily routine that helps both your physical and mental health – EXERCISE! 

Sleep plays a vital role in achieving and maintaining mental health. The effects of inadequate sleep can influence our mood, emotional reactivity, and cognitive function. But, why? And, how important is sleep to our overall mental health, really? Let's find out in this next installment in our blog series, "Cultivating Mental Health".

Providing your body and mind with the nutrients needed to work properly, can plant a seed for positive mental health, mood and well-being. Find out the effects unhealthy foods have on your brain, and what foods you can eat to improve your mental health.

Over the next several weeks, our blog series “Cultivating Mental Health”, will explore key factors that significantly impact mental health. We will examine the effects of food, sleep, exercise, social media use, and social relationships to your mental health. It is our hope, by sharing this information that you will be inspired to plant self-care practices into your daily life, which will root positive mental health and propagate emotional well-being and happiness throughout your life.

As a parent, seeing your teen struggle with suicidal ideation is about as scary as it comes. The experience can not only be emotionally draining, but often lonely and disorienting - not knowing where, how or who to ask for help. However, finding support and resources to help both you and your child through this life-threatening situation is paramount. In this article we will provide you with local (ID & WY) and national resources that can help.

Being a military spouse comes with great challenges and a constant raw state of revolving emotions, but there is also great pride in service and other benefits ... Good and Bad. I am Suzanne Hughes, LPC - licensed counselor, mother and military spouse. This is my journey navigating the ups and downs of military life, and finding myself along the way.

With a new diagnosis, the process of grief often begins. Chronic or serious illness, disease, and pain can threaten our way of life and plans for the future. It may even force us to confront our own mortality and fear of death. So, how do you begin to cope with a serious diagnosis, while mourning the healthy life of yesterday? HCBH counselor, Sarah Thompson, PPC, shares some advice.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is not a passing case of the winter blues - it is a major depressive disorder. Individuals experiencing symptoms of SAD, should seek treatment from a medical or mental health professional. Learn more about the symptoms, cause and treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Parenting can be a challenging task for all of us.  When kids have been through something hard such as a traumatic event, medical issues, mental health issues, separation from a parent, foster care, or adoption, they need even more from their parents.  Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) is designed to help parents navigate parenting a child who has extra struggles.