Bryan Busch

The research and statistics around social media’s impact on mental health have been widely broadcast. The very nature of being addicted, chasing validation, comparing ourselves and our lives to fake realities, the fear of missing out and doomscrolling can have catastrophic consequences for mental health.

The exploration of how social media impacts our day-to-day lives — including the dramatic effects on mental health — is perhaps just beginning to truly unfold. But particularly during this time of year, it’s important to reflect on how social media has shifted and shaped how we experience and perceive both the holiday season and our preparations for the New Year.

Making self-care a priority can benefit both fathers and their children.

In the context of the value of finding innocence, what if we all — individually and collectively — agreed to set aside judgment and instead focus on enjoying the fundamental positives of Halloween?

We can all commit to living a simpler life by choosing to value things like nature, relationships, mental health and wellbeing above material things.

Forgiveness is not a passive endeavor, but rather a deliberate choice and intentional action. Perhaps National Forgiveness Day is the perfect opportunity to take account of the negative feelings you might be holding onto and embrace the transformative power of forgiveness.

Most people have goals — lifelong dreams or daily tasks — they wish to achieve. However, most people also face obstacles that prevent or delay those things from happening, such as time and capacity restraints, lack of motivation or fear of failure.

We’re all human, which means we’re bound to act selfish at times. But being intentional about stepping back and challenging ourselves to be more aware and considerate of those around us will not only help to improve our own well-being but make important strides for our society as a whole.

Too often in our society, we view the absence of scheduled events as vacant opportunity. In other words, it is a common belief that every available moment of the day should be filled with structured and defined activities. But what if the opposite is true?

In many ways, the world seems more chaotic and hectic than ever; that’s why it’s important to consider our relationship with time and how we can take steps to slow down, identify our priorities, and more fully enjoy our most precious resource.

Fear, as it is a normal and universal part of the human experience, can exist on a wide spectrum.

Maybe it is time to refocus our time and energy on – and support for – our local community.

These opposing sentiments can wreck havoc on mental health but they don’t have to.

The parallels between gangs and politics can have eerily similar impacts on our individual and collective mental health. The divisions, tensions, hostilities and aggression can increase stress, fear and anxiety, and induce or exacerbate trauma experienced by millions.

According to the World Health Organization, globally about 12 billion working days are lost every year due to depression and anxiety, representing a financial cost of around $1 trillion.