MENTAL HEALTH

We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.

Mental load: Are you familiar with that term?

A man called the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8277 just before getting into the water with a heavy backpack in an attempt to drown on Sunday night in Miami Beach.

A foundation hired Wellspring Counseling to provide mental health services to those who were impacted by the Surfside building collapse.

Have you ever heard of the term “Stockholm syndrome?” Well, Monday marks a little history since the incident that led to its creation took place in Sweden.

The smile on full display from Simone Biles said it all: The U.S. superstar stuck the landing on her balance beam routine, her face lit up, and all at once, she embodied pure joy, a seventh Olympic medal, and likely some relief, having the weight of the world off her back, at least for a few minutes.

Therapy gave Danielle Gomez the tools she needed to navigate a particularly hard chapter in her life, after both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer within six months of one another; she suffered a miscarriage; and then got pregnant again.

Even if you haven’t been watching the Olympic Games like a hawk, you’ve likely heard the biggest news of the week: Gymnast Simone Biles, who is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, withdrew from the women’s team contest after her first rotation on the vault Tuesday, and then pulled out from the individual all-around competition the following day.

Kristen Aguirre, by all accounts, did everything right: She wanted to deliver the news, and work as a storyteller, especially for underserved communities -- and after college, she landed TV jobs in Quincy, Illinois; Flint, Michigan; and then Denver, working as a reporter and anchor. It seemed like nothing could stop her. Until she was blindsided by a ischemic stroke that hit the motor strip of her brain.

The following article touches on mental health as it pertains to those who have worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the real emotional stories we cover play out in the documentary above. Health care turned upside-downIn March 2020, the world was flipped upside-down, and because of that, there have been and continue to be many who have experienced difficult moments, some of which have led to real mental health crises. As a society, we’re constantly putting an emphasis on physical health, which is important, but somewhere along the way, it seems as though mental health was forgotten. This certainly wasn’t someone who suffered from mental health conditions or depression for years. Watch our entire special, What Lies Beneath: Managing Mental Health, above.

In 2018, singer Demi Lovato almost lost her life to a drug overdose, and now, she’s stepped forward to tell the world her story. Lovato’s new docuseries “Dancing With the Devil,” which you can watch on YouTube, explores the events that led up to her near fatal overdose. The docuseries not only covers Lovato’s prior mental health issues, but how she now processes her daily struggles. AdMany of us have known someone who has had difficulty with mental health, or perhaps someone who struggles with addiction. The first two episodes of “Dancing with the Devil” are available to watch on YouTube, and you can expect to see two more episodes coming out.

DeSantis sent a letter Tuesday to House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, outlining his recommendations. He said he wanted to give lawmakers some leeway with the remaining $6 billion, considering it’s still uncertain when the funds will be given to the states and what the federal guidelines will be on how it can be spent. Some of the remaining funds, though, should go into the state’s reserves, he said.

It’s OK to be sad. Everyone feels "off" sometimes, whether that means, sad, angry or frustrated. Those are normal human emotions. But what about if you feel more than sad? Have you considered seeing a therapist?

MIAMI Byron Reckful Bernstein, an Esports celebrity and a popular Twitch streamer, died on Thursday by suicide, according to his brother. Reckful, who was based out of Austin, Texas, was one of the top World of Warcraft players in the world. His last tweets on Thursday morning:Ahh, I feel bad for anyone who has to deal with my insanity.Please just know in these situations the insane person does not feel in control of their actions.Byron Bernsteins brother, Guy Bernstein, also died by suicide.

Isolation, social distancing and staying indoors may be starting to take its toll on your mental health. But for those who are suffering from an addiction or have a diagnosed mental health disorder, the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus may have an even more dramatic effect on their mental state. Studies indicate that social isolation plays a large role in perpetuating addictive and mental health behaviors. One of the major roles behavioral health centers play is to provide a close-knit community of experts and peers who can help relieve those feelings of isolation through residential treatment programs. Some of the benefits of the program include:Addiction and mental health treatment in the comfort of your own home.