If we treated physical illness like we treat mental illness

There are many stereotypes about mental illness — like wrongly thinking that someone is able to just "get over it." But, like phy...

Can birth control affect your mood?

Birth control is one of the most commonly used prescription drugs — taken by more than 10 million women across the nation. It's used t...

'I like you...just as you are'

In my favorite scene of the movie "Bridget Jones Diary," the character Mark Darcy tells her, "I like you very much. Just as...

Suicide prevention line workers are heroes

The people sitting at a desk with their headsets on, taking a deep breath every time the phone rings, have one of the most important jobs....

Some things to be thankful for — family, friends and bacon

This Thanksgiving, I challenge you not to think of your misfortunes or the things you wish you had. Too often, we concentrate on the things ...

Is independence the key to happiness?

I believe that independence is the key to happiness. Independence is a basic human need.  Independence is, what I feel, is one of ...

Young woman kills herself, brother dies after rushing to the hospital to be with her

The Macomb Daily/RAY J. SKOWRONEK  A recent study shows that more than 80 percent of depressed people express self-dislike and see thems...

Halloween: The only day where you should pretend to be someone else

Halloween is one day each year where you can pretend to be someone you're not. For me, I'm being my favorite red-haired characte...

Health care workers launch anti-bullying website

October is National Anti-Bullying Month, and a consortium of health care workers, business professionals, social workers and youth minist...

When confidence crosses the line into 'bragging'

When we accomplish something or something good happens to us, we like to talk about it. After working hard to achieve a goal or having a dr...

Suicide affects even those who barely knew you

Today, I found out that a woman who blogged with The Oakland Press died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, accordi...

Don't let disappointments in life keep you from getting excited about the future

Getty Images Do you remember when your parents would tell you that you were going to Disney World, or some other vacation, and you were ...

Katy Perry talks about how she considered suicide after split from husband

When I think of singer Katy Perry, I picture the bright colored costumes — like her lollipop dress— or her neon hair styles. I think of he...

With Kurt Cobain's childhood home up for sale, a look into his life and death

AP Photo "T here's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too f**king sad....

The end of a job shouldn't mean the end of a life

A large part of most people's identity is in the job they have. I know for me, if I'm asked to describe myself, one of the first ...

Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy: Overcoming depression is 'about feeling all right and feeling safe in your own skin'

From Fall Out Boy's Facebook page In  high school, I admittedly had a crush on bassist Pete Wentz of the punk rock band Fall Out Boy...

Rebecca Ann Sedwick's suicide shows how cruel middle school girls can be

In the newsroom next to my desk is a television that is constantly playing CNN in the afternoon so, if any national disasters occur, we wi...

We're all weirdos

Photo from "Ruby Sparks" You can't change people. Everyone has their quirks. It's part of being human. I'm sure ...

Stressed out because I'm stressed out

Have you ever felt like this? I definitely have!

If you can't think of any, here are some reasons to live!

I was really excited to go on to Twitter today and see that the hashtag #Reasonstolive was trending. It was good, for once, to see an inspi...

Embarrassing moments aren't the end of the world

I came up with the idea to write a story for The Oakland Press, with school starting up next week, of local residents sharing their most e...

Max Bemis of Say Anything: A look into bipolar disorder and creativity

If you are diagnosed with a mental disorder, don't consider it a debilitating disease. For me, I have always believed tha...

Former Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand taken off life support after hanging herself

Instagram "You can be the richest and most beautiful person in the world and, if you're mentally ill, nothing can change that.&...

Why do people attempt suicide in public places? Woman loses life to suicide in Auburn Hills parking lot

The Oakland Press/TIM THOMPSON Can you imagine going into work in the morning and finding a dead body in the parking lot? This is what...

New study shows that teens who hear voices may be at higher risk for suicide

Art by Jonathon Rosen Imagine hearing someone physically speaking to you. You have no idea what this person is going to say. Sounds...

Coping with becoming an adult

There is a moment when a person realizes he or she is officially an adult. For me, it was when I realized that I no longer can eat whateve...

Addiction

What Cory Monteith's life teaches about the dangers of drug addiction

It was 2 a.m. Sunday during my mini-vacation to Chicago this weekend and, as I was sitting in my friend's studio apartment, she sudden...