Struck By Living

Adolescence

Discussing Illness Without Alienating the Ill

Julie K. Hersh on February 20, 2015

The arts offer an unthreatening microscope and telescope to examine stories, which we can adapt to our own healing.

Suicide

Can a Bad Boy Ever be a Good Role Model?

Julie K. Hersh on January 30, 2015

Can the lessons of Stagger Lee teach a new generation to make lasting change?

SSRIs

The Presence of Absence - Holidays without Parents

Julie K. Hersh on December 26, 2014

A discovery of memorabilia on Christmas morning brings back memories of parents who are no longer with us. The good news for those who are encountering this experience for the first time - it does get better.

Depression

An Unexpected Thanksgiving Story

Julie K. Hersh on November 23, 2014

A mother gets an unexpected surprise when she hikes to the point where she attempted suicide in 2001 with her now 20 year-old son.

Depression

Shared Experience of Depression Heals Two from Two Cultures

Julie K. Hersh on October 30, 2014

Decidí Vivir, the Spanish translation of Struck by Living, released this week. The translation process helped heal two families of different languages and culture, but a shared experience of depression.

Depression

How to Survive Your Spouse's Depression

Julie K. Hersh on September 27, 2014

Being there for a suicidal spouse means protecting yourself first. Here are five ways to maintain your mental health while a loved one is suffering from suicidal depression.

Depression

Mental Health Needs More than a Wake Up Call

Julie K. Hersh on August 29, 2014

After a flurry of interviews the week of Robin Williams death, a writer reflects on the change needed to cause a quantum shift in mental health.

Resilience

Faith, the Intangible Force in Resilience

Julie K. Hersh on July 25, 2014

Inspired by the faith of immigrants in the "Lost in Translation" speaker series, Hersh explores the impact of faith on resilience. This event took place at the Dallas Museum of Art as part of Arts and Letters Live.

Resilience

Jacob Schick: Resilience Through Staying on Mission

Julie K. Hersh on June 29, 2014

Marine Corps Corporal Jacob Schick, veteran of Iraq who sustained 46 operations and 23 blood transfusions after nearly dying on duty, gives his credo for maintaining a positive attitude.

Meditation

Finding Balance in May Madness

Julie K. Hersh on May 30, 2014

How do you appreciate those important spring moments when there are too many of them?

Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation: The Missing Link in Mental Health Care

Julie K. Hersh on April 30, 2014

How does a chance mother-son bet spur global suicide awareness?

Suicide

An Ounce of Engagement: The Key to Reducing Military Suicide

Julie K. Hersh on March 26, 2014

Most of military suicides occur once personnel have left the military and returned home. Can engagement change this trend?

Suicide

The Life Lessons of a SMART Class

Julie K. Hersh on February 28, 2014

Smart Mental Edge Training (SMART) at the Center for BrainHealth offers a lesson about the military.

Depression

The Universal Personal Secret

Julie K. Hersh on February 21, 2014

Can the arts be a vehicle for healing?

Depression

Mental Illness: Do We See It Coming?

Julie K. Hersh on January 14, 2014

We need a change of focus to make a quantum shift in mental health care. We need to see it coming. Along with attacking illness, we need to teach people how to care for their brains.