Category Archives: Mental Health

Why You Can’t Miss The Medical Education Convergence Weekend

August 26, 2022

The 2022 Medical Education Convergence (MEC) Weekend is a three-day educational experience designed to connect leading minds and influential voices in healthcare. Gathering experts from a range of medical specialties – from psychoneuroimmunology to pediatric nutrition – and game-changing educational programs, this event provides unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.

Taking place at the stunning Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, between September 8-10, 2022, MEC Weekend offers more than just professional development. Hosted on a luxurious property offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, 102 acres of lush grounds, and a suite of amenities, the event venue is a reason to attend in itself.

California is the perfect place to kick off a new academic season with sun-filled days and outdoor activities abound, immersed in the nature of the coast. The event brings together the best of both worlds, a relaxing end-of-summer getaway with cutting-edge educational programming. Featuring the inaugural Pediatric Brain and Resilience Summit, Navigate Aging: Telomere Biology and Longevity Summit, Peptide Therapy Masterclass, and the bestselling Module XVI-A: Advanced Cardiovascular Health – the MEC weekend will be a monumental event.

Read on to discover some innovative programs and topics we are most excited about.

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The Untold Truth: How Parental Mental Illness Affects Children’s Mental Health

July 29, 2022

Mental health among the population has reached new lows. The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound and prevailing toll on the mental well-being of children, well-documented by parents, pediatricians, and psychologists. Suicide has become a leading cause of death for children above the age of 10, and mental health issues were the reason behind a surge of children’s emergency room visits during the first portion of the pandemic.

Congruently, adult mental health has plummeted in recent years with rising rates of substance use disorders, overdoses, and mental health conditions. According to the latest statistics from Mental Health America, nearly 50 million American adults are currently experiencing a mental illness, and over half do not receive any treatment.

Neither of these populations struggles in a vacuum, yet the impact of caregivers’ mental health on that of their children can range from protective to debilitating. As recent research reports, declines in pediatric mental health are strongly associated with parent-driven factors, from maltreatment to parental mental illness.

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Sleep Deprivation: The Hidden Cause of Healthcare Professional Burnout

June 29, 2022

“Burnout is at a crisis level, made worse by COVID-19,” says sleep medicine specialist Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, quoted by MedPageToday.

Approximately 50% of healthcare professionals were already experiencing some form of burnout syndrome before the pandemic, which only worsened their professional and personal wellbeing. Per the Surgeon General Advisory issued on May 23, 2022, there is an urgent need to address the healthcare worker burnout crisis sweeping across the country. This is not only to support those currently struggling but also to prepare for the projected shortage of 3 million low-wage healthcare workers in the next five years. Continue reading →