Winter is Coming...
While the phrase “winter is coming” might be a humorous reference to Game of Thrones, mental illness is a serious matter that needs to be addressed with the utmost respect. According to the World Health Organization, World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1992 and has since become an annual affair that takes place on October 10th. This day is set aside specifically to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
Amongst all of the fun and joy that accompanies the holiday season, it’s important to remember that more than 45 million Americans struggle with mental health and for some this drastically worsens during the winter months. Utah provides an unfortunate combination of long winters, air pollution, and higher elevation which have all been tied back to increased risks of depression according to the Senior Medical Director for Wellness and Nutrition at Intermountain Healthcare says Utah, Elizabeth Joy.
Whether you have battled mental illness all of your life, or if you have noticed that things get a bit tougher during wintertime, Utah is home to a variety of companies and resources that are dedicated to providing you with the tools and education to ease the struggle and lead a fulfilling life.
*Please note that these resources are not meant to replace professional help, and/or medication.
Chanelle Cozette is currently the VP of Product Development at Avisae, but her background is rooted in autoimmune disease and functional health. Chanelle is incredibly passionate about the connection between gut health and mental health. Many people don’t know that serotonin, or “the happy drug”, is mainly produced in the gut, making a healthy microbiome essential. Chanelle has formulated a product line called Love Your Gut and also offers a program called The Gut Refresh designed to help holistically heal and repair your gut. She also has an incredibly educational blog that dives deep into countless topics, including the connection between mental health and pollution that was mentioned in this post’s introduction. Chanelle is a wealth of knowledge regarding gut health that you should definitely follow on social media.
Provo Health Clinic has been educating people about patient advocacy and offering natural approaches to healing such as Ozone Therapy, Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for well over 30 years. This unique clinic is owned by husband and wife, Tristan and Juanique Roney, accompanied by Cecilia Salvesen. Cecilia has a wildly impressive background that is backed by diplomas in Complementary Medicine, Therapeutic Reflexology, Therapeutic Aromatherapy, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology. Tristan is an expert in Contemplative Psychotherapy who was well on his way to becoming a licensed psychologist when he was diagnosed with Stage IV rectal cancer.
Their joint journey to find healing was kicked into high gear when Juanique was told her husband would not be around for the birth of the child that she was pregnant with at the time of Tristan’s diagnosis. In addition to their inspiring personal story, Tristan and Juanique are well known for their highly educational podcast called Gutsy Health which dives into the science behind various health conditions, especially those pertaining to mental health. Their passion is empowering others to find the root cause of their health struggles and understanding what the body needs in order to operate optimally.
Karalynne Call is a Utah blogger who has taken the Instagram world by storm after sharing her personal battle with severe depression. Karalynne dedicated years of research and exploration with her doctors to better understand the root cause of her depression and how to heal. Her search for healing took her down a path of healthful eating habits and non-toxic household products, which she shares about on her Instagram account Just.Ingredients. She has since become a certified Nutritionist and Mental Health Advocate. In 2019 Karalynne took things a step further and launched her own product line which includes deodorant, face serum, face scrub, chapstick, as well as a variety of other products that are in the works. She also has a number of cookbooks to learn how to more easily improve gut health, which has more recently been deemed a major component of mental health. Karalynne is a great resource for understanding the impact that certain products that most of us expose ourselves to on a daily basis can negatively impact the body and our mental health. She provides accessible swaps that make daily improvements easy and stress-free. Her restaurant recommendations are also incredibly helpful for those of us in Utah who are looking to heal from the inside out.
Life Seasons is a supplement company born in Utah that abides by a powerful motto: Nature works. Science proves it. With over 150 years of combined experience, their staff includes a biochemist, a master herbalist, and even a botanist that are dedicated to harnessing the power of nature to create products that will help you live life to the fullest. Life Seasons only uses ingredients that have been studied at a clinical level, so you can rest assured that these supplement formulas are backed by extensive research. Their website features a variety of resources for you to better understand each and every ingredient to ensure transparency and promote educated decisions. Another webpage goes through various health conditions to educate consumers on how the body works, why certain issues may arise, as well as symptoms and risk factors of leaving each condition untreated. You can even learn about their research process and research history if you’re curious to learn more about what you are putting into your body. Their approach eliminates the need for prescriptions and gives you back your power to advocate for your own health. Whether you are looking to improve your digestive health, immune health, or mind & mood, there are a variety of Life Seasons supplements that are sure to provide you the relief that you are looking for.
Another great expert best shares her goals in her own words: “I want to change the mental health game. I want to make mental health support & education accessible. I want to break mental health stigma and dismantle diet culture. I want to bust the myth that counseling is weak.” Tiffany Roe is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, award-winning psychology teacher, host of the Therapy Thoughts Podcast, speaker, OG therapy is cool merch creator, and owner of Mindful Counseling in Orem, Utah. Her online courses address topics like navigating an LDS faith-based transition, mental health, navigating family relationships during the holidays, eating disorders, mindfulness, and so much more. Despite her completely booked counseling schedule, she has found a way to make getting the help necessary incredibly accessible no matter how demanding your schedule may be. Her Instagram account and podcast series are also great resources for daily tips and messages of encouragement to cultivate a positive lifestyle.
As you can see, Utah is home to some really amazing health experts! With COVID back on the rise, it’s easy to isolate yourself at home and potentially fuel any mental illnesses that you might be struggling with. We hope that by following some of these social media experts and exploring the various options available in our state, you and your family are able to find some tools that will aid in your mental health journey.
