Long-Term Risks of Traumatic Brain Injury

Packed full of baseball games, pool parties, and bike rides; summer is a time where the weather is warm and physical activities are at a peak. Unfortunately, so is the risk for injury.

WOWT reported a story about a local softball player who suffered a brain injury after diving head first for a ball. The 15-year old caught the ball, tossed it to her teammates, and seemed to be fine. However, as the game progressed her vision became blurry. She started to have trouble hearing and soon began to cry uncontrollably. This outpouring of emotion was something out of the norm for the notoriously tough ball player.

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents

In a recent study from Yale School of Medicine, adolescents with bipolar disorder have visible differences in both their prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, and the insula, which is the part of the brain involved in emotion and self-awareness.

Answering the Call

Over the past few days, the Omaha area has endured the loss of several people to suicide. Answering a call or receiving a notification about the death of a community member will never be easy- this has become painfully clear. Because of my role at The Kim Foundation, I have spent countless hours researching suicide statistics, trends, common warning signs, prevention techniques, and even the history of suicide. But no book or online resource will ever fully prepare someone for the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Project UROK

Project UROK is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a catalog of funny, meaningful videos for teenagers struggling with mental health issues, made by people who have been there before. In doing so, the site provides not only practical assistance, but also more importantly, a sense of belonging, a sense of comfort, and a sense of hope.

Keeping Veteran Mental Health Top of Mind

This month marked the fifth annual Nebraska Behavioral Health Conference, Success, Hopes and Dreams in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to the fabulous key note speakers and numerous breakout sessions, this year we welcomed the talented actors of Outside the Wire for a free presentation of Theater of War.

Mental Health Awareness Month

As many of you know, May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, which is obviously quite important to us here at The Kim Foundation. As we spend all of the year working to build awareness around mental health, we greatly appreciate a month being set aside for the entire country to focus on it as well.

#B4Stage4

As many know, May is Mental Health Awareness month. Mental Health America launched an early identification and intervention awareness campaign called, #B4Stage4. Many people may not realize that their symptoms such as loss of sleep, trouble concentrating, and increased or decreased appetite could be a sign of a deeper problem.

Mental Health in the Workplace

The importance of mental wellness is finally beginning to get noticed by corporations across the country. Joe Sifer, senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategy and technology firm, understands first-hand that the connection between mind and body is undeniable.

K2 Outbreak in Lincoln

Last November I wrote an article in our monthly newsletter entitled “The Scary Truth About Synthetic Drugs.” These man-made drugs look much like normal marijuana, however, the lethal compound sprayed on the leaves can cause paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, and in some cases death. In recent weeks Lincoln, Nebraska has seen over 100 K2 overdoses, leading police to search two local smoke shops and seize more than 1,200 packages of the drug.