Approximately 2.6 percent of Americans have bipolar disorder. My mom was one of the lucky ones. Growing up with her was a mixed bag. Sometimes Mom was fun, funny and nice. Other times, she grew belligerent, expansive, and psychotic. At times, she was so overcome with depression that she couldn’t get out of bed.  My sister and I never knew which mother we would encounter. Life with her was exhausting (and it sometimes still is, although Mom has far fewer episodes these days, while on medications that work well for her). 

Mom’s frequent episodes made it impossible for her to hold a job. Finally, after many years of study, she became a teacher. Tragically, due to a manic episode, Mom also lost that job after two successful years in the classroom. She was devastated. I cannot help wondering what would have happened if the school she taught in used her experience as a teaching moment for the staff and students instead of quietly letting her go. I can’t help but wonder how many other people are in her position. 

That’s one reason I’m sharing this now - because as parents, partners, children, and caregivers, mental illness touches all of us. Sometimes directly. Sometimes through someone we love.

💬 You’re Not Alone

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness
  

• 1 in 25 lives with a serious mental illness
  

• And since the pandemic, rates of anxiety and depression have risen significantly, especially among teens and young adults.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re people we care for. People we share breakfast with. People we’re raising, or being raised by.

Mental health struggles aren’t always visible. But they often leave trails - patterns that hint at deeper pain:

• Mood swings, fatigue, isolation
  

• Difficulty concentrating, sleeping, eating
  

• Excessive worrying, irritability, or hopelessness
  

• Or, in the case of bipolar disorder, periods of intense energy followed by crushing lows

Recognizing these signs doesn’t mean you have to diagnose your loved one. It means being willing to stay curious, compassionate, and open to supporting them.

💛 What Parents Can Do—For Themselves and Their Loved Ones

Here are a few things I’ve learned from loving someone with a mental illness - and from being a parent who wants to pass on more empathy and less shame:

1. Normalize the conversation

Talk about mental health the way you talk about physical health. No whispers. No shame. Just care.

2. Model boundaries and rest

If you're a parent supporting someone with a mental illness - take care of your nervous system, too. Breathe. Step away. Protect your peace when you can.

3. Create space, not solutions

Sometimes what your loved one needs isn’t advice - it’s presence. Sitting beside someone in their darkness can be more powerful than trying to drag them into the light.

4. Look for early signs - and offer gentle support

Especially with bipolar disorder, early warning signs matter. Sudden bursts of energy, erratic sleep, risky behavior - they’re not "quirks." They’re cues for care.

5. Know what resources are out there

Support groups, online communities, family therapy, mental health hotlines, school counselors - don’t go it alone. You don’t have to.

6. Celebrate the wins—however small

Some days, getting out of bed is the victory. Make room for those moments to matter.

🧠 This Mental Health Month…

Let’s drop the stigma and raise the volume. Whether you’re loving someone with a mental illness, living with one yourself, or simply learning how to show up better - we all have a part to play in making the world kinder.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to have the answers.
You just have to keep showing up with empathy.

That’s more than enough.

Latest News

We don’t need a 72-page report to tell us something’s off

But if you’re wondering what to do about it, here’s where to begin.

This month, a new federal report landed with a thud and a warning.

But here's the thing: Parents already know something’s off.

You don’t need a 72-page document to tell you our kids are tired, wired, and often struggling to thrive. Many of us feel it in our own bodies too.

Where the report stumbles is in what comes next.

Critics say it overlooks root causes like poverty and food access. It raises concerns about vaccine safety, which many experts say is misleading. And while it calls for more prevention, the same administration has cut support for the agencies that make real prevention possible.

So where does that leave us, as parents?

Right here. In the real world. With real kids. And a real opportunity to start small.

🍎 What We Can Do (Right Now)

We don’t need sweeping policies to make healthier choices in our homes. And we definitely don’t need to wait on Washington.

Here are three simple, proven shifts that support your child’s body and brain:

✅ Whole food over packaged food
Not all processed foods are evil, but many are stripped of the nutrients our kids need to grow, focus, and feel steady.

✅ Movement as play, not punishment
Kids don’t need a fitness plan. They need space to run, dance, explore, and use their bodies the way they were built to.

✅ Reduce the “everyday chemicals”
Swap plastic food containers for glass, use unscented cleaners, and choose personal care products with fewer dyes and fragrances. It’s not about fear. It’s about giving the body fewer obstacles.

We can’t control every systemic problem. But we can reclaim what’s in our control—our homes, our habits, and the example we set.

That’s where real change begins. And that’s what LifeUP is here for.

We’re building a path forward for busy parents, one doable step at a time.

Because health doesn’t start in Washington.
It starts in your kitchen.
Your backyard.
Your lunchbox.
Your mindset.

And that’s something we can change. Together.

Gut Check: Add a Little Kraut to Your Plate

Looking for an easy way to support your gut - and your mood? Say hel-looo sauerkraut.

This humble fermented cabbage isn’t just a tangy sidekick to sausages or sandwiches. It’s a prebiotic powerhouse, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome.

Why does that matter?

Because your gut and brain are in constant conversation. It's called the gut-brain axis, and emerging research shows that a healthier gut may support better mood, focus, and even resilience to stress.

Try this: Add a spoonful of sauerkraut to salads, grain bowls, or alongside grilled fish or chicken. Just make sure it’s raw and unpasteurized - so the good bacteria are alive and thriving.

Small bites, big benefits.

For those not down with the Chinese treat (I admit, it can smell a little), sub in a half cup of kefir into your morning smoothie. Tons of gut-friendly probiotics, less offense to the nostrils.

Pro-tip: don’t blend your kefir (it kills the probiotics), pour it in the cup after blending the rest of your ingredients.

🧠 Research Spotlight: Preventing Mental Health Struggles Before They Start

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says what many of us already feel: mental and behavioral health disorders are rising - and fast.

Key findings:

But there’s good news, too: these struggles are often preventable - if we invest in what works.

The report offers a blueprint for expanding evidence-based prevention programs, especially in schools, parenting, and community outreach. It calls for stronger infrastructure, better coordination, and funding mechanisms that make mental health support more accessible - especially for low-income, rural, and marginalized communities.

The takeaway:

🧠 Brain Bites: Fun Facts for a Healthier You

1. Your gut has a second brain.
The enteric nervous system in your digestive tract has over 100 million neurons - that’s more than your spinal cord! No wonder your gut feelings are so loud. 

2. Laughter lowers stress hormones.
Even fake laughter can reduce cortisol and trigger endorphin release. Cue the awkward chuckle - it still counts.

3. A hug that lasts 20 seconds releases oxytocin.
This “cuddle hormone” boosts trust, lowers blood pressure, and calms the nervous system. Long hugs = health hacks.

4. Fermented foods boost mood.
Foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir support gut bacteria, which in turn produce neurotransmitters like serotonin - aka your brain’s happy juice.

5. Going outside for just 10 minutes improves focus.
Studies show even short doses of nature can sharpen your mind and lift your mood. Porch counts. So does a tree outside the office.

6. Dopamine isn’t about pleasure - it’s about anticipation.
That’s why checking your phone feels so urgent. It’s the possibility of a reward that gets you hooked, not the ding itself.

7. Sleep is your brain’s rinse cycle.
At night, your brain literally washes away toxins - including ones linked to Alzheimer’s. So if you needed an excuse to skip the midnight scroll… this is it.