The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our collective mental health. We’ve adjusted how we live life in many ways — from small habits like never leaving the house without hand sanitizer, to more significant changes, like missing out on lifetime celebrations. These changes have indeed impacted how we think and feel about ourselves and our world.

Most of us understand the idea of mental health, but this year for World Mental Health Day we asked Alexis Lyon-Claus, LMFT, behavioral health manager at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, to help explain behavioral health and share advice on what you and your loved ones can do to continue to navigate your mental health journeys through the pandemic.

Today and every day, we celebrate mothers and mother figures in our lives and recognize the care they give to their families, their communities and their careers. This Mother’s Day, we asked Stephanie Parmely, PhD, a Behavioral Health Psychologist at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group and mom, to weigh-in on how she navigates motherhood, her career and most importantly, self-care.

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Stress levels among Americans are on the rise largely on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association (APA). April is National Stress Awareness Month and while stress is a natural human emotion that helps us prepare and perform as necessary (think “fight or flight” mode), it can also negatively impact our health.

Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group Behavioral Health and Sacramento County have partnered in creating a new program to support children and families who are at risk of becoming homeless or are currently experiencing homelessness. The Children's Program applies a holistic approach to health. It treats both physical and mental health, while making sure families feel safe and self-sufficient.

Dignity Health Medical Groups rapidly scaled their virtual care capabilities at an unprecedented rate at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients have since enjoyed the safety and convenience of virtual visits. Dignity Health Medical Group Behavioral Health patients have especially shown a great interest in video visits, with more than 85% of appointments being conducted virtually since the beginning of the pandemic.