Simple tips
to improve
mental
health
By Kathy Aney
EO Media Group
I
n the darkness of the winter months, it’s a
good time to consider ways to reduce anxi-
ety, stress and depression.
Kimberly Lindsay, executive director of
Community Counseling Solutions, shared
some advice during a wide-ranging discussion on
the topic of mental health.
Lindsay is one of those thoughtful, optimis-
tic individuals who seems to pass on her calm
demeanor through osmosis to anyone nearby. Her
agency provides mental health services for four
Eastern Oregon counties, helping clients cope
with a wide array of mental illness. Off work, she
enjoys a thriving home life with her rancher hus-
band and children. Mental illness has touched her
family personally with the suicide deaths of Lind-
say’s cousin, father and grandfather.
So Lindsay knows different sides of mental
health — the good, bad and the ugly.
Those experiencing severe mental illness, such
as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depres-
sion, should get professional help. However, she
said, most of us can boost our own mental health
by taking simple steps. One way is through posi-
tive social interaction.
Lindsay believes relationships affect mental
health big time — and it can go either way. Bad
relationships damage the psyche while good ones
See Tips, Page 9
8 / FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE 2019
EO Media Group/E.J. Harris
Sally Brandsen, owner of The Sally Script, works on a
project for the Pendleton Dancing with the Stars charity
on her laptop at Great Pacifi c Wine & Coff ee Co. Jan. 17 in
Pendleton. Mental health professionals believe there are
many positive help benefi ts to limiting the amount of one’s
screen time.