Did you know that more than 51 million Americans experience mental illness? May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Participants are encouraged to end the stigma around mental illness and promote conversations about mental health. Yardi offers an array of resources to support mental health awareness and services. Mental health by the numbers Per the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly one in every five adults live with a mental illness. That’s approximately 51.5 million Americans aged 18 and older that have a diagnosed condition. An estimated 49.5% of adolescents ages 13-18 have a mental disorder. The National Library of Medicine reports that “46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.” The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) reflects similar numbers: in any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will experience a mental health problem or illness. By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have experienced a mental illness. With more than 20% of the population living with mental illness, we face a growing need to understand mental health. That understanding comes in the form of formal research and open dialogue with our communities. Mental Health Resource Library To support the wellbeing of its employees, clients and their residents, Yardi has sponsored the COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Library. The investment and property management software provider developed the library to aid those affected the pandemic. The virtual library offers tools to help manage changes in our homes, employment and social conditions. Users can explore practical insights from dozens of videos, articles and other media. Each is presented on a free, user-friendly platform that is accessible on any internet-enabled device. The...

When it comes to the discussion of seniors’ mental wellness, we are often directed to the latest medicines and advances in technology. To help many seniors prevent and mitigate illness, we need to look no farther than their plates.  Mental Wellness Starts from Within Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky led a team of researchers on a quest to understand just how much of our happiness lies within our control. Based on their research, the team proposed the 50-10-40 formula: “approximately 50 percent of variance in happiness is determined by genes, and 10% of variance in happiness is determined by circumstances.” That leaves the remaining 40 percent of our happiness to be determined by our actions. We may immediately think of how we handle stressors as a factor of joy, but one of our most important actions is how we nourish our bodies. Feel-good hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine, are produced in the gut. When we consume inflammatory foods—which for many include dairy, sugars, processed grain, and alcohol–we interrupt the natural balance of the gut. The probiotics, or good bacteria and yeasts, cannot operate optimally. Bad bacteria, yeasts, and parasites thrive, adversely affecting the production of feel-good hormones. The results can cause or aggravate several ailments that affect seniors including fatigue, anxiety, and depression, as well as digestive issues, respiratory problems, several autoimmune disorders, arthritis, and more. In addition to a hormone imbalance, poor nutrition can weaken our immune system. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is responsible for antibody production. When the GI tract experiences inflammation and imbalance, protective antibodies are not produced adequately. We are more susceptible to infection and illness. When we are sick, our social interactions suffer as well as our ability to exercise and maintain high spirits. Food: Tried and True Medicine When...

The understanding of our relationship with the built environment continues to evolve. The sustainability movement of the 1970s encouraged construction that conserved earth’s limited resources. In the 1990s, universal design motivated us to create accessible and multi-generational abodes. Now, the psychological ecosystem services movement is exploring the connection between urban environments and mental health. According to the World Health Organization, “one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.” While treatments are available to address mental health from the inside out, fostering mental well-being from the outside in is also a viable supplement. By understanding how urban spaces affect our mental well-being, we may minimize negative outcomes. Thought leaders Greg Bratman and Agnes van den Berg represent two generations that are forging the path towards urban spaces that nourish the mind. Psychological ecosystem services is a budding field of environmental psychology. Greg Bratman is a PhD candidate in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources at Stanford University. He seeks evidence for the impact of nature experiences on cognitive function, mood, and emotion regulation. The results of his research will be incorporated into urban design and decision-making. Bratman explains, “This knowledge can inform the ways in which urban planners incorporate nature into cities, and provide accessible natural landscapes for urban and suburban residents.  It can also provide support for the conservation of open space and wilderness areas in policy design.” For his recent study, Bratman analyzed the rumination patterns (repetitive thought focused on negative aspects of the self) of 38 people. The participants recorded their current levels of rumination and...