Painted Brain Blog
Covering Underrepresented Communities
and Mental Health
What Makes a Good Peer Support Specialist?
by Stanley Clark | Aug 6, 2023 | Blog, Peer Training
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that there were around 126,700 community health workers in the United States in 2021. Among this number are peer support specialists who feel a sense...
How to Build a Support System When Youre Struggling with Mental Illness
by Manuel Martinez | Aug 1, 2023 | Mental Health
Living with mental health challenges can be an overwhelming experience, but you don't have to face it alone. Establishing a robust support network can provide a lifeline during times of emotional...
The Psychology of Board Games: Understanding the Social and Cognitive Benefits
by Katie Brenneman | Jul 30, 2023 | Mental Health
Image by Gian-Luca Riner on Unsplash There’s nothing better than the post-session buzz that follows an evening rolling d20s, checking character sheets, and solving puzzles with your friends or...
How to Practice Mindfulness during Your Vacation and Support Your Mental Health
by Isabelle Marinier | Jul 25, 2023 | Lifestyle, Mental Health
There are two types of vacationers: the adventurer and the relaxer. The adventurer is a thrill seeker. As soon as they land at their destination, they are out to explore nearby attractions,...
Some Reasons You Might Prefer Peer Support Over Therapy
by Mark Larson | Jul 24, 2023 | Mental Health, Peer Training
The mental health plateau has officially experienced a Rennaissance - of a sort. The stigma revolving around exceptionally common yet often cloaked mental conditions, such as depression or...
What are the benefits of peer support in mental Health?
by Violet Silva | Jul 22, 2023 | Mental Health, Peer Training
It is unavoidable that everyone encounters problems and challenges to grow stronger and develop new skills. Even when these instances have long since passed, people rarely find it simpler to...
How Dreams Can Indicate Our Mental Well-Being
by Nicholas Parker | Jul 22, 2023 | Editorial, Mental Health
Our mental state has a significant influence on our dreams. Stressful situations or anxiety might lead to unsettling dreams or nightmares, while periods of happiness and relaxation may result in more pleasant dream experiences.
How Owning A Dog Can Boost Your Mental Health
by Bianca Ward | Jul 22, 2023 | Lifestyle, Mental Health
It’s fair to say that a large population of the world is enduring something of a mental health crisis. Historically, doctors and psychiatrists have driven people toward medicines and therapy as a...
Managing Anxiety and Depression in a Financial Crisis
by Jim Hughes | Jul 21, 2023 | Lifestyle
Financial uncertainty threatens our bank accounts and mental health. When our financial situations become unstable or difficult, it often triggers anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and loss of...
Navigating a New Era of Creativity: The Inspiring Journey of Mind Mapping
by Bianca Ward | Jul 21, 2023 | Blog, Digital Health Literacy
Once upon a time, a Silicon Valley techie named Jake lived in the bustling city of San Francisco. Jake had the industrious spirit typical of his profession but struggled with organizing his thoughts...
The Healing Power of Travel: How Exploring the World Can Benefit Mental Health
by Katie Brenneman | Jul 12, 2023 | Lifestyle, Mental Health
If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or stuck in a rut, it might be time to pack your bags and hit the road. Travel has been known to positively impact mental health, allowing individuals to...
Beyond Words: The Art of Interpretation in a Multilingual World
by Anna Catrall | Jul 6, 2023 | Lifestyle
In today's increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultures and languages has become very important. That's why interpreters have a vital...
Being Active Physically for a Better Mental Health
by Anna Catrall | Jul 5, 2023 | Blog, Lifestyle, Mental Health
You already know that exercise is good for your body, but exercise is as great for your brain as it is for your body. Did you know that exercise can boost your mood, improve your sleep, and help you...
How to Prepare for Your Baby: Mother’s Edition
by Anna Catrall | Jul 4, 2023 | Blog, Lifestyle, Mental Health
As a pregnant person, it's natural to experience a range of emotions during this time. You may feel happy, scared, or even cry at times. It's important to recognize that these feelings are normal,...
Innovative Approaches to Online Therapy: The Future of Virtual Reality in Mental Health Care
by Nina Sumner | Jun 27, 2023 | Mental Health
Nearly four in ten Americans (38%) have used telehealth services to meet with a medical or mental health professional, according to one 2021 national public opinion poll of U.S. adults by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
How Employee Performance Management Builds High-Performing Teams
by Nicholas Parker | Jun 27, 2023 | Blog, Mental Health
Flow is the mental state of being in which a person is fully immersed in an activity with a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success. Csikszentmihalyi is the leading researcher of flow, a term he coined in his first book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper Perennial, 2008). For more information, see Personal and Professional Development Tip from Psychology Studies.
Inclusivity and Meeting Needs of Individuals with Disabilities in Behavioral Health
by Jessica Ng | Jun 20, 2023 | Mental Health
In behavioral health, it is essential to recognize and cater to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. Nurturing inclusivity and providing appropriate support are fundamental to...
How different social media platforms are supporting users’ mental health
by Cory Shilling | Jun 14, 2023 | Mental Health, Social Media
Modern times have given us social media and problems caused by social media. Luckily, some social platforms pay attention to their users’ mental health. These platforms offer pieces of advice on how to deal with negative emotions. Some of them teach us how to prevent mental health issues. Others protect us from hate speech, body shaming, and abusive messages.
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PB Events

Self-Portrait Night
Painted Brain in collaboration with local artist and musician Jennie Lawless had a great night of painting on September 29, 2022. Lawless’ first time teaching was a success, and she did an excellent job leading participants through the process of creating their...
CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge
OPEN CASTING CALL - Pink Lotus Pictures and Painted Brain are seeking talent for the following roles in their Short Film for the CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge! COLOR ME MIND MILES (African American Male, 20s - 30s) Despite being fairly young, MILES has had a tough...
Painted Brain’s Co-Executive Director Appointed by Governor Newsom
It is official! On May 19, 2022, Rayshell Chambers our Co-Executive Director was appointed to the statewide Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability...
Painted Brain’s Short Film Wins 3rd Place at the Awareness Film Festival’s CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge
Painted Brain’s short film, COLORFUL MINDS, won 3rd place at the Awareness Film Festival’s CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge. This empowering event showcases films on important causes and supports a variety of non-profit charities.

“Caribbean Black”: A Wonderful and Moving Addition to “Discovering a Place for Us”
Artists Claire Jones, Kareena Rivera, Davy Andrek, and Amaranthia Sepia collaborated to create a spoken word poem performance that highlights the traumas Black people experience at the hands of racism in the United States. Claire Jones (the narrator) speaks over...

Discovering a Place for Us
Discovering a Place for Us is a great collaboration that Painted Brain uses to give people a welcoming place to express themselves and their experiences through art. This has become a gift for those involved, to be able to heal and share through the arts. The talented...

A New Step for Mental Health: Painted Brain’s Work with Psychiatric Advanced Directives
Painted Brain is leading the initiative to pass legislation that would change the way people experience mental health treatment and care. The legislation would enforce a legal rights document, Psychiatric Advance Directives—or PADs for short—that allows people with...
