Why do people seek out digital marketing training—or any form of professional development? The answer is always the same: to do their job better, build new skills, and advance in their career. 

Fires, explosions, floods, earthquakes, chemical spills, power failures, food contamination, acts of terrorism...these are just some of the emergency situations we face across the globe.  

Updated June, 2021.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues on the planet.

There are some truly staggering statistics on how many people are suffering from these conditions, and how few receive appropriate care. 

In the United States alone, an estimated 18% of the population—40 million people—have some form of anxiety (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). 

Even though anxiety is one of the biggest mental health problems in America, access to good treatment remains limited. In fact, studies show that only 10% will receive proper, effective treatment for anxiety. 

It’s a similar story with depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates nearly 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. In some countries, fewer than 10% get any kind of treatment. 

Some experts believe that depression will soon become the second-most common health problem in the world.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s post: debunking harmful myths around anxiety and depression.

These myths perpetuate the cycle of ignorance and shame, and create major barriers to improved mental health in our communities.

Updated June, 2021.

Numerous viral news stories about sexual harassment at work have taken digital networks by storm lately—leading to greater scrutiny of HR practices and policies in the workplace.

Issues around predatory behavior, illegal conduct, and toxic work environments are in the spotlight right now.

But the truth is, it's always been important to comply with workplace legislation and foster positive professional relationships...not just to avoid lawsuits, but to ensure work teams can grow and thrive.

These are the goals of an effective human resources strategy. And if you've recently moved into a supervisor or manager role, they are the most important objectives on your new to-do list.

But we're guessing you've received little or no HR training on how to actually build and sustain a thriving team. What new skills will you need to make a smooth transition?

We researched the most important HR skills for new managers, and spoke with Treena Chabot, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources and the Principal Consultant at TREE for Supervisors, to get her take on which competencies matter most.

These are the 5 human resources skills every new manager needs—but few actually have.

Hayley MacPhail has 20 years experience as a mediator and educator. She specializes in Family Mediation, and teaches an online mediation course at Kompass Professional Development.

If you're considering becoming a mediator (or just want to improve your conflict resolution skills), selecting the right training program can be a major challenge. There are so many options out there.

Updated June, 2021.

Although strides have been made to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness, the issue remains shrouded in shame and secrecy.

Research clearly shows that millions of people across the globe are suffering from poor mental health.

And yet, health care providers and front-line community workers still lack training in how to identify and assist those in need.

And despite the prevalence of mental illness, there is a wide array of poisonous myths regarding the nature of mental health disorders—and the people who are afflicted by them.

Do you have questions about which mental illnesses are most common, their key characteristics, and treatment options?

If you work closely with the public, there is little doubt that you have encountered people suffering from one (or more) of the following 5 mental health issues.

This list isn't definitive, but it offers a good summary of attributes, statistics, and warning signs associated with these very common mental illnesses.

Updated June, 2021.

In a society that glorifies youth, many people would rather ignore the realities of aging. In fact, in many ways, aging is stigmatized and widely misunderstood. There are so many myths and misconceptions about what it means to get older (most of them negative!)

Why is this relevant? Because people are living longer than ever before. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people aged 60 years or over will rise from 900 million to 2 billion worldwide, by 2050.

That's an astonishing increase from 12% to 22% of the total global population.

If you work closely with seniors, or are planning a career in gerontology, you'll be supporting people who live well into their 80s and 90s.

The more we know about the aging process, the better prepared we are to promote good quality of life in those later years.

Here's a look at 5 fascinating facts (and a few busted myths) on the realities of aging in the 21st century.

Updated June, 2021.

Do you work in a public-serving role? Are you in health care, education, social services, law enforcement, or some other community-serving profession?

The Canadian Mental Health Association has collected a shocking set of statistics on just how widespread mental illness is—impacting people of all ages, education, cultural backgrounds, and income levels.

People come to the practice of mediation from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. It's not just lawyers who become mediators. Anyone with an interest in alternative dispute resolution, strong communication skills, and sharp problem-solving abilities can excel in this career.

Updated June, 2021.

We recently interviewed Rose Ceci (a certified psychiatric mental health nurse with the Canadian Mental Health Association), to get her take on today's most pressing mental health issues.