Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry

01/05/2026

January is Mental Wellness Month! We're kicking off the month with a question we encourage you to ask yourself:

What does mental wellness look like? It’s more than the absence of symptoms — it’s the presence of healthy and balanced habits, emotions and supports that help you navigate daily life with resilience.

🧠 Mental wellness looks like:
• Feeling able to manage stress without becoming overwhelmed
• Having energy to get through the day (even if it’s not perfect)
• Maintaining meaningful connections with others
• Sleeping consistently and waking reasonably rested
• Setting boundaries that protect your well-being
• Asking for help when you need support
• Feeling grounded more often than not
• Using coping skills that work for you
• Being able to enjoy moments of joy, calm or purpose

✨ Mental wellness doesn’t mean being happy all the time. Mental wellness is something we build slowly, with support and small, intentional steps. If you or a loved one need greater support on your journey to mental wellness, explore our resources at >> https://loom.ly/NxuQDPM.

12/31/2025

TTUHSC and TTP Clinic offices will be closed this New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Our offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, January 5. As we welcome a new year, may we carry forward the lessons that ground us:
✨ the value of rest and reflection
✨ the courage to connect
✨ the power of compassion — for ourselves and others

Here’s to another year of healing, learning and hope!

If you or someone is in need of immediate help, please know that there are resources available to you 24/7:
⚫ Emergency Medical Services: 911
⚫ National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6242
⚫ National Su***de Prevention Lifeline - call, text, or chat: 988
⚫ Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

12/24/2025

We hope you enjoy the holiday with good food and big smiles, making memories with those closest to you! ✨ All TTUHSC campuses, facilities and clinics are closed Dec. 24-26. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, Dec. 29.

If you or someone is in need of immediate help, please know that there are resources available to you 24/7:
⚫ Emergency Medical Services: 911
⚫ National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6242
⚫ National Su***de Prevention Lifeline - call, text, or chat: 988
⚫ Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

12/22/2025

The holiday hustle and bustle can be joyful — and stressful. Dr. Poorvanshi Alag, with TTUHSC Department of Psychiatry, reminds us that taking care of our physical and mental health is especially important right now.

Here are a few simple ways to keep your mindset positive and your body feeling good this season:
🛌 Get enough sleep
🥗 Practice portion control at meals
💧 Stay hydrated
🏃‍♀️ Keep moving! Even a short walk or dancing with family counts.

Small steps can make a big difference in staying healthy and happy during the holidays — and help you start the new year feeling your best. 💪🎄See the full interview here >> https://loom.ly/qHfp6C4

While it's always important to keep up with your physical and mental health, it can be difficult during the holidays. Here are some tips to help start 2026 off on the right foot.

12/17/2025

For many, depression can feel heavier during the winter months — but there are effective options for relief beyond medication.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation.

It’s safe, FDA-approved, and offers hope for those who haven’t found success with traditional treatments.

💡 No anesthesia
💬 No downtime
🌤 Results that can last

To find out if TMS is right for you, fill out our interest form >> https://loom.ly/SsPXgAc.

12/15/2025

The holidays can be bright and joyful — but they can also feel loud, busy, and overwhelming.

When everything around you feels like “too much,” try this simple sensory grounding exercise to bring your mind back to the present:

🕯 5 things you see
☕️ 4 things you can touch
🎶 3 things you can hear
🍊 2 things you can smell
💖 1 thing you’re grateful for

Just a few slow breaths and a moment of awareness can help reset your nervous system and give you space to breathe. Take this with you into the season — a small practice for a steadier mind!

12/13/2025

The holidays can bring a rise in mental health concerns — from pediatric anxiety to perinatal depression. Timely support matters.

CPAN and PeriPAN help clinicians bridge those moments of uncertainty with real-time access to a multidisciplinary network of mental health experts. There is no cost to you or your patients for this evidence-based, clinician-to-clinician program.

When care is connected, outcomes improve — and families feel supported when it matters most. Learn more at >> https://loom.ly/mkVWODs.

12/11/2025

The holidays bring light, laughter, and connection, — but also pressure, packed calendars, and emotional fatigue. According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people say their stress increases during the holidays, and many report sleep disruptions and changes in mood.

From financial strain to disrupted routines and grief, this season can easily shift from joyful to stressful. The key isn’t to avoid the chaos, but to create steady moments within it.

Practical ways to stay grounded during the holidays:
🕯 Protect the Basics
Try to maintain your core routines — regular sleep, balanced meals, hydration, and movement — even if timing shifts.

📅 Schedule Quiet Moments
Treat rest like an appointment. Add 10–15 minutes a day to decompress — read, journal, stretch, or breathe deeply.

📱 Set Boundaries with Social Media
Holiday comparisons can amplify stress. Limit scrolling or follow accounts that bring peace rather than pressure.

💬 Ask for Help
Delegate tasks, communicate needs, and remind yourself that “no” is a complete sentence. The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be peaceful.

Sometimes balance looks like leaving a little space in your calendar, protecting your rest, and letting go of expectations. Give yourself the same care you offer others — that’s a holiday tradition worth keeping.

12/09/2025

Access to mental health care should never be seasonal. 🍂💻 Traveling, home for the holidays, or just need flexibility? Wherever you are, we have telemedicine services that keep care within reach. Whether you're an adult, or child, we have options that can offer you and your family members mental health support:

💙 Texas Tech Physicians:
https://loom.ly/3TZwdXM

💙 (The Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine) TCHATT:
https://loom.ly/GlDbiXM

12/05/2025

Rebecca Sherrier, Psy.D., is an Assistant Professor and Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Sherrier will be delivering evidence-based mental health care to children and their families through the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. She is also looking forward to supervising both psychology and psychiatry trainees.

Dr. Sherrier received her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Geisinger Medical Center in Integrated Pediatric Primary Care and her postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Children's Health in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Sherrier lives in Abilene, TX with her partner where she enjoys playing board games 🎲 with friends, trying new restaurants 🍱 and reading 📕in her downtime.

12/03/2025

Amid the rush of holiday gatherings and gift-giving, there’s one gift that doesn’t need wrapping — the simple act of checking in. Behind every silent phone and unanswered message, could be someone who needs to know they’re seen.

A quick text. A quiet coffee chat. A sincere “How are you — really?” These moments can mean more than we realize, especially during a season that often amplifies both joy and loneliness.

Connection is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health.

Research shows that genuine social support can:
❤️Lower stress hormone levels
❤️Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
❤️Increase resilience after difficult life events

A check-in isn’t therapy — but it can be the first step that helps someone reach out for professional help.

If someone shares that they’re struggling:
🖤Encourage them to speak with a counselor, physician, or mental health provider.
🖤Offer to help find resources or join them at their first appointment.
🖤If there are concerns about immediate safety, call or text 988, the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline.

12/01/2025

A cancer diagnosis often affects patients' mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. In this episode, guest Gabriela Lelakowska, Ph.D., assistant professor, and psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry in the TTUHSC School of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of open communication, maintaining routines and using professional resources when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. 🎧 Listen here >> https://loom.ly/LzQTwQE