If you’re feeling extra nervous, stressed, or just not yourself these days, you aren’t alone. According to the most recent Pew Research Center analysis, four-in-ten U.S. adults have experienced high levels of psychological distress at least once since the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. That’s 41% of Americans and the percentage skyrockets to 58% when you isolate the data to people aged 18 to 29.

This data is terrifying and what makes it even harder to grapple with is that our healthcare community is already under so much pressure. People are feeling the effects of mental health issues more frequently and younger, and the resources to combat them are harder to come by. With so much demand, quick fixes in the form of anti-depressants are becoming the go-to solution. A study referenced by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in the UK found anti-depressant prescriptions rose by 35% in six years and yet another study published by U.S. News & World Report in 2022 found that anti-depressant use over time may do little to improve the overall quality of life.

So where are we with all of this? Are there ways that we can help ourselves to find some calm, alleviate our symptoms, and teach ourselves how to repair in a more beneficial way for our long-term health?

Dr. Julia Vitali is an Osteopathic Physician who practices alongside me at Collaborative Natural Health Partners in Connecticut. Dr. Vitali lives and breathes an integrative approach to medicine and uses a lot of bodywork and mental health practices to help her patients achieve optimum wellbeing.

Dr. Megan Fortin is a Naturopathic Physician and she is passionate about individualized care and works to treat the whole person while utilizing clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and lifestyle counseling.

A few resources that are mentioned in the show:
Dr. Young's book pick "Listening to Depression" by Dr. Lara Honos-Webb
Find a Therapist at

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.