We hear stories of people in far away places or in times long ago, people who were taken from their homes. Kidnapped, these stolen victims are forced into service, into manual labor or the sex trade. We hear the stories, but it often feels so distant, so removed from o...

(reposted with permission by the author from Psychology Today) 

"You have some queer friends Dorothy,” she said.

 “The queerness doesn’t matter so long as they’re friends,” was the answer.  - The Road to Oz (1909)

Although these words were published 110 years ago and...

According to data from the Pennsylvania Area Youth Survey (a comprehensive survey given to students across Pennsylvania in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade), youth in Erie County have a lower percentage of Neighborhood Attachment than the state average and their percent...

Victims of domestic violence suffer every day of the year. They are assaulted, threatened, insulted, humiliated, isolated, and intimidated by their abusers, whose calculated actions reduce their victims’ lives to rubble. Domestic violence destroys lives and families an...

The video was one I was prepared for – I knew what the content would include, and I knew the purpose for the video. For three years, I have advocated for my university to prioritize preparedness for events mass violence and active shooting. At the beginning of the fall...

September is Self-Care awareness month and is a time to remind us that taking care of yourself is essential. We often neglect self-care because we put the needs of others before our own. It is crucial to remember that we cannot fill the cups of others if our own cup is...

Suicide risk is very complex, and each person’s situation, coping skills, and support systems are very diverse and individualized. In our darkest moments, it can be easy to believe we are alone, but talking to someone who understands can be an essential game-changer. Y...

Trauma is described as something that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It can be characterized by a loss of control, and feelings of chaos and horror. It is hard to imagine any event or circumstance that would exemplify this more than the recent house fire in Eri...

ECTIC's 2019 Community Meeting featured the unveiling of the county-wide trauma awareness campaign, recent accomplishments, and a call to action for all community members to pledge their commitment as "ECTIC Hope Ambassadors" for a connected, resilient an...

Remember This Holiday Season; the Word Wellness Begins with We.

“Rats, nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there wasn’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?”

Charlie Brown is not the only one...