Culture in Mind

Burnout

Why the Most Productive Thing You Can Do Is Pause

Ruth C White Ph.D. on March 11, 2026

The pressure of constant productivity can make taking pauses feel wrong. But it's in these pauses that calm, peace, resilience, and sustainable performance live.

The pressure of constant productivity can make taking pauses feel wrong. But it's in these pauses that calm, peace, resilience, and sustainable performance live.

Trauma

Mental Health After Hurricane Melissa

Ruth C White Ph.D. on November 30, 2025

Personal Perspective: As a daughter of Jamaica, I watched Hurricane Melissa obliterate my home and hometown. These coping strategies for secondary trauma can help others in the diaspora.

Personal Perspective: As a daughter of Jamaica, I watched Hurricane Melissa obliterate my home and hometown. These coping strategies for secondary trauma can help others in the diaspora.

Stress

Visual Strategies for Reducing Stress

Ruth C White Ph.D. on July 20, 2020

Sometimes managing your stress is as simple as a picture — either in real life or your imagination.

Sometimes managing your stress is as simple as a picture — either in real life or your imagination.

Stress

Say No to Stress by Learning How to Say No

Ruth C White Ph.D. on June 22, 2020

A lot of us feel an obligation to say yes when asked to do something; whether by our boss or our bestie. But you can say no while preserving your relationships at home or at work.

A lot of us feel an obligation to say yes when asked to do something; whether by our boss or our bestie. But you can say no while preserving your relationships at home or at work.

Depression

The Depressed Beast

Ruth C White Ph.D. on May 20, 2020

From afar or from the ego, depression is viewed by many as a female diagnosis. But depression does not discriminate.

From afar or from the ego, depression is viewed by many as a female diagnosis. But depression does not discriminate.

Sleep

Getting the Sleep You Need

Ruth C White Ph.D. on April 5, 2020

Are you finding it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep? Is the craziness of the current times keeping you awake?

Are you finding it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep? Is the craziness of the current times keeping you awake?

Stress

Manage the Stress of COVID-19

Ruth C White Ph.D. on March 28, 2020

Is COVID-19 stressing you out? There are steps you can take to manage stress and build emotional resilience during these challenging times.

Is COVID-19 stressing you out? There are steps you can take to manage stress and build emotional resilience during these challenging times.

Stress

Stress and The Body

Ruth C White Ph.D. on June 29, 2018

Stress is more complex than fight, flight or freeze. In reality, it can impact your body in many, many ways.

Stress is more complex than fight, flight or freeze. In reality, it can impact your body in many, many ways.

Career

Happy at Work

Ruth C White Ph.D. on February 19, 2018

According to several recent Gallup polls, most Americans are unhappy at work. But it doesn't have to be this way.

According to several recent Gallup polls, most Americans are unhappy at work. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Stress

Stress Less in One Minute or Less

Ruth C White Ph.D. on January 1, 2018

It's the time for New Year's resolutions and lots of people are joining the #newyearnewme bandwagon. So why not make less stress your new habit for 201?

It's the time for New Year's resolutions and lots of people are joining the #newyearnewme bandwagon. So why not make less stress your new habit for 201?

Our social expectations of boys are for them to be tough, aggressive and stoic. Deviation from these norms can result in ostracism and bullying, which may cause anxiety.

Sex

A Sexual Manifesto for Women

Ruth C White Ph.D. on December 15, 2017

No longer should women feel the need to tolerate and moderate the sexual indiscretions of others. It is time for us to be explicit about our expectations and our boundaries.

No longer should women feel the need to tolerate and moderate the sexual indiscretions of others. It is time for us to be explicit about our expectations and our boundaries.

Marriage

Creating a Culture of Yes

Ruth C White Ph.D. on November 2, 2017

How do we create a culture of sexual expression in which women feel empowered to say yes and men to hear no?

How do we create a culture of sexual expression in which women feel empowered to say yes and men to hear no?

Career

What Empire Got Wrong About Social Workers

Ruth C White Ph.D. on May 12, 2017

Contrary to misrepresentation by popular media, social workers are so much more than people who take children from loving families.

Contrary to misrepresentation by popular media, social workers are so much more than people who take children from loving families.

As Americans get fatter, there is a sense of a 'new norm' and the language regarding how we frame our bigger selves is changing. But is this change good for our health?

Ending patriarchy means both women and men need to change. But when men behave badly towards women, we focus on the women's behavior. It is time for that to change.

Health

No Stigma, No Shame: Breaking the Silence of Mental Illness

Ruth C White Ph.D. on May 2, 2016

The stigma and shame of mental illness is compounded by the lack of access to mental health care. May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a time to talk about mental health.

The stigma and shame of mental illness is compounded by the lack of access to mental health care. May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a time to talk about mental health.

The workplace is the source of a lot of challenges to our mental well-being, and workplace mental health strategies have been shown to reap great returns.

Bipolar Disorder

Empire: A New Model for Bipolar Disorder on TV

Ruth C White Ph.D. on February 23, 2015

Empire is a new hit TV show on the Fox Network that not only breaks ground as a black family drama based in hip-hop culture, but it shows a rare character with bipolar disorder who is not falling apart at the seams. Andre, the eldest son of a family music dynasty, has a degree from an elite school and (so far) successfully runs the family's multi-faceted business empire.

Empire is a new hit TV show on the Fox Network that not only breaks ground as a black family drama based in hip-hop culture, but it shows a rare character with bipolar disorder who is not falling apart at the seams. Andre, the eldest son of a family music dynasty, has a degree from an elite school and (so far) successfully runs the family's multi-faceted business empire.

Fighting against stigma and disparities in mental health for racial and ethnic minorities requires a systematic multi-pronged approach. The role of poverty as a risk factor for mental illness, and the intersectionality of poverty and minority status, compounds the barriers faced by people at the margins who are seeking mental health services.