Optimal wellness involves mind and body.

That’s the assessment of many patients and healthcare providers who have developed a holistic view of wellness that combines physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Make no mistake, mental health took a big hit during the pandemic, when anxiety and depression rose 25 percent globally.

The strain was especially evident in young people – in 2021, a staggering 42 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless.

“When America shut down, it really highlighted how we rely on each other for wellness. Many people sought quick distractions. There was a massive rise in social and digital watching, like binge watching Netflix,” says Alan Hickey, a therapist with Silver River Counseling in Ocala who works with adolescents, young adults

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