Tillamook Family Counseling Center

April marks Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to educate ourselves and our communities about the risks of alcohol misuse and its widespread impact on health and well-being. It is important for people to fully understand the risks of alcohol so that they can make informed decisions about alcohol consumption.

Alcohol remains a major public health concern both nationally and here in Oregon. In fact, excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death among Oregonians, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Nationwide, alcohol is associated with over 178,000 deaths each year and is linked to more than 200 diseases and injury-related conditions.

As Sarah Ermer, Prevention Specialist at Tillamook Family Counseling Center (TFCC), explains, “You don’t have to have an alcohol use disorder or be binge drinking to experience harm from alcohol. A lot of people think the threshold for harm is being drunk, but that’s not the case.”

March 2 marks World Teen Mental Wellness Day — a reminder that supporting young people’s emotional health is just as important as supporting their physical health.

Here in Oregon, thousands of youth are navigating anxiety, depression, academic pressures, and social challenges. In 2023 alone, more than 31,000 Oregon youth under 18 received Medicaid-funded mental health services, and 55,000 youth ages 12–17 are living with depression (Oregon State Fact Sheet). These numbers remind us that teen mental health challenges are not rare — they are something many families across our state, including here on the Oregon Coast, experience.

Life on the Oregon Coast changes noticeably with the seasons. During the fall and winter months, shorter days and limited sunlight can affect mood and energy levels for many people.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sometimes called seasonal depressive disorder, is a form of depression that follows a predictable seasonal pattern. Symptoms often begin in late fall or early winter and ease as daylight returns in spring. It’s more than just feeling “down” — SAD can make everyday tasks feel heavier and harder to manage.