What is 20TIMinutes?
20TIMinutes is a podcast, hosted by Tim McCarthy, that focuses on mental health through humor, insight & personal stories. Episodes are released EVERY Tuesday with bonus episodes released on select Thursdays. You can listen on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and all major podcasting apps. You can also watch episodes right on YouTube!
What is a podcast?
A podcast is an episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening. Streaming applications and podcasting services provide a convenient and integrated way to manage a personal consumption queue across many podcast sources and playback devices.
Why is it called 20TIMinutes?
Host Tim McCarthy decided he wanted to do episodes they were around 20-minutes or so. Reason being is Tim figures it’s a good change of pace from other podcasts that can last for an hour plus. With Tim seldomly listening to podcasts himself, he figures the best way to get new listeners is to keep it short and simple. However, bonus episodes that are released on Thursday’s go over the 20 minute threshold as those are interviews without a time limit.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization [WHO], is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” According to the WHO, mental health includes “subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional potential, among others
What is Mental Illness?
Is it the same as Mental Health?
Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors
Mental health and mental illness are increasingly used as if they mean the same thing but they do not. When we talk about mental health, we’re talking about our mental well-being: our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections and our understanding of the world around us. A mental disorder or illness affects the way people think, feel, behave or interact with others. There are many different mental illnesses that can have different symptoms that impact people’s lives in different ways. Mental health professionals can provide clinical diagnosis and prescribe medications to help treat the illness.
What are some common mental health disorders?
- Clinical Depression
characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. - Anxiety Disorder
characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities - Bipolar Disorder
associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. - Dementia
A collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. It is a symptom of several underlying diseases and brain disorders. - Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD]
A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. - Schizophrenia
A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [OCD]
Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). - Autism
A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
There are way more variables to these disorders listed above. If you think you have a mental health disorder, please contact a medical professional ASAP to learn more.
What do I do if I think I have a potential mental illness?
see your primary care provider or a mental health professional. Most mental illnesses don’t improve on their own, and if untreated, a mental illness may get worse over time and cause serious problems. If you are feeling suicidal, please dial 911 [US] or if you’re outside the United States, please check out the 911 Abroad [Emergency Numbers by Country]
Is Tim from 20TIMinutes a mental health professional or expert?
Tim is NOT a mental health professional or expert. Tim only talks about his own personal struggles and what works for him. What works for Tim may not work for you, so if you need help, please contact your primary care provider or a mental health professional. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.
What if I don’t have health insurance or have the money to pay for professional help?
Even if you don’t have health insurance. It is strongly recommended to talk to a medical professionals and discuss options. Your mental health comes first. There are plenty of resources online and you can find some of them in my Resources tab.
What if I don’t feel comfortable talking with someone on the phone? Is there any texting options?
You can contact the Crisis Text Line, which provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Text the word HOME to the following numbers that are applicable to where you reside.
Text 741741 [US & Canada]
Text 85258 [United Kingdom]
Text 50808 [Ireland]