Knowledge is power. Mastery is key.
Everything we share is rooted in rigorous research, so you understand not only how to strengthen your health, but why it works.
Why prioritizing mental health can’t wait
Mental health challenges affect over 12% of the world’s population, and an estimated half of all people will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. The cost is measured not only in dollars, but in lost connection, productivity, and human potential.
- 1 in 5U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; 1 in 20 experience serious mental illness
- 1 in 6U.S. youth aged 6–17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- Age 14is when 50% of lifetime mental illness has begun, and 75% by age 24
- 2ndleading cause of death among people aged 10–14 is suicide
- 46.3MAmericans 12 and older had a substance-use disorder in the past year
- $2.5Tglobal cost of poor mental health and lost productivity, expected to reach $6T by 2030
In the U.S. alone, more than $225 billion goes to mental health treatment and services each year, plus an estimated $47.6 billion in lost work productivity.
Mental and behavioral health, defined
Mental health covers conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, and phobias, which affect mood, thinking, and daily functioning.
Behavioral health covers the habits and actions that shape physical and mental health, including substance use, gambling, ADHD, and autism spectrum and conduct disorders.
Loneliness changes how the brain works
Loneliness is the gap between the connection we want and the connection we have. 2020 research from McGill University found lonely people’s brains are wired differently in the default network, the area behind memory, social cognition, and imagination.
Lonely people also process the world differently from their peers, which can deepen their isolation. Connection isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a health need.
Where Life Stages comes in
People are trying apps, therapy, social clubs, and social media, each with its own lens and varying success. What’s missing are sustainable, preventive tools that reconnect people with nature, community, and themselves.
We don’t treat sleep, stress, and self-alignment as separate problems. We see physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being as one integrated whole, and give you evidence-based tools that grow with you.
We equip you to:
- Build your own Life Skills Toolkit™, a set of science-backed tools for physical, mental, and social-emotional health
- Get to know yourself and build an aligned life
- Connect with your local environment and community
- Experience new adventures safely and in alignment with who you are
Sources: NAMI, Mental Health by the Numbers; Administration for Children & Families, Behavioral Health.
Tools and resources we trust
In crisis or worried about someone? Call or text 988, the U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
Studies behind our approach
Peer-reviewed research on interdisciplinary wellness, plus programs turning science into everyday tools.
Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life
How childhood adversity can lead to long-term physical, mental, and behavioral complications.
Nelson, Scott, Bhutta, Harris, Danese & Samara. BMJ.
Read the articleAssociations between nature exposure and health: a review of the evidence
An overview of the evidence connecting time in nature with health and well-being.
Jimenez, DeVille, Elliott, Schiff, Wilt, Hart & James. IJERPH.
Read the articleFASTR at Stanford University
The Female Athlete Science and Translational Research program closes the gender gap in performance research, turning it into practical tools for women’s health and athletic longevity.
Talk Away the Dark
Talking is one of the simplest ways to help prevent suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention shows how to start the conversation.
Learn moreVoices we trust
Talented teams and people doing critical wellness work.
How to Talk to People
On building authentic, aligned community, from the difficulties to the joys. Two favorite episodes:
- How to Not Go It Alone, with Mia Birdsong, author of How We Show Up
- What Do We Owe Our Friends?, on the honest conversations that make relationships richer
Greater Good Magazine
Stories, tips, and tools for a happier, more compassionate life, through articles, videos, quizzes, and more.
Visit Greater GoodFemale Athlete Nutrition
Female-specific nutrition, training, body image, and mindset from a sports dietitian and guest experts and athletes. Fierce, fit, and fueled.
ListenMind Matters with Div
Everyday inspiration and knowledge from a wellness therapist helping you align your life.
FollowReads and products we love
The Deepest Well
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California’s Surgeon General from 2019 to 2022, explains how childhood adversity and toxic stress affect lifelong health, and how to undo the damage.
About the bookAtomic Habits
James Clear’s guide to changing your habits and getting 1% better every day.
About the bookLoftie Clock
An alarm clock reinvented to get you off your phone, with light, sound, and routines that support better sleep.
Visit LoftieLARQ
Bottles and pitchers that use UV and filter technology to clean your water and self-sterilize, even on the go.
Shop LARQPartner link: Life Stages may earn a commission.
The science behind our posts
120minutes
Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being.
15minutes
Fifteen minutes of forest bathing has been linked to better health, including lower blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Highaltitude
Hiking in high-altitude forests may help reduce symptoms of depression.
988
The U.S. averages about 130 suicides a day, yet suicide is preventable with the right mental health support. Call or text 988 any time.
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