MSI Press Blog

Frederic Craigie Jr., Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, consultant, educator, speaker, and writer. His passions and areas of expertise include spirituality in health and health care, healing relationships, clinician well-being, and resiliency and positive mental health. Fred attended Dartmouth College during the tumultuous Vietnam War era and completed his doctorate at the University of Utah.  He served internships in the VA system in clinical psychology and in substance abuse rehabilitation.  Following his training, he began what was to become a 37-year full-time faculty role at the Maine -Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency in Augusta, Maine, where he coordinated behavioral health teaching for residents and students and provided behavioral health care to a largely underserved primary care population. He serves as Visiting Associate Professor at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and held an appointment a...

  San Juan Books is the hybrid division of MSI Press LLC. It allows first-time writers to become published in a traditional way through the reduction of risk by sharing publication costs. All other publishing features are traditional in nature, and most SJB authors go on to be offered traditional contracts for their subsequent books. SJB publications are available as paperback, hard cover, and e-book versions. SJB authors' books very much hold their own against their contemporaries in the traditional publishing division. Indeed, a number of them have outsold their traditional compatriots. Today, San Juan Books presents author Dr. Frederic Craigie . BIO: Frederic Craigie Jr., Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, consultant, educator, speaker, and writer. His passions and areas of expertise include spirituality in health and health care, healing relationships, clinician well-being, and resiliency and positive mental health. Fred attended Dartmouth College during the tumultuous Vietnam ...

  Firefighters are trained to face flames, chaos, and collapse—but what happens when the fire is internal? Depression is a silent crisis in the fire service. The culture of stoicism, long shifts, traumatic exposure, and disrupted sleep all contribute to a mental health landscape that’s often overlooked. While the public sees heroes, many firefighters quietly battle invisible wounds. 📊 What the Numbers Say 12% of firefighters experience clinical depression, according to a meta-analysis of 40 studies. In disaster zones, that number spikes to 24% . 16% screened positive for major depressive disorder in a 2022 IAFF survey of over 8,000 firefighters. Depression often coexists with PTSD— 50% of those with PTSD also meet criteria for major depressive disorder. Suicide risk is alarmingly high: 28% of firefighters report suicidal thoughts, and 15.5% have attempted suicide—more than triple the general population. These aren’t just numbers. They’re lives. They’re colleagues. They’r...

  Cancer kills bodies. Obesity kills relationships when partners are of highly different weights. There is a connection between all these things. The Physical and Emotional Toll of Health Disparities When we discuss health issues like cancer and obesity, we often focus solely on the physical aspects—the cellular changes, the medical treatments, the body mass statistics. However, beneath these clinical considerations lies a complex web of emotional and relational impacts that can be equally devastating. Cancer doesn't just attack cells; it disrupts lives, changes identities, and strains relationships. Similarly, significant weight differences between partners aren't just about physical appearance—they often reflect deeper lifestyle incompatibilities, values disconnects, and emotional challenges that can erode relationship foundations. The Science of Shared Health Journeys Research has consistently shown that couples with similar health behaviors tend to maintain stronger relatio...

  They run toward what the rest of us flee—flames, gunfire, wreckage, collapse. First responders carry the weight of our worst days, often without pause, without time to process, and without the support they need to heal. Behind every emergency call is a human being absorbing trauma in real time. Paramedics who cradle the dying. Firefighters who sift through ash and grief. Police officers who witness the aftermath of violence. Dispatchers who hear every scream but see none of the resolution. These aren’t just jobs—they’re acts of endurance, empathy, and exposure. The cost? Elevated rates of PTSD, depression, substance use, and suicide. Chronic stress reshapes the brain, weakens the immune system, and erodes relationships. And yet, many responders are trained to suppress emotion, to “tough it out,” to keep going. But resilience isn’t about silence. It’s about support. About peer networks, trauma-informed leadership, and systems that prioritize mental health as much as physical s...