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Mental Health Matters
May - mental health awareness month
Spring is a season of change and growth... of becoming...
It is not lost on any of us that this winter has been a trying time for all. It has been cold and dark and the challenges have been significant. But the good news is: Here we still are. Showing up, trying, grinding, and working our way back to better, warmer days. And for that, you should be proud!
Your work here is not done. Progress takes time and maintenance is required. Recognize that your difficult days have challenged your perseverance and strengthened your resilience which have, in turn, helped make you stronger. When that happens, (whether you can feel it yet or not), it increases your self-esteem as a result. Those challenges have taught you that you are strong, capable and can accomplish anything! You are becoming the very person you are meant to be!
You are resilient!
Resilience consists of the mental processes and behaviors that people use to protect themselves from the harmful effects of stressors. It’s the ability to adapt and flex to the obstacles that life continuously presents. Adversity and stress are a part of life, but how we respond is our responsibility.
We can succumb to the stress and wallow in it (which is called apathy), or we can rise to the occasion to explore ways to bounce back (growth). How do you think you have responded to the stressors lately? Are you responding differently now then when we were more isolate at home? We have learned that adversity will hit unexpectedly. Our resilience is like planning for that oncoming (sometimes unexpected) storm that helps to diffuse the power of the storm itself. Some people are naturally resilient. Others may need to build resilience skills to better weather the storm.
You have persevered!
You are demonstrating fortitude!
The virtue of fortitude combines perseverance with courage. Courage is crucial to overcome adversity and persist when faced with (continued) obstacles. You have already proven you have resilience and are persistent...now you must have the courage to KEEP AT IT!!!!
Just as we talked about in our last newsletter on motivation (https://www.smore.com/485x0-finding-your-motivation), the most important thing is focusing on the small habits and changes you are doing EACH day and NOT worrying about the end result. If you maintain your routine each and everyday, the end goal will take care of itself. (Clear, 2018). The focus should be on persistent, incremental changes rather than a big or significant upheaval. In other words, keep improving yourself little by little, no matter how tiny the improvements may be or big the obstacles. Continue to demonstrate what fortitude is and you will be successful!
Self-care is vital!
THIS WEEK: National Prevention Week
National Prevention Week (NPW), May 8–14, is a national public education platform bringing together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health. Take a look at the daily themes.
Monday May 9 - Strengthening Community Resilience
Tuesday May 10 - Preventing Substance Use and
Promoting Mental Health in Youth
Wednesday May 11 - Preventing Suicide
Thursday May 12 - The Talent Pipeline
Friday May 13 - Prevention Is Everywhere
Pick something you can do that day to promote awareness and prevention with that theme. Listed below are some ideas.
- walk a friend to a school counselor
- initiate a conversation with the classmate who you don't know well
- take one of the webinars listed below
- journey through the Chill Room website to learn about there resources there: https://sites.google.com/burlcoschools.org/the-chill-room-westech/the-chill-room
- go for a walk outside
- practice your talent or skill 30 min each day
- read a book (maybe one of the recommended ones below)
- meditate/do yoga
- complete the 9 ways to fight mental health stigma:
- https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/october-2017/9-ways-to-fight-mental-health-stigma
- help a friend connect to an online crisis resource: https://mcvsd.padlet.org/jprzywara2/i3m617pnu7pes2vp
- organize a neighborhood basketball/volleyball/kickball game
- write a song/perform a song/create art
- discourage a friend from vaping/using drugs or alcohol and offer a sober/positive activity instead
- plan a game night for your family
- make dinner/dessert/breakfast
- walk your pet
Strengthen your mind .... recommended reads:
- Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth (2016)
- Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential – Carol S. Dweck (revised edition 2017)
- Kaizen: The Japanese Method for Transforming Habits, One Small Step at a Time - Sarah Harvey (2019)
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - James Clear (2018)
- Black Box Thinking: Marginal Gains and the Secrets of High Performance – Matthew Syed (2015)
STRENGTHEN YOUR SKILLS ..... Recommended webinars:
SAMHSA's online seminars this week
- May 11, 2022 1:00 PM ET
Webinar: 988 – What’s on the Horizon
Access Code 8477433#
- May 18, 2022 2:00 PM ET
Webinar: Get Help – Reducing Stigma Associated with Mental Health
Access Code: 5955873#
- May 25, 2022 2:00 PM ET
Webinar: Now What? – Mental Health Issues in Post-COVID America
Access Code: 6268721#
Your resources in the community, online and at school:
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS:
SCIP (Screening and Crisis Intervention Program)
@ Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County
218 Sunset Road, Willingboro, NJ 08046
(609) 261-8000
1-877-652-7624 (24 hours a day/7 days a week)
https://oaksintcare.org/services/child-and-family-services/child-adult-family-counseling-services/
https://www.centerffs.org/our-services/counseling-behavioral-health
Family Support Organization of Burlington County
ONLINE SUPPORTS:
https://sites.google.com/burlcoschools.org/the-chill-room-westech/the-chill-room
National Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
NJ Youth Helplines
1-800-273-8255
Text or call: 1-888-222-2228
NJ Suicide Prevention Hope line
1-855-654-6735
Text HOME to 741741
WESTECH SUPPORTS:
- Mr. Fitzgerald, School Counselor (A-F) sfitzgerald@burlcoschools.org
- Ms. Johnson, School Counselor (Cru_Har) bjohnson@burlcoschools.org
- Mr. Frable, School Counselor (Has-McC) jfrable@burlcoschools.org
- Mrs. Digney, School Counselor (McD-Ris) kdigney@burlcoschools.org
- Mrs. Sabatino, School Counselor (Rit-T) msabatino@burlcoschools.org
- Mrs. Daily, School Counselor (Wa-Z) jdaily@burlcoschools.org
- Ms. Cech, Student Assistance Counselor ccech@burlcoschools.org
- Mrs. Artz, Learning Consultant, bartz@burlcoschools.org
- Ms. Christian, School Social Worker, mchristian@burlcoschools.org
- Dr. Clayton, School Psychologist, jclayton@burlcoschools.org
- Officer Moran, Student Resource Officer ment@burlcoschools.org
- Mrs. Fowler, School Nurse hfowler@burlcoschools.org