Category: Get Connected

Thank you for following along during the month of May! I hope this information was useful to you or someone you know! Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. This campaign also champions the importance of destigmatizing mental health by normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame.

Mental Health by the numbers….

In Need of Help or Support?

If you are struggling with your mental health, there are many resources that can give you the support and help you may need. Please reach out and know you are not alone! Asking for help may be hard, but moving forward through the difficult times will bring you to a better place!

And as always, if you are in crisis (or someone you know is in crisis), please reach out out for help immediately and DIAL 911!

Until September, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~

The following information is from the Minnesota Department of Health.  Please follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our website, meinderslibrary.com, as I will be posting additional information and resources throughout the month.

It is Mental Health Awareness Month.  While mental health is important to address year-round, Mental Health Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices to broadcast the message that mental health matters.

Week 5 – Connecting to resources and supports.  When your mental health is off, it is important to find the help that is right for you. Where you go for help will depend on what is happening within your life. Often the best place to start is to talk with those that you already have connections with, including your friends and family, you primary care doctor, spiritual advisor, or local mental health organizations.  Help can be found across many places and depends on what type of support that you may need.  If the problems in your life are stopping you from functioning well or feeling good, professional help can make a big difference.  Even if you’re not sure that you’d benefit from help, it can’t hurt to explore the possibility.

• Friends and family can be a great support system, but sometimes it is hard to ask for help. It is OK to not be OK. Reach out to family, friends, neighbors, a warm line, or an emergency emotional support line, like the 988 Lifeline, if you want to talk. Know that you are not alone, help is available, and healing can happen.
• Sometimes it is hard to know when you need extra help with your mental health. This infographic from the National Institute of Mental Health may help guide you if you don’t know where to start.
• Warm lines and peer support can be helpful for those who are managing stress. Anyone seeking support may call the Minnesota Warm Line for peer support connection at 844-739-0369, from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. For more information, visit: Wellness in the Wood: Transforming Wellness into Reality. Mental Health Minnesota also offers a warm line. For more information, visit: Minnesota Warmline – Mental Health Minnesota.
• Talking with someone about your thoughts and feelings can save your life. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential emotional support for people who need it. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained counselor who can help.

Mental Health Awareness Ideas for Action: Initiate and spark conversation regarding mental health. Share what you do throughout moments in your day to take care of yourself. This can be taking a walk, playing with your pet, journaling, taking a nap, or talking with a friend. Let’s collectively promote these self-connection moments by sharing and using the hashtag #YouMatterMN.

Thank you for following along during May for Mental Health Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 911. Know that you are not alone, help is available, and healing can happen. Use the resources provided and please reach out to someone for support. You matter and you are loved.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~

The following information is from the Minnesota Department of Health.  Please follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our website, meinderslibrary.com, as I will be posting additional information and resources throughout the month.

It is Mental Health Awareness Month.  While mental health is important to address year-round, Mental Health Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices to broadcast the message that mental health matters.

Week 4 – Connecting with nature.  Nature is a natural stress buffer. Supporting connection to nature for individuals, families, and communities can support physical health, reduction in behavior problems, connectedness, belonging, improved attention, and reduced rates of violence.  Connection to nature can help mitigate the impact of trauma. For example, we use more of our senses when in nature, which helps us be alert and present in the moment, rather than focused on day-to-day stressors and trauma.  We don’t have to walk in the forest daily to get the benefits of nature.  Noticing nature while in your neighborhood, spending time in your local park, or even viewing nature from inside can help access the many benefits of nature.

• Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, can give your mood a boost. Take a little time this week to get outside to support your mental well-being. Can’t make it outdoors? Try a bringing the outdoors in through a Virtual Calming Room.
• Got a lot on your mind? Mindful walking or sitting in nature can help calm your mind and induce good feelings. Get outside and notice what do you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel in your surroundings. For more tips visit The Art of Mindful Walking: Slow down, Breath & Relax from Thrive Global.
• Have you heard of forest bathing? Forest bathing is more than a hike in the woods, it’s a deliberate effort to take in nature using all your senses. It’s proven to improve your mental and physical health. And it turns out Minnesota is a great place to practice forest bathing. With 65 state parks, and 17.7 million acres of forest land, Minnesota has plenty of places to soak up nature. Learn more about Why Minnesota is the Perfect Place to Practice Forest Bathing.
• Incorporating nature into your family time can give you a two-for-one mental health boost by connecting with your loved ones and connecting with nature. This week, try creating art with elements from nature, skipping rocks, or watching the clouds together. Check out these Educator and Family Resources from the Minnesota DNR.

I hope you continue to follow along this month as I post weekly key messages. Be the one to start a conversation and engage with others about mental health. Stay tuned for next week as I discuss Connecting to Resources and Supports.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~