May is National #MentalHealthMonth, a time dedicated to spreading awareness about mental health issues. Mental health refers to our emotional and social well-being, and it affects the way we think, feel, and behave. Everyone has mental health and should take care of it as they would their physical health. This is a very important topic, and WISE LA aims to create an environment where we can address mental health and wellness by providing educational resources and highlighting game-changing women, leading this space. Follow along this month as we share mental health tips and share yours with the community!
Mental Health Events in Los Angeles
In-Person Programming with the LA County Library
Thursday, May 5, 4-5pm
Adult 101: Mindfulness
Norwalk Library
Learn about mindfulness and other tips to stay focused. Practice your mindfulness as you color your own mandalas.
Virtual Programming with the LA County Library
Wednesday, May 11, 6-7pm
Queer Mental Health
Join us to discuss queer mental health during mental Health Awareness Month with Dr. Rebecca Gitlin fomr the LA County Department of Mental Health. We’ll discuss mental health challenges queer people can face and what resources are available. For adults. Registration Link on page: https://lacountylibrary.org/mentalhealth/
LA County Department of Mental Health
https://dmh.lacounty.gov/events/
Spring into Wellness: Nourishing Our Connection to Self and Community
Date: May 14 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Address: 905 E El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Additional Partners Include: LA Rooted, Tree Yoga Coop
Enjoy a morning of wellness by connecting with self, community and nature at Earvin Magic Johnson Park. Start the day with a “Walk to Empower” that celebrates the beautiful ecosystems around the park’s newly redesigned lake and walking path. Experience various body-centered wellness offerings that include: yoga, meditation, massage acupuncture, reiki, food demonstrations and art making! Connect with local community programs and organizations at our resource fair! For additional information on this event as well as additional events and programming happening throughout the month of May, visit thetreeyogacoop.org/werisela2022
Abuelita’s Remedios (Grandma’s Remedies)
Meztli Projects
Date: May 7 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Address: 4801 East 3rd Street, East Los AngeleS, CA 90022
Additional Partners Include: Indigenous Wellness Collective and Los Angeles Indigenous Peoples Alliance
Abuelita’s Remedios (Grandma’s Remedies) – La Cultura Cura Health Fair is a free culturally-based wellness & health gathering in East Los Angeles for young people and elders. Join us in honoring ancestral knowledge and restorative practices through participatory healing workshops, cultural marketplace, healthy food demonstrations, culturally-relevant mental health resources, and more. For additional information on this event as well as additional events and programming happening throughout the month of May, visit meztliprojects.org
Source: here
Mental Health Events in Long Beach
https://artslb.org/bridging-wellness/
Mental Health Tips
WISE Los Angeles' top tips:
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Spend time in the kitchen with music on (baking, cooking, cleaning) – try different types of aroma therapy and eating healthy!
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Exercise (yoga, barre, pilates, HIIT)
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Go off the grid
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Spend a day exploring (so you get sunshine, nature, something new)
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Connect with family (lots of FaceTime) or friends (send a lot of photos of things through text)
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Make sure to get sleep
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Skin care – tag us on social media @wiselosangeles with your favorite products!
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Minimizing area (spring cleaning or restricting screen time in the bedroom – TVs, computers, etc.)
Sources:
7 Women’s Mental Health Tips to Reduce Stress
Columbia University’s 11 Tips for Mental Health and Well-Being
Mental Health America: 31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health
"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thursday, May 5, 4-5pm Think of something in your life you want to improve and figure out what you can do to take a step in the right direction.
Mental Health Tips in Support of the AAPI Community
Also, how recent hate crimes have impacted their mental health.
Coping skills shared by Jeanie Y Chang
- I think it's really important to practice mindfulness, which is also rooted in East Asian culture. It's so powerful, the practice of trying to ground yourself in the present moment.
- A coping skill is the butterfly hug. This is based on eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Anybody could do it. You're hugging yourself like a butterfly, but you're tapping with bilateral stimulation to ground yourself. It's a self-soothing technique for any stressful incident that you may have experienced to bring you back to the present moment.
- Science shows your brain is depleted of oxygen when you're in distress. So deep breathing is the first thing I teach, something like square breathing or box breathing, which is big in the military. When you inhale, you inhale slowly. Your chest should be puffed out when you inhale for four counts. Then you hold your breath for four counts, four seconds, and then you exhale it all out for four counts. So that one round is 12 (seconds). And you do it four times, like a square. You have time to practice breathing for 48 seconds.
Source: Here
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