We had an amazing time last week at our I Am Safe: Trauma-Responsive Practices to Support Mental Health training with educators, therapists, social workers, OTs, and other community mental health professionals.
Our call to action at the end of this training was that everyone commits to becoming a public mental health advocate and activist by sharing regulating mind-body strategies both professionally and personally within their communities.
What do we mean by public mental health advocate and activist? We know that families don’t always have access to mental health support when they need it most. This can be due to a lack of resources (health coverage or funds needed to pay out-of-pocket costs for services), as well as access to the support they need in a timely fashion due to an overwhelmed mental health system. This is why we believe it is critically important to share information about the impact of stress, distress, and trauma on mental health along with practical and accessible ways to use the mind-body connection to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, assist with focus, and improve sleep. Here are three quick and easy practices you can share as a public mental health advocate and activist in your circles:
Head Holds: Bringing hands to the head (on top of the head, holding front and back of the head, or just resting your head in your hands) is a settling practice that can create feelings of safety during stressful times. Try these options right now and identify which one feels calming for you today. The best part of head holds is that people do these movements all the time, so using these practices intentionally to decrease stress is a portable coping skill that can be used whenever you need it!
Self-soothing touch: Ever notice that you wring your hands or start to fidget when you are anxious or stressed? This is a great physical cue to start massaging your hands to ease feelings of anxiety and stress. Massage between the bones in your hands and then massage each finger while you breathe slowly. Self-soothing touch like this releases feel good chemicals like oxytocin. Next time you notice a friend or colleague wringing their hands as they describe a stressful or emotional situation, consider sharing the benefits of this self-soothing practice.
Elevating legs: Lying down on the floor with your legs resting against the wall or on a chair is an easy way to build a rest break into a busy day. Elevating your legs decreases stress in the body and puts you into a more relaxed state. If a friend or family member struggles with back pain or sleep, share this practice to decrease tension and stress at the end of the day.
What is the most important part of public mental health advocacy and activism? It helps you build your own toolkit of stress-management/self-care practices. Now more than ever we need people like you supporting children, youth, and families in our communities. Committing to public mental health advocacy and activism creates an ongoing conversation about mental health while actively sharing mind-body strategies with people who are struggling. The added benefit is that you will be continually practicing these strategies for yourself at the same time.
In 2024, we dropped the price of the movemindfully app to the one-time cost of $4.99 because we wanted families to have access to these important practices at home. Consider downloading or gifting the app to share some of these practices with someone you know who could benefit from this information. You might also purchase the newly-released book I Am Safe: Trauma-Responsive Practices in Crisis Mental Health which is a guide for how to share these practices with individuals of all ages who are struggling with mental health. It also includes guided practices for you and invites anyone interested to take these practices and share them as a public mental health advocate and activist in their community.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. The one thing we know for sure is that people in our communities need support. We hope you join us in a commitment to share the knowledge and skills that can help everyone feel better during times of stress.