We are grateful to partner with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) through the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership. We want to share some of the great tips MDH has for supporting mental health in our communities:
From MDH: “Mental health and well-being has always been important to overall health. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that Minnesotans take time to focus on our mental well-being, as we experience changing stress and challenges in our daily lives.”
Here are some tips from MDH with a few additional ideas from us at MoveMindfully, on how to stay connected to support mental health.
Tips from MDH
Talk about your mental health and your challenges with others, and ask others to do the same. This can help you feel connected and supported by your community.
Recognize
A little recognition can go a long way. Make a special effort to connect with anyone in your workplace or community who may need extra help. Talking about hardships can be uncomfortable, but acknowledging that someone is struggling, or sharing your own struggles, truly does help.
Maintain
Connecting with others can help us all feel heard, acknowledged, and loved. Friendship is an action. We are social beings and social connection is essential for our survival. COVID-19 has challenged our regular ways of connecting with friends, family, and community.
Expand
Find ways to connect with your community. Volunteer to call people for support, send care packages, participate in faith services remotely, or find some other creative solution to build your connections. We all need a range of connections, including close friends, social companions, and connection to a community of people who share similar values and purpose.
Tips from MoveMindfully
Start the Day Right
As you start your day, consider practicing Hand Tracing with a family member, friend, co-worker or youth that you work with.
Hold up one hand like a stop sign and use your pointer finger to slowly trace up your thumb as you breathe in, and slowly trace down your thumb as you breathe out. Each time you breathe in you can think or say to yourself, I am safe (or strong or brave or ready – any word you choose). Do this for five breaths (one breath for each finger).
Ask each other how you feel after five breaths. Sometimes placing a hand on your partner’s back while doing Hand Tracing can make us feel safe and connected. Or you might rest your hand over your own heart to connect with your heartbeat as you practice Hand Tracing.
End the Day with Connection
Try legs up the wall/chair with check in. Lie on your back with your legs resting against a wall (or on a chair or sofa). As you breathe slowly and rest, ask each other to share one good thing that happened today.
Then, ask each other one thing you are looking forward to having happen. Notice how you feel when you just breathe and rest together. Taking time at the end of the day to reflect on good things allows our bodies to relax and reset before bedtime.
Download our Free Resources for audios the family can listen to together!
How do you #StayConnected? Leave a comment!