Good Mental Health for Everyone

LIVE - Campaign for your Mental Health

  Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is every month, every day, no matter what is going on in the world. It’s OK not to be OK. And it’s OK to talk to somebody about this. A new documentary titled "Football, Prince William and Our Mental Health” will be available on YouTube after the U.S. broadcast May 28.

   The presentation explores the Duke of Cambridge’s mission to end mental health stigma for men but applies to women and children, too. “You can’t be ashamed of your mental health,” he says in the trailer. “You’ve got to be able to look it in the eye and go. ‘I’m going to deal with it. Here we go!’”

 “It’s about being confident enough to say, ‘Things aren’t great,’” says William, 37. “It’s OK to not be OK.”  We can teach children, “Here we go!”

LIVE - Love yourself; Include others

Here we go!

   Good mental health is for everyone, especially children. We can raise them to know how to deal with whatever “it” is and then, “Here we go!”

  According to Amy Poirier of the Great Lakes Recovery Center Foundation, Sarah Derwin, and people of the West End Suicide Prevent, this message comes home to the United States in the LIVE campaign. LIVE stands for LOVE yourself, INCLUDE others, VALUE life, and ENGAGE in the community. That begins in early childhood.

LIVE!

   According to their literature, to LOVE yourself means to accept who you are because there is only one you. You have a unique set of abilities that only you possess. To LOVE yourself also means to take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Start these things early with children and continue through their life. Relax. Close your eyes and take three deep belly breaths. Learn something new often. Say, draw, or hand write five things that make you special.

   To INCLUDE others means to understand that we are all different and that is a good thing. Everyone has their own individual talents and by working together we can make our communities a place everyone feels accepted. Call or Zoom someone and share. Draw a picture or write a note to someone.

LIVE - Value life; Engage the community

  To VALUE life means to believe you have a purpose that only you can fill. Part of this purpose is to help both yourself and others. To value life also means to help others find their significance. Tell someone you appreciate them.

 To ENGAGE the community means to come together to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We make a difference by having open conversations to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. To engage also means to connect with others. Look at the stars. You are a part of something bigger. Volunteer in the community

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest
Photos, Fran Darling, fdarling fotos