CARE is Here for You!

Greetings readers!

This summer is like no other as we are collectively experiencing many changes and challenges in our daily lives and in our communities. And yet, the hot summer air, the bright sun, the blooming flowers, they all remind us that we are also capable of being resilient, of staying calm in the midst of the heat. That we, too, can bloom. This month we look into strategies for a safe summer, how we can support one another in service, share different strategies to prioritize our mental health, and guide others with resiliency skills.

To begin, let’s focus our attention on these affirmations to support your mental wellbeing.

  • Today I give myself permission to feel ________________
  • I give myself permission to honor my body, my mind, and my emotions.
  • I give myself permission not to engage with _____________
  • I will not allow anyone to tell me my feelings or experiences are not valid.

One of the most important skills that we should practice daily is mindfulness. This may look different to every person, such as taking time off social media or the news and doing an activity that brings you to the present moment. This can look like:

  • A creative DIY project
  • Reading your favorite book or reading a new book series
  • Gardening and learning more about indoor plants
  • Journaling, writing positive affirmations, recording yourself reading the affirmations, and listening to the recording daily.
  • Playing your favorite sport
  • Going for a walk
  • Or simply staying still. Give your mind permission to slow down and your body permission to relax.

As with any skill, you should practice it daily and come up with creative ideas to accommodate your personal preferences. This will have a positive effect on your mental and emotional wellbeing.

With more time in our hands and with the accessibility of virtual interconnectedness, there are many ways that we are able to extend our support to those near us – our friends and family – and to our community. Some ideas include:

  • Learn a new life skill with your friends. There are many types of life skills you can learn, but the basics include self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, and the tools to build relationships.
  • Learn about a new culture: listen to their music, watch a show/movie, learn about their foods and customs, read a blog from a foreigner living in that country. This can make you feel more connected to people who are from different backgrounds.
  • Take a virtual class.
  • Give back and volunteer at your local food dispensary or animal shelter. Organize a neighborhood cleanup with your friends, create a care package to send to your elderly neighbors. Are you a pro at online marketing or love making videos? Help local nonprofits with their social media strategies to help spread the word on many programs that are available to the community.
  • Volunteer from home by making face masks for health care professionals1, or tutor fellow students online.

This month we are happy to partner with Bring Change to Mind which is a student-led High School Program that gives teens a platform to speak up and raise awareness around mental health through educating themselves and their communities to decrease the stigma around mental illness. For more information about this program, visit https://bringchange2mind.org/ and check out their quick video below.

There are also many local organizations that offer life skill training for teens. These include:

If you or someone you care about is feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others:

  • Call 911
  • Visit the Disaster Distress Helpline, call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746
  • Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224

For the youth, if you know you or your friends need immediate help, call Teen Lifeline. Teen Lifeline is a 24-7 crisis line for teens where teens can call or text another teen about any problems or issues they are facing. This resource is also available to parents and families for support.

  • In Maricopa County: 602-248-8336 (TEEN)
  • Outside Maricopa County: 1-800-248-8336 (TEEN)
  • Outside Arizona/Nationally: 1-877-YOUTHLINE or 1-800-SUICIDE

For more information on this please visit the below Websites:

  1. https://www.handsonphoenix.org/covid19
  2. Operation Parent offers free webinars on many topics to support raising children and teens by visiting https://operationparent.org/resource-manager/
  3. If you would like to learn more about mindfulness skills, CARE offers many free virtual classes for teens and parents to support you on your journey into yourself. For more resources, please visit our resource page at https://carecoalitionaz.org/resources/