May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a chance every year to change the conversation around mental health!
Here are simple strategies to nourish our well-being from experts at our agencies in The Associated network.
Enjoying Nature — Ashley Pressman, Senior Program Director, Pearlstone
Whether it’s walking a trail in peaceful quiet, feeling the satisfaction of harvesting food directly from the land or learning how to increase our awareness of ourselves and the world around us, being connected to nature is an important part of taking care of our own mental well-being. At Pearlstone, we know that having a personal connection to nature is foundational to our ability to confront the challenges in the world today.
We held a retreat for Israeli families living in Baltimore just after October 7 and one of the guests commented about her experience during one of our hikes. We did an exercise that grounded people to the earth, and she said she could feel the stress leaving her body and being absorbed by the land.
Working Out at The JCC — Justin Dominick, Senior Director of Fitness at the JCC of Greater Baltimore
Fitness has numerous benefits for mental health, backed by both research and real-world experience.
At the JCC, we offer a wide array of workout opportunities regardless of your fitness level. Physical activity can reduce stress, and regular exercise improves one’s mood, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Staying physically active can boost our self-esteem, improve our cognitive function and help us get a better night sleep. On top of it all, it gives us a sense of control and purpose during stressful times. And, group workouts, like the ones we offer at the JCC, give us a welcoming environment that help reduce our loneliness and improve our state of mind.
