March 16, 2018 - In This Issue:
Springing Forward with Hope
By Trish Larsen, Executive Director

Between the dreariness of Winter and the promise of the Summer we celebrate Spring, the season of hope. After recognizing Random Acts of Kindness Week in February, we  look forward for the opportunity to share more knowledge during Stress Awareness Month (April) and Mental Health Month (May). We have events in recognition of both, with many exciting opportunities for you to participate. What drives us to take part in these awareness activities is our commitment to changing attitudes about mental health. We continue our work to ensure that  more people will be celebrated for who they are and not stigmatized for a condition they may experience. We hope you'll join us in this effort through every season. 

 Thank you for your continued support. 
April  is "Stress Awareness Month"
May  is "Mental Health Month"
What are you doing to raise awareness?

Grace & Gratitude
Gifts & Grants Received since 
November 2017
Daniel Boyce
Joe DeMarco
June and Jerry Dowell
The Espe Family
Facebook
Finley Catering
Lyft
Michael and Barbara Krancer
Bill and Cindy McKernan
Paul Morrissey
RiteAid KidCents Foundation
Patty and Tom Savage
Regional Updates
MASSACHUSETTS
To date, over 80 schools in Massachusetts have booked nearly 200 Minding Your Mind presentations - and that doesn't count youth organizations, like the Metro West YMCA and the Newton Boys & Girls Club. These numbers are outstanding!  It is a testimony to Massachusetts schools for taking the emotional well-being of their students seriously by prioritizing mental health education.

The experience of organizations who have hosted a Minding Your Mind speaker is highlighted by many positive testimonials, including the following from Lexington High School:

"The Lexington High School Health Education Teachers had Minding your Mind speak to each of our 9th grade health classes. Drew was excellent! The students followed his every word and related to him and his personal story. He was very open, sincere, and at times, humorous and our classes truly heard his message. We followed up with a reflection and students had positive feedback about the experience and made their own list of resources and positive coping skills. Thank you!" Jodie Ronci | Physical Education and Wellness Department Head, Lexington High School 

Our Speakers are our most valuable asset!  By generously sharing their personal stories of hope and recovery, they deliver on our  mission to challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, and increase help-seeking behavior. 

Because adults are on the front lines, we also offer trainings for parents, school staff, and professional groups including  Just Talk About ItQ.P.R. Suicide Prevention, and  Introduction to Mindfulness. Check out our website to find out more.

We are now booking into April and beyond. And since we expect next school year to be even busier, it's not too early to book a fall program using our Book A Speaker form.  For more information, please contact Massachusetts Regional Director, Jan Latorre-Stiller, at  jan@mindingyourmind.org  or  781-285-6696   
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey has been spreading the message of self-esteem.  What exactly is self-esteem? Read this message from New Jersey Regional Director, Guy Iacono:

"It is a confidence in ones own abilities and worth. Self-esteem is also about respecting oneself! The adolescent years consist of many mental and physical developments, and these developments can often create challenges for our teens. Because teenagers are wired for peer approval, they are constantly comparing themselves to others. These comparisons can be extremely detrimental considering there is typically a large gap between perception and reality. With the advent and growing popularity of various social media platforms, it is even easier to compare yourself to someone else. The newsfeeds and timelines on these social media sites allow us to portray ourselves however we would like (even if it is not the truth!). When teens consume information via Facebook, Instagram or etc.... they are essentially looking at an individual's hand-picked highlight reels. 
Now is perhaps the most crucial time to start the conversation surrounding mental health.  "
 
Minding Your Mind programs help you initiate the conversations that promote healthy lifestyles and ultimately save lives.  Contact Guy directly to see how Minding Your Mind can collaborate and partner in helping NJ teens. 


2NDFLOOR is a confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey's youth and young adults. We are here to help you find solutions to the problems that you face at home, at school or at play. 
If you are between the ages of 10 and 24, live in New Jersey, and need to talk about an issue or problem that you are facing call 888-222-2228 anytime or  text us at 888-222-2228.


April 8
Wharton 5K to benefit Minding Your Mind
Penn Park, Philadelphia

May 6
Beyond the Stigma community forum
Wayne Presbyterian Church, Wayne, PA

May 10
Ballroom at the Ben, Philadelphia

May 31
Main Line Gives day of community giving
Follow MYM on Social Media
Click any icon to follow MYM!
MYM hosts an active and ever-growing community of individuals who are interested in making mental health education a priority in our society. We have over 5,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and there is always room for one more. On our networks we share information about events, partnerships, and timely news and articles relevant to the mental health community. Come see what everyone is talking about! 

   
Dress Your Feet for Mental Health Month

Minding Your Mind's good friend and teacher in the Spring-Ford, PA school district, Brian Aikens, is running his annual fundraiser for Mental Health Month. Proceeds from the sales of these socks will go to the Spring-Ford High School Resiliency Club and Minding Your Mind. Click HERE to order your pair by 3/18!
Looking Back
MYM Addresses Mental Health for the Workplace
Did you know that...
  • by 2020 mental health issues will surpass all physical diseases as the leading cause of disability in the U.S. 
  • in an average week, five million people miss work due to stress. 
  • an estimated four million work days are lost due to depression. 
  • depression and anxiety, including co-occurring conditions, cost businesses $210.5 billion every year.
Minding Y our Mind has developed a 90-minute workshop designed to educate adults on basic mental health issues and how they impact daily life in the workplace, at home, and during interactions with others. 

Appropriate for small businesses to large corporations, this program is facilitated by one of Minding Your Mind's professional clinicians and includes a presentation by a young adult speakers to attach real-life experiences to the topics being discussed. To read more details about the program, including fees and how to schedule, please visit the Corporate Education Program page on our website.
Massachusetts Region Holds Speaker Training
Carl Antisell, director of marketing and information systems, held a training session with Massachusetts-based young adult speakers.  Each applicant goes through a rigorous vetting and training, thoroughly preparing them to deliver professional and effective presentations to middle and high school students.

Because of the high level of demand of our programs, we continue to recruit additional Young Adult Speakers in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. If you are or know someone who is interested in working with Minding Your Mind, please visit the Employment section of our website.
LookingForward2 Looking Forward
RUN FOR YOUR MIND!
Two Opportunities to Support MYM
Sunday, April 8, 2018 in Philadelphia
We are thrilled and grateful to announce that the Wharton Council and the Wharton Roadrunners have selected Minding Your Mind as the beneficiary of the 7th Annual Wharton 5K, the University of Pennsylvania's largest 5K.

JOIN US on Sunday, April 8, at iconic Penn Park for this fun and unique community event!
Register by March 24 to save on the entry fee. Click here for details and registration.
Sunday, November 4, 2018 in NYC
Thank you to the New York Road Runners (NYRR) for selecting Minding Your Mind as a charitable partner for the 2018 TCS NYC Marathon! We have three bibs available for the legendary race on November 4, 2018. Participants are guaranteed entry in exchange for raising a minimum of $2,500 for Minding Your Mind. We provide a customizable, online fundraising site, and will promote and support your efforts every step of the way. To inquire about securing one of the entries, please contact Maura Wheeler at maura@mindingyourmind.org
MYM Reintroduces Blog and Welcomes Outside Contributors
Carlie with MYM speaker Drew Bergman
"Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs."
~ Stephen Covey

We proudly reintroduce our mental health blog with content from two inspiring students.  

Carlie, a student at the Ranney School in NJ, begins her entry with a explanation: "The purpose of my club, "Beneath the Surface," is to help those who face challenges that cannot be seen by the naked eye, to educate people about these hidden challenges, and to teach the power of empathy. I started this club because of my own experiences with pain disorders as well as mental disorders that are not visible to others. My mission is to raise awareness and promote compassion across hidden differences." ...continue reading 

Carolyn from Wareham High School shares her newfound perspective: "Throughout this year I have found my passion in life, I never expected to be where I am now. Things were a lot different and much darker over the summer with my mental issues. Keep doing what you're doing, man."...continue reading

Do you have something you'd like to say about mental health? We are actively seeking submissions for blog posts! Please send the piece you would like considered for publication to Maura Wheeler, director of communications and public relations maura@mindingyourmind.org
Join us for the 3rd Annual 
A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia
On Thursday, May 10, we join together to Celebrate Life! Join us for a 4-hour top shelf open bar, hors d'oeuvres, DJ, and incredible raffle items. 

A Celebration of Life  is an evening focused on inspiring hope, while also remembering those lives that we have lost to suicide. We are excited to welcome back Rick Williams of 6ABC News as our Honorary Guest, and pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of the Emerging Minds Award, Derek & Jordan Craig.

Sponsorships are available now! Please contact Drew Bergman, director of development, to secure your place in the evening's program of recognition. drew@mindingyourmind.org

You can purchase tickets online by clicking here.
Featured Facilitator
Kristin lives with gratitude for the practice of teaching mindfulness 
and supporting educators in passing on this gift to their students.
Kristin Page was introduced to meditation and the cultivation of stillness when she was a child. After a lifetime of employing these skills through her everyday life, she formalized her practice of Mindfulness Meditation and has been studying and practicing strategically for over 15 years. 

In 2009 she founded Kristin Page Yoga, Meditation & Wellness , an organization with the mission to increase personal wellness for individuals across a diverse clientele. Her instruction has brought her in front of elementary school children, teenagers, elite athletic teams, executives, and many others. 

Kristin completed an intensive two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training program with Clearlight Meditation Institute. As a faculty member at Clearlight, she guides students through an eight-week beginner Meditation Series, preparing them to move onto deepening practices. 

At Minding Your Mind, Kristin uses her expertise and talents to present our comprehensive   Introduction to Mindfulness , empowering teachers and staff to cultivate a mindful school community. This three-part program provides background on the history and benefits of mindfulness, and instruction on how to introduce practices into a classroom. Her experience in working with adults and children at every grade level makes her the perfect fit to help educators master a mindful classroom and cultivate their own personal practice of mindfulness.

To schedule an Introduction to Mindfulness program for your school or community, please  click here.