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March 25, 2019 - In This Issue:
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Spring is the Time for
Minding
Your Mind!
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By Trish Larsen, Executive Director
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What comes to mind when we think of spring? Is it longer days, more sunshine, and much more time to spend active outdoors? For some, spring takes us one step closer to summer vacation! This edition of our newsletter offers a variety of fun and engaging opportunities to actively enjoy the outdoors and spend more time with friends, all while supporting Minding Your Mind.
And...remember,
May is Mental Health Month - be sure to book your program before the end of the school year!
Happy spring!
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Gifts & Grants Received since
January 2019
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Benjamin Shein Family Foundation
Brooks Family
Bucks County MH/DP
Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation
Gerry Cuddy
Drexel University T
homas R. Kline School of Law
Floors USA
Youth in Philanthropy at Foundation for MetroWest
NJM Insurance Group
Patricia Kind Family Foundation
The Depression Portal
Travelers Insurance
UHS - Universal Health Services
Wawa
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Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is an experiential leadership development program designed to empower and educate local youth to become our community's next generation of philanthropists - those who give their time, talent and treasure for the common good.
The inaugural program ran in 1997, and over the past 20 years YIP has grown to become the largest and oldest youth philanthropy education program in the country.
Minding Your Mind was invited to present to Youth in Philanthropy, which turned out to be an unique and fulfilling experience. The youth involved are empowered with decision-making and conscientiously thoughtful in their evaluation process. We were honored that the panel recognized the need for youth mental health programs for themselves and their peers by awarding MYM with a significant grant. We will be using this gift to grow our programs in the Metrowest area, focusing on serving schools that have not hosted a MYM program in the past.
SAVE THE DATE!
Our first
Young Professionals Board information session
was a great success, with close to 20 interested young adults gathering to learn more about getting involved with Minding Your Mind. Our next meeting is scheduled for April 9 at 6:30PM, location TBD. To be included on our email list and kept informed of the opportunities available to young professionals, please email Catelin McCarriston at
[email protected]
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| Jenna DiLossi, Psy.D., NCC, LPC |
Earlier this month, Minding Your Mind took over Montville to facilitate multiple Q&A presentations surrounding the documentary,
Angst.
We had all of our available clinicians and young adult speakers engage students after viewing the documentary, and shared information with them on how to seek help for themselves or others.
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Young Adult Speaker Katya in Montville
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To date, we have scheduled nearly 350 presentations in New Jersey for the 2018-2019 school year.
DID YOU KNOW...that we are able to schedule multiple presentations in one day in your district? We will be doing something similar in Long Valley at the end of April.
Contact Guy Iacono, New Jersey Regional Director,
to discuss our programs and opportunities you have to bring MYM to your school or community.
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CLICK LINKS FOR MORE INFO
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April 7, 2019
April 8, 2019
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Minding Your Mind has been selected as a Charity Partner for both the Blue Cross Broad Street Run and the TCS New York City Marathon! That means we have guaranteed entries to both races for individuals who are willing to raise money on our behalf.
We have two bibs for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run on 5/5 ($250 minimum raised) and two bibs for the TCS New York City Marathon on 11/3 ($2,500 minimum raised).
If you are interested in joining Team Minding Your Mind, please email
[email protected]
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Click any icon to follow MYM!
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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!
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Help us renovate! What do YOU want to see on our website?
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Tell us what you need!
As we restructure and update our website, we want to know what you need from us: how do you use the website? Is there something you want added? Is there a page that needs to be easier to find? What features are your favorites? Feedback and suggestions are welcome - send them to:
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Independence Blue Cross Begins Mindfulness Series with MYM
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"Introduction to Mindfulness" is available for both schools and businesses
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Last month, Minding Your Mind began a 12-part series on mindfulness with
Independence Blue Cross, working with employees to learn the practice and bringing the resulting benefits into the office.
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Kristin Page, MS, E-RYT
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The program is constructed where each month focuses on a specific theme, developed and led by MYM mindfulness instructor Kristin Page. "We began with Healthy Habits -habits of the mind, how to use them in the workplace, and then bring them home," shares Kristin. "The overall focus of the series is how to bring mindfulness into your everyday lives, in both formal and informal ways."
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Brandon R. Everett, RN, BSN, CMT
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What is Mindfulness?
"Mindfulness shifts how we relate with our experience, encouraging us to bring a curious, nonjudgmental attitude to each moment and each situation," says Brandon Everett, another MYM mindfulness instructor. "Bringing this practice into your office makes perfect sense when you consider that it encourages creative problem solving, resiliency, perspective taking, and promotes positive engagement in work.
What's more, mindfulness is a simple, practical, but powerful technique for recognizing and relieving stress and promoting work/life balance."
What are the Benefits of Mindfulness?
Research shows when people practice mindfulness regularly:
- they are better able to focus attention and think creatively
- they display greater self-awareness, pro-social behaviors (kindness, empathy), and altruism
- they report reduced stress, anxiety, and emotional reactivity
- they are able to recognize, relate with, and manage difficult emotions constructively
- they have fewer sick days
- productivity increases
Bring Mindfulness to Your Workplace
For more information on how to build a mindfulness series that meets the unique needs of your company or office, please contact Kristin Page at
[email protected]
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Looking Forward
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Wharton 5K on April 7 to Benefit MYM
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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 8th Annual Wharton 5K, the University of Pennsylvania's largest 5K.
JOIN US on Sunday, April 7, at iconic Penn Park for this fun and unique community event! Register by March 24 to save on the entry fee.
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May is Mental Health Month
Host a Program in Your
School - Community - Workplace
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A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia
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A Celebration of Life
is a movement focused on inspiring hope, while also remembering lives that have been lost to suicide. The evening creates special moments and appreciation for life. Funds raised will support Minding Your Mind's mental health education programs.
A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia
Thursday, May 9, 2019
8:00PM - 11:00PM
Ballroom at the Ben
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Ovations
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"Evan gave a fantastic presentation.
His honest story was impactful and real for our students. His passion for finding appropriate coping strategies and treatments was motivational, allowing our students to understand the importance asking for help and not being afraid to share how you are feeling."
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Many of Minding Your Mind's programs are provided on a donation basis. The majority of our financing is derived from fundraising events, personal contributions, and charitable grants, allowing us to serve organizations that may not be able to donate.
With a tax-deductible gift, you can help us share the message of mental wellness with more students and communities.
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Brooke Bridges talks to students about
the power of
consistency, self-love, and being your own biggest fan.
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Brooke comes from a childhood full of dysfunction. She grew up having to present a happy face even when she wasn't happy. Her intense fear of abandonment led to her being taken advantage of by so-called "friends" who would threaten their friendship if she didn't do what they wanted her to. These experiences were damaging and infused her with self-doubt, guilt, and a feeling of never being good enough.
She engaged in reckless behaviors in an effort to escape her feelings, yet she continued to hide her pain behind a smile. Eventually, she found herself ready, and had planned, to take her own life, but chose to seek help instead.
Brooke has learned that her best way to recovery is through self-love, consistency, and believing in herself. While living her dream as a mental health speaker, she hopes to impart knowledge around letting go of self-doubt and negative coping mechanisms by replacing them with positive skills and attitudes.
A counselor at St. Andrew's School (RI) had this to say about Brooke's presentation:
"Brooke was a fantastic speaker and the students were engaged the entire time she presented. I had many students contact me after her talk because they felt more comfortable seeking support after learning how much it helped her. Thank you, Brooke, for sharing your story with us."
To schedule a program with Brooke for your school or community, please click here.
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