In May 2020 we offered an event, Be Well YPs, to members of The Network with Burrell Behavioral Health on how to practice self-care and connection tools amidst the pandemic. Nearly nine months later we are still in a pandemic and taking care of ourselves is still just as important! We learned a lot and even got to have some fun together. Here were some of the takeaways:

-We started with what we know: our brains are survival brains; we are grieving; self-care and connection are key and hope is critical.

-The Burrell team then asked us a series of questions like what self-care activities help you; what habits do you have that hurt you; how do you generally feel throughout your day and how many days a week do you intentionally practice self-care. The vulnerability of our members as they answered these questions was inspiring!

-We also practiced mindful meditation through deep breathing and a drawing exercise. Something simple and easy to incorporate throughout your day!

-Lastly, we were reminded of the importance of taking time to play. When was the last time you did an activity you truly love? As a group we practiced this and played a few rounds of Pictionary! It was so fun and a great way to pause during our day and laugh!

The great thing about events like these is the conversation doesn’t end when the event does! Keep the conversation going with your fellow YPs by normalizing talking about mental health. Check in on each other and ask some of the questions we went through today. You can also tune in on Facebook for the Be Well Community with Burrell Behavioral Health on Mondays and Fridays from 12:45-1:15 and Wednesdays from 12:00-12:45. Reach out to Burrell at bewellcommunity@burrellcenter.com to connect with them further. And finally, Be Well YPs!

To view the full recording of the event, click here to download the file or email Katie Jones at katie@springfieldchamber.com.