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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as we maneuver through what is hopefully the final stages of the pandemic, community members are embracing the warmer weather and mentally break free from the stresses of the past two years. Making your way through any stressful situation is a process and can be dealt with in many ways. Physical activity has been shown to help relieve stress and anxiety overall.
Any type of exercise or physical activity can help you manage your anxiety and immensely relieve stress. Several ways that you can stay active and moving include:
Working in the garden
Cleaning around the house
Going for a walk/riding your bike
Doing cardio by walking up and down your stairs
Use weights or a chair for exercises-add links
Additional yoga resources include Yoga for Complete Beginners, 30 Days of Yoga, Yoga for Anxiety and Stress, 5-Minute Morning Yoga, Yoga for Neck, Shoulders, and Upper Back, and 7-Minute Bedtime Yoga.
Free online meditation sessions are being offered via Zoom on a weekly basis through the UMass Memorial Center for Mindfulness.
* Please consult your doctor before engaging in any new physical activity
Utilizing the updated Move Your Way Franklin County Guide, which features local walking routes and trails. The guide is offered in both English and Spanish.
Healthy Franklin County launched its new educational campaign, Passport to Wellness, on May 1st. The campaign will increase awareness of community partners’ health and wellness programs and resources by creating an opportunity for engagement with their programs. Free and open to anyone in the community, this program ends on May 31st. Find more information about this new program here.
You can also visit getfitfranklincounty.org to learn about other resources, programs and tools to help you navigate your health and wellness journey.
More information on how to cope with stress can be found from the CDC, PA Department of Health, NAMI, or WellSpan Health. Additional blog posts, podcasts, and tips for meditating can be found on the Coronavirus Sanity Guide.
Mental Health activities and events can be found below:
WellSpan Philhaven’s Virtual QPR Training Question, Persuade, Refer-three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. May 12th-Register here
WellSpan Philhaven’s Trauma 101 & 102 Training – Virtual Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an approach that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. TIC recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s life. May 19th- Register here
WellSpan Philhaven’s Trauma 105: Intro to Trauma for Parents & Caregivers – Virtual
Parents and Caregivers can play an important role in helping children recover from traumatic events. This workshop is designed to provide introductory information about the impact of trauma and the power of relationships to help children heal. The more parents and caregivers understand how trauma effects children, the more they will understand the reasons for kids’ behaviors and emotions, and the more they will be able to help them cope. May 19th- Register here
WellSpan Philhaven also offers many Behavioral Health support and education programs. More events and information from WellSpan Philhaven can be found here.
18th Annual Community Support Program Art Show FREE Open to the public May 13-15, artwork of all categories (including digital!) from creators of all skill levels can be submitted at no cost. Pieces from Franklin & Fulton counties can be entered for judging (and prizes!) if you choose, all others will be exhibition pieces. Youth aged 12-17 are now able to enter as well.
Submission forms are being finalized now and will be available through www.mhaff.org and our Facebook page (link on next page). Categories include arts & crafts, mixed media, drawing, painting, needlework, photography & digital arts, 3D, and written word (<800 words). Dates: May 13th-15th Location: 478 Grant Street, Chambersburg AND online/virtual Find more information here
WellSpan Health Virtual Breathing Technique Workshops FREE Learn more about intentional breathing and practice several breathing techniques to bring a sense of calm and peace.
Additional Mental Health Association events and information can be found here.
If you or someone you know is feeling extremely overwhelmed, stressed, or you want to harm yourself or others, the following options are always available:
Call 9-1-1
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 National Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741
For the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (available 24/7), call 1-800-273-8255.
For the Veterans’ Crisis Line (available 24/7), call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or TEXT 838255
Local resources include:
Keystone Crisis Intervention, 24/7 at 717-264-2555 or 866-918-2555
Mental Health Association of Franklin and Fulton County Helpline at 717-264-2916
The MHA offers Online QPR Training (Question, Persuade, Refer-three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide).
The Mental Health Support Line can be reached toll-free, 24/7 at 1-855-284-2494.
Healthy Franklin County Mental Health Providers Map
WellSpan Philhaven Access Center is available 24 hours a day (at 717-273-8871 or 1-800-932-0359)
WellSpan Philhaven’s myStrength app. Find more information and register here. To sign up for free, use the code “START”. The app also translates to Spanish.
You can also access additional resources and Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month 2022 Toolkit here.
