With Thanksgiving around the corner, November is the month for gratitude. According to Harvard Health, "gratitude increases positive emotions, which in turn improves overall health." There are so many ways to show gratitude. What are some ways you express your gratitude? Please give us an answer in the comments below
Why is gratitude important?
The holidays are often filled with love and laughter, but the season and spirit can be weighed down with high expectations and subjects that heighten feelings of anxiousness. It can include interacting with family or even financial obligations. For more people than we know, the holidays can trigger mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. Major mental health challenges are often best dealt with with the help of a professional, but research suggests that the grateful spirit of Thanksgiving can improve one's well-being. If you are interested in learning more about how gratitude can lead to a healthier mind, click the link below to view a Harvard Health article.
Community Highlights
At WHOLE, we love to give credit where it is due. So we are highlighting a dedicated member of the mental health community, Roxann Mascoll M.S., MSW, LICSW. She is an independent child protection and domestic violence consultant, psychotherapist at Harvard and Brandeis University, co-host of the Living a Triggered Life Podcast and the lead clinician for The Triggered Project. Roxann identifies as a Black Nuyorican (New York + Puerto Rican). Originally from the South Bronx, she now is based in Cambridge. She is a valued facilitator with WHOLE programs where she leads workshops, like Creating a Healthy Mindset, a three part workshop series focused on educating people about where anxiety comes from. She also has her own private practice, The Triggered Project Therapy that provides both individual and group based therapy. If you are interested in learning more about or working with Roxann,
please click the link below.
WHOLE Highlights
We show our gratitude at WHOLE by providing free educational programs, events, and workshops to the general public, mainly tailored toward the BIPOC community.
Some of the most recent being...
1. A Night Out w/ WHOLE: A night of networking and fun for social service and mental health professionals.
2. Hosting panels with the Racism-Based Violence Injury and Prevention Lab in Boston College School of Social Work
3. Mental Health First Aid Training: a national program to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use co-facilitated by members of the WHOLE team.
Coming up we have...
Creating a Healthy Mind: A 3 part workshop series focused on educating people about where anxiety comes from (Oct. 28th, Nov. 4th, and Nov. 11th)
Faith-Based MHFA Training: a national program using faith as a pillar to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use co-facilitated by members of the WHOLE team (Dec. 2)
The Things We Carry Men's Group: A therapy group catered to Black men for sharing and support (starting Jan. 9th, 2024)
If you would like to register for or learn more about our programs, please click the link below