Quarter 1 ‘24
Keeping Your Winter Spirits High
Happy New Year! The winter holidays have passed and these upcoming months are for rest, renewal, and resolution. Although it can be cold, and the days become shorter because it gets dark early, there are a few steps one can take to make sure the winter transition flows smoothly so you can stay warm and avoid seasonal affective disorder (SAD). What are some ways you lift your spirits during the winter months? Please respond in the comments below.
How can we prepare for the winter?
In our last anxiety workshop, hosted by Roxann Mascoll M.S., MSW, LICSW, we covered the concept of how anxiety created by transitions, can trigger mental health challenges. In the winter months when we naturally receive less exposure to fresh air and the sun, people are especially susceptible to SAD. Seasonal affective disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. Although as always stated, major mental health challenges are often best dealt with with the help of a professional, actions such as getting outside for at least 15 minutes a day can help with getting ahead of the challenges that come with transitioning to the winter months. Please refer to the diagram on the left about "Dressing for Cold Weather" for guidelines on how to properly dress for the outside during the cold months. Another way to combat SAD is by adding more fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices to your food. Spices, such as turmeric, provide natural antioxidants to your body to help fight winter diseases. Fueling your body with these foods is a great natural way to ensure you're getting those vital nutrients. If you'd like to learn more about "Mentally and Physically Preparing for Winter", please click the link below to an article from the Columbia University Spectator.
Community Highlights
Reverend Lorraine Thornhill is the lead pastor of the Kingdom Empowerment Center and serves as CEO of We Can Be WHOLE. Rev. Thornhill is driven by her faith and her passion for seeing people empowered and transformed through WHOLE's mental health programming. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Thornhill has served in roles with the Cambridge Police Department, the Cambridge Community Foundation, and the City of Cambridge’s Human Service Department. For over 30 years, Rev. Thornhill has been guiding people in improving their lives through her work as a senior pastor, community leader, and counselor/life coach and believes in the possibility of a world where people are well cared for and have all that they need. Hence, she has devoted herself to building that reality and equipping people along the way. If you like to learn some fun facts about Reverend Lorraine, please check out this Instagram post.
WHOLE Highlights
At WHOLE we provide free educational programs, events, and workshops to the general public, mainly tailored toward the BIPOC community.
We are currently offering The Things We Carry Men's Group: A therapy group catered to Black men for sharing and support (starting Jan. 9th, 2024)
Upcoming Events:
We regularly offer 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
If you would like to register or learn more about our programs, please click the link below
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