The coronavirus pandemic affects everyone in unique ways, so it makes sense that each person needs specific mental health care to recover, a local therapist said.
Michelle Hoag, with Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, spoke about mental health and self care during a monthly Zoom meeting of the Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT).
May is Mental Health Month, and taking care of your mental health may be more important than ever as the country emerges from a year-long pandemic.
Hoag started by asking attendees how they’re coping with the pandemic.
Melissa Genoble, with USD 257, told about how much better her son had adapted than she had.
“He really needed the consistent structure of being at home,” she said. “But as it was doing great things for his mental health, mine kind of crashed.”
Bruce Symes, an Allen County commissioner and instructor at Allen Community College, said he was disheartened to see the disinformation, arguments and political divisions intensify. The pandemic “added one more layer, and so that added more stress in wondering if and where we will come out on the other side.”
About one out of five people will experience a mental health challenge in a 12-month period, Hoag noted.
Self-care, or taking action to maintain good physical and mental health, is an important part of recovery. It can include physical health, social activities, mental practices and more.
“What is self-care for one person may not be self-care for another,” Hoag said. “What’s key about self-care is finding something you enjoy and something that makes you happy.”
She shared a self-care worksheet, which encourages the development of a “self-care action plan.” It offers eight categories: Intellectual, emotional, environment, physical, spiritual, financial, community and occupational. The plan asks individuals to brainstorm people, programs and activities that can help them in each category. Then, focus on implementing changes in one particular category.
“I want you to kind of explore one area and think of what self-care in that area looks like for you,” Hoag said.
She also suggested different types of meditation. Some phone apps, such as Headspace, will guide you through meditation exercises.
Hoag also likes to use the “M&M Meditation” technique, a simple exercise where participants take just one M&M candy and slowly appreciate every little detail, from the hard candy shell to the way the chocolate melts in your mouth.
She also provided information about crisis hotlines.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It’s available 24 hours a day.
