Sleep is an essential activity that impacts health and wellness across the lifespan, especially for individuals living with serious mental illness. There is a significant body of data showing links between poor sleep and the negative impacts on mental health, as well as the relationship between poor sleep and medical concerns such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The ability to restore and maintain a sleep/wake cycle is important for health, healing, and thriving in the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. For all people, including those living with serious mental health conditions, an understanding of available tools for adapting healthy sleep patterns can be an effective means for recovery and prevention of medical issues.

What is Wellness?
Wellness is being in good physical and mental health. Because mental health and physical health are linked, problems in one area can impact the other. At the same time, improving your physical health can also benefit your mental health, and vice versa. It is important to make healthy choices for both your physical and mental well-being. Remember that wellness is not the absence of illness or stress. You can still strive for wellness even if you are experiencing these challenges in your life.
What Are the Eight Dimensions of Wellness?
Learning about the Eight Dimensions of Wellness can help you choose how to make wellness a part of your everyday life.  Wellness strategies  are practical ways to start developing healthy habits that can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
The Eight Dimensions of Wellness are:
  1. Emotional—Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
  2. Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
  3. Financial—Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
  4. Intellectual—Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
  5. Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work
  6. Physical—Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep
  7. Social—Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
  8. Spiritual—Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life
IN THE NEWS...
SYFS is in need of grocery store gift cards for our community members who are currently facing challenges. Please drop any donations off at SYFS at our 240 Maple Avenue location. Thank you!
You Go, Girl!   allows girls to discover who they are and the role they play in our world while learning to feel good about themselves and their fellow fierce females. Participants will focus on building self-esteem and leadership skills, creating healthy lifestyles and planning for their futures. Activities will include team building, expressive arts, yoga/meditation, dance, exploration of media, poetry, journaling , leadership challenges and inspirational guest speakers.

Summer Matters! - Disconnect to Connect Let your kids spend some time AWAY from their devices and focus on human connection and social skills! Transitioning into Middle School and into the dramatic period of adolescence can be exciting and scary for both parents and kids! SYFS is offering four Friday workshops that will help students prepare for the changes and challenges ahead by focusing on the social emotional aspects of this transition. Participants will engage in conversations around expected fears and worries as well as develop tools for problem solving and conflict resolution. Topics to be covered will include managing emotions, communication skills, peer and family relations/healthy relationships and making healthy choices around substances and social media.  
To register, p lease contact Jennifer Trites at   jtrites@syfs-ma.org   or (508) 845-6932. ext 302
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SYFS is generously sponsored by: