CMGMH November Update

November 2020 CMGMH Update:

Greetings CMGMH Friends & Colleagues!

The year 2020 has brought a multitude of anxiety-inducing events that have left our country wondering how to best cope with the new pressures presented to us. Civil unrest, a pandemic, a falling economy, or a presidential election alone would give most people plenty to worry about. Thus, it is not surprising that the combination of all four has left our nation at a loss for how to move forward. And yet, move forward we will.

During stressful times, there is one thing that all mental health professionals urge us to do: take a break and allow yourself plenty of time for self-care. Finding ways to stay mentally healthy could not be more important in our current circumstances and we must make our mental health a priority. For this reason, we at the Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health want to remind you to take a moment away from the mayhem to check in with yourself and find ways to make these difficult situations a little more manageable.

This November update has been created to provide you with several resources to achieve the goal of self-care. Below you will find some guides and articles that were created by various academic institutions along with a few activities that are geared towards building a regular self-care routine. Additionally, there is list of upcoming virtual events co-hosted by CMGMH and William James College that you are welcome to attend.

All the Best,

Rebekah Drew

CMGMH Program Coordinator

AmeriCorps VISTA Member

Recommended Readings:

It should not come as a surprise to learn that many leading professionals are concerned about the mental state of our country and its people. The current circumstances have left many individuals at a loss for how to maintain a healthy mental state, regardless of whether they struggled with a mental illness prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers have linked the decline in mental health over the last few months to both the Coronavirus and the Presidential Election, and are currently working on ways to combat this pandemic of the mind. Please take a minute to read up on how to maintain your mental health and learn about best practices for engaging in meaningful and productive conversations.

American Psychological Association: "2020 Presidential Election a Source of Significant Stress for More Americans than 2016 Presidential Race." October 7, 2020.

Palo Alto University: "Tips for Coping with Presidential Election Anxiety." October 14, 2020.

Harvard Business Review: "Don't Let Election Passions Roil You Workplace." October 2020

The Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center (DDNRC): "Guidelines for Dialogue."
Visit the DDNRC Website to find additional resources.

The University of Alaska Anchorage created two titles: "Start Talking" and "Stop Talking."

William James College: "Managing Conversations about Politics and the Election." A series of sessions hosted by WJC faculty to enable students the opportunity to process their concerns.

Finding Calm: Resources and Activities for De-stressing:

Creative Expression Activities:

One stress outlet often recommended is to take a few minutes to invest in some form of creative expression. For example:

In case you were wondering, coloring pages aren't only for children. Between the many adult coloring books available and several sites with free printable designs there are hundreds of options for you to consider.
Baking and/or cooking are two other brilliant ways to get your mind off of current events (and you get to eat when you are done so win-win). Maybe you have a recipe passed down from your ancestors that will always make you feel comforted. Or perhaps there is a dish you saw on social media you have never tried that you are itching to try your hand at. Either way, food can be a great way to bring us closer to others and ourselves.
Find a fun puzzle to piece together.
The American Institute of Stress has resources and articles for stress-reducing activities.

Podcasts for Mindfulness and Meditation:

There are hundreds of podcasts on the web that have been produced to encourage self-care and mindfulness. One such podcast, "Finding Contentment," is a series of interviews and discussions on the topic of stress management hosted through the American Institute of Stress.

The National Health Foundation of the United Kingdom also provides several podcasts on the topics of mental health, mindfulness, and wellbeing.