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January 2025 Newsletter
Happy New Year!
January
January is Mental Wellness Month
January 18 we are celebrating Mental Health Resources Day in Houston, TX!
Mental Health Resources Day
With Mental Health Resources Day, we aim to educate the community of local, state, and national resources available for mental health support, from local psychiatrists to NAMI. With speakers from SAMHSA, the Houston Recovery Center, and so many other local services, this event is sure to be both fun and informative!
Volunteer Spotlight
This month we are spotlighting Jimi! Jimi has become an Emerging Scholar through the Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program with Active Minds, and we are lucky enough to have him as a volunteer! He is a valued team member and we are so thankful that he helps with our Youtube channel. Thank you, Jimi!
DAISY’s Book Club
Reading has been shown to improve empathy, and it can help us use our phones less, so reading is a great hobby to pick up! This month, DAISY recommends The Anxious Generation by Johnathon Haidt. This book is really informative on the mental health issues that kids, teens and young adults are now facing with the onslaught of technology, social media and ever-changing social pressures.
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
December 2024 Newsletter
December 5 is Light Up a Life Day
Reduce Stress This Holiday Season
The holidays are known to be stressful, and can be even harder if you have lost a loved one you used to spend the holidays with. To help reduce stress around the coming holidays, there are a number of techniques you could try, like yoga and meditation, gratitude practices, baking, and spending time in good company. It can be difficult with the pressures to decorate, buy gifts, or host loved ones, but this season is also a good opportunity to appreciate what you have and those you love. If you choose to give gifts, try doing a gratitude practice beforehand – everyone could even write down what they are grateful for, if you don’t want to verbally say what you’re grateful for. Fostering a sense of gratitude can have positive effects on mental wellness and fortitude, thereby reducing stress and improving mood.
Nami also has great resources on managing your mental health during the holidays:
Surviving Painful Holiday Emotions
Avoiding Holiday Stressors
Mindfulness and Meditations for the Holiday Blues
DAISY’s Book Club
DAISY found Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam an interesting and informative read. It is, as the title suggest, about the lack of community in America, and some of the reasons Americans have shifted away from community, including politics, TV, and a decrease in church-goers. Many people may feel like social media and cell phones are the main cause, but the author says, “voting, giving, trusting, meeting, visiting, and so on had all begun to decline while Bill Gates was still in grade school.”
Updates in the Mental Health Sphere and DAISY’s World
Studies have shown that gratitude can reduce feelings of loneliness! If you are feeling lonely, try adopting a gratitude practice – whether you say, write or just think about what you are grateful for, it can help alleviate some of your loneliness.
Creative Mental Wellness has been accepted into the Kroger Community Rewards program! When you shop with your Kroger account, you can help support our mission!
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
November 2024 Newsletter
November
November 11-15 is Anti-Bullying Week
November 6 is National Stress Awareness Day
November 12 is Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
November 13 is World Kindness Day
November 23 is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Bullying is out – Kindness is in.
Bullying is a near-universal experience. Most people have been bullied or have bullied others, in one form or another. Bullying can be verbal, physical, or social, so even excluding someone intentionally can be considered bullying. This November, try to include others in social situations and being extra kind to those who you think might be getting bullied.
DAISY’s Book Club
DAISY read you are not alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health by Ken Duckworth, MD. This guide includes real stories on people’s experiences with mental health, various therapies and coping methods, so it is both relatable and helpful. It does not really provide a framework on when/where/how to seek help, but it does explore different mental illnesses and treatment options.
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date. And check out our YouTube for informational videos from Seanda and DAISY!
Your friend,
September 2024 Newsletter
September
September is Suicide Prevention Month
September 8-14 is National Suicide Prevention Week
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day
September 13 is Positive Thinking Day
Volunteering: Healing Through Helping
While self-care and mental health often focus on introspection and self-help, volunteering is a powerful yet often overlooked resource for enhancing well-being. By helping others, we also help ourselves. Volunteering pushes us out of our comfort zones, allowing us to develop new skills and build self confidence as we see the positive impact we can make. Additionally, it fosters genuine connections based on shared values and missions, offering a sense of belonging and camaraderie that boosts our mental health. Through these connections, we are reminded that we are not alone in our struggles, creating a supportive network that enhances our emotional well-being.
Volunteering also helps counteract negative emotions associated with mental health challenges, like depression and anxiety. By focusing on others, we shift our perspective from personal struggles to gratitude for our own blessings, fostering resilience and equipping us to handle life’s challenges. As we seek mental wellbeing, we must recognize the transformative potential of helping others. Embracing volunteering is a win-win strategy that impacts both our communities and ourselves, providing healing for the self through helping others.
Updates in the Mental Health Sphere and DAISY’s World
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, preteen suicide rates have been rising since 2008.
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
August 2024 Newsletter
August
August 8 is Happiness Happens Day
August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day and National Eat Outside Day
National Grief Awareness Day: An Opportunity for Honoring Loss and Healing
August 30th, National Grief Awareness Day, offers a poignant reminder of the universal experience of loss and the importance of supporting those who are grieving. Established to acknowledge the various forms of grief individuals may endure — from the loss of a loved one to the aftermath of significant life changes — this day serves as an opportunity for education, compassion, and healing.
One of the primary objectives of National Grief Awareness Day is to promote understanding and empathy towards those who are grieving. It encourages open conversations about loss and provides an opportunity for individuals to share their experiences without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. By raising awareness about grief, we can create a more supportive environment where people feel validated in their emotions and supported in their journey toward healing. Also, understanding that grieving a loss is a process helps us remember to continue to reach out to those who have grieved a loss in the past; grief may still be recurring and checking in with them can show support and stave off feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Updates in the Mental Health Sphere and DAISY’s World
You can visit our new website and YouTube channel, but they are still under renovation! You can also still keep up with us through this newsletter and our socials.
In light of National Eat Outside Day, “Spending time in nature — even as little as 10 minutes — can yield short-term benefits for adults with mental illness, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Ecopsychology.”
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
June 2024 Newsletter
June
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!
June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day
Announcements
We are gearing up for Mental Health Resources Day 2025, to be held in Houston again. We are so grateful for our participants in our 2024 event, and hope to have even more speakers and more fun in 2025.
If you or someone you know would like to speak, provide sponsorship, or otherwise get involved with our MHRD 2025, you can respond to this email or reach out to seanda@proton.me
Please also share our flyer!
Just a Piece of You
How “just” puts a lid on you and those around you
“I am just a student.”
“They are just a cashier.”
“I am just a civil engineer.”
Most of us have found ourselves saying something like that. Whether we’re trying to put ourselves down or simply downplay our accomplishments, the word “just” tends to sneak into our vocabulary more often than we realize. But what if I told you that every time you use that word, you’re inadvertently putting a lid on your own potential and diminishing the uniqueness of those around you?
In a world where labels often define us, it’s easy to fall into the trap of reducing ourselves and others to mere titles or roles. But the truth is, behind every “just” lies a wealth of experiences, talents, and aspirations waiting to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Take the example of a student. Sure, they may spend their days buried in textbooks and lectures, but they’re also dreamers, thinkers, and future leaders in the making. By slapping a “just” in front of their identity, we limit their potential and overlook the countless ways in which they contribute to the world around them.
Similarly, when we refer to someone as “just a cashier” or “just a civil engineer,” we fail to recognize the complexity of their skills and the value they bring to their respective fields. Behind the uniform or the job title lies a person with a unique story, passions, and talents that extend far beyond the confines of their profession.
But it’s not just about how we perceive ourselves—it’s also about how we perceive others. When we label someone as “just” anything, we place them in a box, effectively shutting out the possibility of seeing them for who they truly are. This not only limits our understanding of their potential but also perpetuates stereotypes and undermines the richness of human diversity.
So the next time you catch yourself using the word “just,” pause for a moment and consider the implications. Instead of diminishing yourself or those around you, embrace the full spectrum of human potential and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual.
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us Instagram, X, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
March 2024 Newsletter
March
March is Self-Injury Awareness Month¹
March 1 Self Injury Awareness Day² and Zero Discrimination Day
March 10-16 Sleep Awareness Week
March 18-24 National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
March 30 World Bipolar Day
¹ *trigger warning: discussion of self harm* https://www.inspiremalibu.com/blog/mental-health/march-self-injury-awareness-month/
²*trigger warning: discussion of self harm* https://www.lifesigns.org.uk/siad/
Mental Health Resources Day
January 13th is Mental Health Resources Day, and we celebrated this year with our inaugural MHR Day Fair. We are so pleased that we were able to pull off this event, and we could not have done it without the dedicated members of the Houston community and the mental health space. We would like to thank the following individuals and groups:
- Be Smart (Isha Archer)
- Disability Rights Texas (LaRita Lockhart-Brown)
- Houston CIRT/Houston Police Department Mental Health Division
- Janssen Neuroscience (Hannah Yterdal)
- Kingwood Pines Hospital (Monica Garcia-Guinessey)
- Mosaic Tree Counseling (Warren Barrett)
- MoveNation Dance Academy (Jennifer San Miguel)
- Once Ann Again Therapy (Jessica Johnson)
- Westpark Springs (Marie Morrow) James Ellis Jr. – NAMI
- Zayna Fulton – SAMHSA
- Niesy Bevilacqua – MuttsTraing
- Margaret Alvarez – My Artsy Coach
- Jessica Johnson, Psycotherapist/CEO – Once Ann Again Therapy
“Pawsitive” Mental Health Practices
How pets and pet therapy can benefit your mental health
Having pets or visiting with animals can be beneficial to your mental health in a myriad of ways. Petting or cuddling can help you feel happier, calmer, and less anxious¹. Some pets can also provide you with a sense of purpose, a routine, and a reason to go outside or play more. If your pet needs to be fed every day, taken for a walk, etc., it can give you more motivation to have healthy practices.
For those that don’t have a pet of your own, there are some other ways to benefit from animals or pets, like going to your local zoo (you could even look for a petting zoo!), volunteering at a local animal shelter, walking in a neighborhood where a lot of people walk their dogs (you could make two friends – a dog and their owner!). Going outside in general is a great way to feel connected to animals – could you learn what birds live in your area and practice identifying them? Animals and pets are more beneficial for your mental wellness than you may even realize!
1. Barker, Sandra B., and Kathryn S. Dawson. “The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Anxiety Ratings of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients.” Anthrozoös, vol. 20, no. 2, 2007.
DAISY’s Random Acts of Kindness
These are some ways DAISY is spreading kindness this month
- Cooking a meal for her sick friend. DAISY loves to try to make nutritious, healthful foods, so she is preparing something special for her friend that is sick. Could you bake or cook something for your friends? Or better yet, could you cook something together?
- Complimenting people. DAISY is really good at picking out things to compliment – she always tells people how much she likes their outfit or smile, or she tells her friends how funny and smart they are. She also tries not to point out “flaws” or things that cannot be fixed within two minutes – she might tell someone they have a piece of lettuce in their teeth, but she would not tell them their teeth are crooked.
- Reaching out to someone she hasn’t heard from in a while. Maybe you have an old friend or cousin who would like to chat and reconnect!
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has some other great ideas, and they even have a calendar with a different act of kindness every day!
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
December 2023 Newsletter
Updates!
Mental Health Resources Day
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for updates on our Mental Health Resources Day Fair! The event is going to be held at MacGregor Park in Houston, Texas. A special thanks to our premiere sponsor Move Nation Dance Academy and the local government for their cooperation! Additional details will be provided on our website or you can reach out to our founder, Seanda Blocker, at seandablocker@cr38v3m1nd5.com.
Holidays are Bluer for Some Than Others
The holiday season is often associated with feelings of warmth, joy, and belonging. However, for some people, this time of year can evoke feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety. These feelings are often referred to as the “holiday blues.” The holiday blues are a real phenomenon, but they are likely to have different effects than you might think.
The holiday blues can be experienced on a continuum, ranging from lower levels of dysthymia and sadness to more severe depression. The reasons for sadness during the holidays are varied and can include financial stress, loneliness, grief, and unrealistic expectations. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed said their stress level increased during the holiday season.
The holiday blues can affect anyone, regardless of age. A poll of more than 1,000 adults by the Principal Financial Group found that 53% of people experience financial stress due to holiday spending, despite the fact more than half set budgets for their holiday spending. Children can also experience the holiday blues. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 68% of children report feeling sad or dissatisfied during the holidays.
There are several things that can be done to address the holiday blues. Easier steps to take for oneself include getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, spending time outdoors, and staying active. Seeking professional help is also an option. According to NAMI, 64% of people with an existing mental illness report that the holidays make their condition worse. It’s important to recognize the signs of significant holiday blues or depression in other people and to encourage them to seek help.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between the holiday blues, which typically go away when the holiday season ends, and more severe depression, which lasts longer and interferes with activities of daily living. If the holiday season passes and you’re still feeling depressed or anxious, it’s best to consult with a medical professional. However, if speaking with a therapist or counselor is too overwhelming, talking with a trusted friend or family member can be an easier way to initially address uncomfortable feelings.
While there is solid evidence that the suicide rate in the United States does not spike around the holidays, the holiday blues can still be a difficult time for some people. According to the U.S. Center for Health Statistics, the suicide rate is highest between April and August. However, low suicide rates don’t necessarily mean that the holiday blues aren’t a real phenomenon. It’s important to recognize the signs of significant holiday blues or depression in other people and to encourage them to seek help.
In summary, the holiday blues are a real phenomenon that can affect anyone, regardless of age. The reasons for sadness during the holidays are varied and can include financial stress, loneliness, grief, and unrealistic expectations. There are several things that can be done to address the holiday blues, including seeking professional help. It’s important to recognize the signs of significant holiday blues or depression in other people and to encourage them to seek help. Remember, the holiday blues are temporary and can be overcome with the right support and resources.
Holiday Traditions and New Year’s Resolutions
DAISY’s favorite ideas
DAISY knows that holidays can be tough, but she would like to share some thoughts on holiday traditions, including New Year’s resolutions.
- Decorating, whether with many or few decorations, homemade or bought, can be fun and help your home feel merry!
- If you have pets, it can be cute and entertaining to take pictures of them with holiday or winter items (think scarves, Santa hats, etc.)
- Baking. Home made cookies, dog treats, banana bread and other snacks can be really therapeutic and help you bond as a family or with your friends!
Resolutions can be motivating for some, but it can also feel overwhelming or disappointing. Most people compare themselves to others, especially with social media being so prevalent. Keep in mind that most social media profiles only shine a spotlight on the “best” parts of people’s lives, and pictures and videos can be heavily edited. Some resolutions that might be more accessible for most people can include things like:
- getting outside for 15 minutes/day
- eat 2 servings of vegetables/day
- cook one new recipe every week
- read a book every month
- volunteer at a new place (you could start writing letters to inmates through Letters for Change!)
Happy holidays, all!
Thank you for joining us on this mental health journey! Follow us Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Your friend,
Events
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES DAY 2026
Annual MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES DAY – Houston
The 3rd Annual MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES DAY (MHRD) will be held in Houston, Texas,and hosted by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Creative Mental Wellness on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the United Way Houston (50 Waugh Drive, Houston). The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. MHRD is a mental health fair that puts a spotlight on mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder resources for treatment and support that are available in the area. MHRD aims to provide the community with the opportunity to engage with and learn from representatives from mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder resources while providing those professionals space to get to know one another better and collaborate more and enable more referrals so that the community can be better and more effectively served.
The event will include vendors as well as speakers. People attending the event should leave with ideas for elevating their mental health, learning about something they did not know about or a resource they were not aware of, as well as the satisfaction that just by attending they are helping support our efforts to support our community in addition to helping us normalize discussions surrounding mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder. Vendors/representatives from community organizations will arm attendees with mental health tools (resources for treatment and support they can put in their mental health toolboxes). There will be activities, entertainment, and prize drawings to keep attendees engaged and encourage connection with other community members. “We are thrilled to host the Annual Mental Health Resources Day in Houston,” said Seanda Barrett Blocker, Founder and Executive Director of Creative Mental Wellness. “Our goal is to provide the Houston community with the resources they need to improve their mental health and well-being. We hope that this event will help to de-stigmatize mental health issues and encourage people to seek the help they need.” The event is open to the public. For more information, please visit https://creative-mental-wellness.org.
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