BCHD Offers Mental Health Awareness Month Events in May
May 07, 2021 04:24PM ● By Mb News Staff
After a year of loss and isolation from living during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of our mental health is more important than ever before. To mark May as Metal Health Awareness month, Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is urging residents to invest in their mental health by being kind to themselves and others and participating in BCHD’s Mental Health Awareness Month activities.
Young people in the Beach Cities appear to be struggling as well. According to the Panorama Ed Survey (2020), a survey designed to help schools support student and adult social-emotional learning, 25% of Beach Cities students in grades 6 through 12 answered “almost always” or “frequently” to the question: “During the past week, how often did you feel lonely?”
Recognizing these challenges, BCHD is providing mental health programs, tips and resources throughout Mental Health Awareness Month,to help residents prioritize and support their mental health as our communities recover from COVID-19 pandemic together.
BCHD is also offering residents three ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Month:
for participants to go through at their own pace to build a practice supporting stress
resilience and positive social connections. Topics include purpose, empathy, bravery and
gratitude.
• Do an act of kindness each day with BCHD’s daily Kindness Activity Calendar.
Being kind to ourselves, body and mind, means we are self-compassionate. Being kind to
others means treating others with respect and empathy, especially during the COVID-19
pandemic.
• Attend a virtual event to support your mental health (full list below).
“Now is truly the time for us to be kind to ourselves and to each other,” said Kerianne Lawson,
chief programs officer at Beach Cities Health District. “We want residents to know that no one should feel alone during these uncertain times. Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that mental health is a critical part of overall well-being and BCHD is here to offer help and resources if you or someone you know needs it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”
BCHD’s Virtual Events for Mental Health Awareness Month
o Virtual Families Connected Parent Chat: Every Monday EXCEPT May 31, 10 – 11 a.m.
o Virtual Happiness Chat: Tuesdays, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
o Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In: Wednesday, May 5, 4 – 4:30 p.m.
o Virtual Blue Zones Project Cooking Show: Friday, May 14, 1 – 2 p.m.
o Virtual Mindfulness Classes for Older Adults
▪ Monday, May 10, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Here: https://zoom.us/j/97444040124
▪ Monday, May 24, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Here: https://zoom.us/j/91488604324
o Tai Chi classes in partnership with the city of Manhattan Beach on Wednesdays in May. To register for Tai Chi and to learn about additional mindfulness classes, call the Joslyn Community Center at (310) 802-5420.
o Virtual Movement Disorders – Parkinson’s Disease: Tuesday, May 25, 10 - 10:55a.m.
o Virtual Update on Multiple Sclerosis: Wednesday, May 26, 10 - 10:55 a.m.
o Virtual Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening: Thursday, May 27, 1 - 1:55 p.m.
o Virtual Dispelling Myths About ‘The Change’ (menopause): Friday, May 28, 11 - 11:55 a.m.
• Virtual Parents’ Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy and Resilient Children: Balancing
Screen Time During a Pandemic: Thursday, May 27, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
serves the communities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. Established
in 1955 as a public agency, it offers an extensive range of dynamic health and wellness
programs, with innovative services and facilities to promote health and prevent diseases across
the lifespan. BCHD also operates AdventurePlex, a health and fitness facility where kids play
their way to good health, and the Center for Health & Fitness, a comprehensive fitness center
that is the only Medical Fitness Association-certified facility in California.
The Beach Cities Health District was recently awarded a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020. To receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as a financial plan, as an operations guide, and as a communications device.
To learn more about BCHD, visit www.bchd.org or call (310) 374-3426 for more information.
