Support Mental Health Week – May 2021
Posted on May 1, 2021
Talk with family, friends and Elders about how you are feeling. Remember talking is critical and humour contributes to mental health and wellness.
Heavy, painful feelings lighten when we put them into words. This Mental Health Week don’t go uncomfortably numb. #GetReal about how you feel. Name it, don’t numb it.
When we understand and work with our emotions, this helps protect our mental health, during tough times like the pandemic and throughout all stages of life. And, when we understand how we are feeling, we’re better able to understand and empathize with others, too. And that helps create a climate of support and acceptance.
First Nations culture strengthens resiliency and wellness. The pandemic has increased stress, workload and demands for First Nations administrators, teachers, staff and students. This year’s Canadian Mental Health Association’s theme is, Get Ready to #GetReal about how you feel. It’s hard to deal with our emotions when we don’t know what we’re feeling. You may have been taught to push your bad feelings away, but research shows that understanding and naming our feelings can make sadness, anger and pain feel less intense.
For more information go to: https://cmha.ca/document-category/mental-healthFirst Nations mental health and wellness: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576089278958/1576089333975
World Day for Cultural Diversity
During this time of mass confinement, billions of people are turning to culture as a source of comfort, well-being and connection. There has been a surge in the creation of, and access to, cultural content online – from virtual visits to museums and galleries, streaming of films and even community choirs via social media – showing its fundamental role as a source of resilience for communities. Major crises throughout history have often given rise to a renaissance of culture and an explosion of new forms of creativity, so vital for human progress.
The United Nations is celebrating World Day For Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, May 21, 2021. It is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony. The cultural impact of COVID-19 is begin felt around the world. Cultural events are being cancelled, cultural institutions closed, community cultural practices suspended, artists unable to make ends meet and the cultural tourism sector greatly affected.
For more information go to: https://www.un.org/en/observances/cultural-diversity-day
Source: https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/TwzPgQhkr5SmkPDeIhvyCFT6Tzg=/1024×650/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/sltrib/H6QVZ3G32VEEXPOJUBMQNL2M74.jpg
From In-Person to Online
For more information: NAC Spring Indigenous Virtual Art Market: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/28553
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival – Virtual Edition: https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/
National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration – Virtual Powwow: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/winnipeg/event/national-indigenous-peoples-day-celebration-virtual-powwow/