Caring for ourselves and others

Image: Don’t let go by Nancy Lee Mauger

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Millions of people silently battle daily to put one foot in front of the other to go to school, do their job and maintain healthy relationships. Sadly, with the uncertainty of COVID-19 impacting every single individual, more people than ever are experiencing anxiety and depression, while substance abuse/misuse has increased with remote work. There are many among us who also face obstacles presented by bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

During the month of October, Riverbend Community Mental Health is hosting a series of socially distant events to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. This is an excellent opportunity for those challenged by mental illness and those who want to better understand how they can support their students, employees, friends or family to navigate their experiences, and identify and manage their symptoms.

With programs happening throughout the month, individuals, businesses, and organizations have the opportunity to take part in events shaped by the expressive arts and workshops focused on mental health in the workplace. Only through real life encounters (even via a virtual platform) can we come together as a community to educate ourselves about the ways we can utilize the arts to care for ourselves and others at home and at work.

The New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts believes in the power of the arts. We are committed to breaking down barriers between the business and arts communities to develop important relationships that more broadly define how art and businesses can support one another.

We highly recommend checking out The 99 Faces Project that was presented by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in 2019.