Crisis is ‘Here Now’
Connection is Critical
Check out MHAfred’s articles in the July 2022 edition of Front Porch Magazine!
An excerpt from Beyond Pride Month:
“To help people combat isolation, Carmen often starts by asking her clients: ‘What are some situations where you can be authentically you?’ and encouraging them to be in those spaces more.”
An excerpt from The Right Connection: Dee & Dave:
“Dale says of his new friend, ‘Dee is like a sister I’ve always wanted. She brings me so much joy and I think I bring her joy, too. It feels like I’ve known her for 20 years. We like the same music, and we can just talk about anything.'”
The Right Connection: Dee & Dale
Read the article that appeared in the July 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
At Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, we love helping our community get connected!
Each month I highlight one of our Senior Visitors Program volunteers and the senior they visit. Volunteers offer social support to older adults in our community who for various reasons may be feeling isolated. Social support is important for all of us! Having a good social network fosters resiliency and can improve our mental health as well as our physical health.
Connecting volunteers with seniors is fun and rewarding, but it is also a process. Considerations are made for geographic location, and everything from pet allergies to common interests. It can take time to find just the right connection that works for both the volunteer and the senior. When that “right connection” does happen, it is wonderful to see friendships develop and flourish. That was the case with volunteer, Dale Heck, and his new friend, Dee.
Prior to visiting with Dale, Dee tried visiting with two other volunteers, but they simply were not a good fit. Thankfully, her third volunteer, Dale, was just the friend Dee needed.
Dee says of Dale, “Dale has been a Godsend. He is just a wonderful person. I feel so comfortable with him; it is like we’ve always known each other. He’s like a brother and tells me I’m like a sister. He encourages me to get out and try things. We like to go out to eat. We also went to a concert and that was a blast! I am even walking better [because of his encouragement].”
Dale says of volunteering, “The first person that I visited wasn’t comfortable with me and that’s okay. If you are thinking about volunteering, take that first step, give it a try. Sometimes it is not a good fit, but don’t give up. There is somebody out there you can help. I feel like it is divine providence that I found the Senior Visitors Program.”
Dale says of his new friend, “Dee is like a sister I’ve always wanted. She brings me so much joy and I think I bring her joy, too. It feels like I’ve known her for 20 years. We like the same music, and we can just talk about anything.”
“Dee is very loving and kind. Though, she’s happy to be here close to her daughter, she’s a West Virginia girl who misses home. I’m trying to help her get comfortable here in Virginia. We recently went to an outdoor concert. Next, we are planning a scenic drive.”
Dee says of the Senior Visitors Program, “I thank the Senior Visitors Program for bringing us together. It has given me a new outlook.”
Dale, who also volunteers with SERVE in Stafford, goes on to say regarding his volunteer service, “Being retired is the neatest thing. I have time I can give [back to my community]. I’m having so much fun. I’m going to do this until I need someone to visit me!”
Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
If you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, or you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org. The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
Beyond Pride Month
Read the article that appeared in the July 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
Every June, members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate Pride Month. Pride often increases community awareness about the mental health challenges that many LGBTQ+ folks experience.
But after Pride Month, how can we work together to create informed and affirming environments where LGBTQ+ people can thrive? How can we foster a community that embraces self-care and mental wellness for ALL people?
This is another story in the series in which I delve into what authentic self-care is by having conversations with local mental health professionals listed in Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’s HELPLINE resource.
For this month’s article, I spoke with Carmen Greiner, Director of Lighthouse Counseling. Carmen and her team of counselors at Lighthouse have been supporters of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg for years. You can learn more about their counseling practice at lighthousefredericksburg.com.
Carmen defines self-care as “paying attention to one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.” Rather than what commercialist ideas of self-care lead us to believe, she says that real self-care involves a “component of meaning-making” that can come in many different forms, such as religion or spending time in nature.
For all of us, “self-care is about combating isolation,” according to Carmen. The recent years of the COVID pandemic have showed us just how damaging isolation can be to our mental health. In order to thrive, humans need social connection and a sense of belonging.
For those who are LGBTQ+, finding social connection and belonging can be extra challenging due to the restrictions of our society and the reality that for many of these folks, it is not safe to come out. To help people combat isolation, Carmen often starts by asking her clients: “What are some situations where you can be authentically you?” and encouraging them to be in those spaces more.
The Fredericksburg region is fortunate to have so many mental health providers, businesses, and other organizations who are LGBTQ+ affirming. Lighthouse Counseling is one of many local organizations who have created a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ folks. In April 2022, they launched a support group for adolescents who identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
For anyone seeking mental health services, it is important to find a provider who is a good fit based on what you want to get out of therapy. If having a therapist who specializes in working with LGBTQ+ clients is important to you, Carmen recommends asking them directly about their experience in the initial consultation. Finding spaces where you can have a voice and be your authentic self is a critical piece of self-care.
MHAfred maintains an extensive list of local mental health providers that we call the HELPLINE. We keep track of the services offered in the area, insurances accepted, and new client availability. If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred’s programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.
Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
Friendship and Mindfulness
Check out MHAfred’s articles in the June 2022 edition of Front Porch Magazine!
An excerpt from “Importance of Friendship”:
Senior Visitors benefits the volunteers and the seniors in equal measure. Learning about each other’s history, backgrounds, and cultures, helps to enrich our lives. This program has brought someone into my life that has helped me see the bigger picture. – Steve
An excerpt from “Mindfulness as a Tool for Self-Care”:
Mindfulness is a valuable practice that teaches us self-love and acceptance. Alison explains: “Mindfulness allows you to acknowledge what you’re feeling and regulate those feelings so they don’t prevent you from going where you want to go.”