BCHD Offering Mental Health Awareness Programs All Month

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA —Following a year of loss and isolation from living through the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of our mental health is more important than ever before. Many residents are emerging from the pandemic with feelings of loss, isolation, depression, and anger.

As the Manhattan Beach community recovers and reopens, the lifting of restrictions is both exciting and overwhelming. To mark Mental Health Awareness month, Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is urging its citizens to take care of their mental health by participating in their Mental Health Awareness Month activities.

Not only are the adults in the community struggling emotionally, but so are our youth. During COVID-19, schools transitioned to virtual learning and many of the social and extracurricular activities that students enjoyed became unavailable overnight. Data from the Panorama Ed Survey (2020) show how youth mental health was affected this past year.

• 25% of Beach Cities students grades 6 through 12 answered “almost always” or “frequently” to the question: “During the past week, how often did you feel lonely?”
• 21% of Beach Cities students grades 6 through 12 answered “almost always” or “frequently” to the question: “During the past week, how often did you feel sad?”

“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.”

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is providing mental health programs, tips, and resources to help residents prioritize and support their mental health as the community continues to live through and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

BCHD is also offering residents three ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Month:

• Complete the Virtual Mental Health & Happiness Series
• Do an act of kindness each day with the Kindness Calendar
• Attend a virtual event to support your mental health

Virtual Mental Health & Happiness Series are as follows:

Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, BCHD will be guiding residents through the self-led Mental Health & Happiness Series on all social media channels. Facilitated by Tiana Rideout-Rosales, participants will learn techniques to build a practice supporting stress resilience and positive social connections.

Each week in May will focus on a different theme and include videos and activities:

• Online Families Connected Parent Chat: Mondays (except May 31) 10 – 11 a.m.
• Virtual Happiness Chats: Tuesdays, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
• Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In: Wednesday, May 5, 4 – 4:30 p.m.
• Virtual Social Hour with Beach Cities Health District Care Manager, Charlotte Barnett: Tuesdays, May 4 and 18, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Virtual Blue Zones Project Cooking Show: Friday, May 14, 1 – 2 p.m.
• Virtual Safe in the South Bay Series: COVID-19's Mental Health Impact on Youth, Adults and Older Adults: Wednesday, May 19, 12 - 1:15 p.m.
• Virtual Parents’ Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy and Resilient Children: Balancing Screen Time During a Pandemic: Thursday, May 27, 7:30 p.m.
• National Senior Health & Fitness Week with BCHD’s Center for Health and Fitness: May 24-28
• Virtual Mindfulness Classes for Older Adults
  • Meditation classes in partnership with the city of Redondo Beach:
    • 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
  • Tai Chi classes in partnership with the city of Manhattan Beach Wednesdays in May at 2 p.m. To register for Tai Chi and to learn about additional mindfulness classes, call the Joslyn Community Center at (310) 802-5420.

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is a healthcare district focused on preventive health and
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.

For more information, visit www.bchd.org or call (310) 374-3426.