May 12, 2020
Dear Friends,
How are you? Does the spring weather boost your mood and give you hope? It’s an ideal time to open your windows, go for a walk, or somehow find a way to bring spring—a season of renewal—into your life. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge all the ways you are helping to mitigate the impact of this crisis.
May is mental health awareness month. Now, more than ever, mental health matters. Mental health and substance use disorders increase substantially during, following, and peak at one year after a natural disaster. A recent report estimates 75,000 additional deaths of despair due to suicide and severe substance addiction. This estimate is above the projected death rates due to COVID-19 alone.
At Caminar, we want to do everything we can to prevent those additional deaths. We are positioned to tackle the growing need for mental health and substance abuse treatment for the most vulnerable individuals in our community, right now.
What about you? Are you taking care of yourself? Have you positioned yourself to tackle our current environment? Each Friday, I share with the entire Caminar team these five ways to renew one’s body and mind and manage through uncertainty:
Connect regularly with family and friends. A virtual conversation is better than no conversation.
Exercise at least 60 minutes a day. Note this doesn’t mean 60 minutes of continuous exercise, rather the total amount accumulated throughout your day.
Sleep at least seven to eight hours a night in a cool and dark place. Turn off light-emitting devices two hours before bedtime for the best sleep.
Practice mindfulness 20 minutes a day to find comfort in the present moment.
Eat healthy, whole foods that nourish and fuel your body for optimal performance. Similarly, consider increasing water intake and decreasing consumption of sugar-laden, caffeinated, or alcoholic beverages.
Take care of yourselves and your families. If you or a loved one are struggling more significantly, remind yourself of the signs that may indicate a mental illness and reach out to the resources and services that are available.
I thank you for your ongoing support of Caminar, our divisions, and our work to improve the health and wellness of our community. We are available if you need us. Connect with us by phone at 1-650-372-4080 or email at info@caminar.org.
Take good care,
Mark Cloutier, MPP, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
PS: If you can support our community with a financial contribution, we invite you to donate. Your gift will be used right away to provide life-changing, science-based, and compassionate mental health and substance use services to individuals and families in need in the Bay Area. A gift of any size will make a difference today!
