Keep Your Family’s Mental Health in Check with These Online Workshops and Resources
With increased restrictions throughout the Lower Mainland due to COVID-19, it is important to keep a diligent eye on your family’s mental health. While we are required to maintain physical distance from one another, it’s important to remain stress-free and connected to our loved ones in a safe and healthy way. There are several opportunities and resources available at your fingertips to help you and your family do this, no matter where you’re located.
Breathe in and out – everything will be okay!
Meditation is a great form of stress relief because it helps calm you down and align your day ahead. Take a moment to slowly breathe in and out in a quiet and calm space once or twice a day. This gives you time to reconnect with yourself and release any stress you may have. There are several opportunities and resources available online to help you and your family implement breathing exercises into your daily routine.
Stay connected with friends, family, and make new connections online
Staying connected during these tough times is crucial for you and your family. There are a number of programs and services offered through your public library that can connect you with other families to share time together.
The North Vancouver District Library is offering a Parenting in a Pandemic workshop. In this workshop, Dr. Deborah MacNamara will explore resiliency, children’s emotions, and practical strategies for caring for our children. You will need to register for this workshop scheduled for Wednesday, November 25th, 2020, 7:00 – 8:30pm.
The Fraser Valley Regional Library offers a Parent Child Mother Goose program via Zoom. Caregivers, along with their children, can learn fun rhymes, songs and stories to encourage your child’s language and social/emotional development. This program is for kids 0-2 years and their caregivers.
You can join the Coquitlam Public Library for Family Game Night. Next up is Pictionary, scheduled for Monday, December 7th, 7:00 – 8:30pm. A fun night of fast-paced drawing with a chance to win a prize supporting a local business. Hilarity will ensue and smiles will be all around.
Create a routine and stick to it!
Maintain the family regular routine as much as possible. Get up and go to bed at the same times. Eat healthy meals. Exercise. Make time for doing the things you enjoy. Play outdoors. Use technology to connect with family and friends.
Be kind to others and reach out when you can
Do not expect too much from yourself on difficult days. Accept that some days will be better than others. Reduce how much news you are consuming to reduce your anxiety. Help others who may need it.
Do not hesitate to seek help if you think you need it. There are a few organizations that can assist you in finding the help you need. Many of these are specific to newcomers. These are just a few. To see a full list, visit our website here.
If you are a newcomer facing challenges adjusting to life in Canada, ISSofBC offers settlement and integration services that can help in their Settlement Case Management Program.
DIVERSEcity’s Counselling Services department can help you and your whole family with free, culturally sensitive, confidential help in your first language. Counselling sessions are primarily by telephone during COVID-19.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers programs and resources to help prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience and enables all Canadians to flourish and thrive.
We need to maintain our mental wellness, which may require a bit of effort during these times. Taking steps to check in with ourselves, and others, socially connecting with others, and asking for help, will move through this pandemic onto smoother roads ahead.