Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Fall 2018

Fall 2018 3 Foundation focus Around our community The Mental Health Awareness event was a success! T he Community Relations Committee may host an event on behalf of the Samaritan Healthcare Foundation, but it definitely takes the community to pull off a great experience! Big Bend Community College was the location for Samaritan Health- care Foundation’s first Mental Health Awareness event on Monday, May 21.This event focused on three age-specific, workshop-style sessions: pediatrics and teens, young adults, and adults and aging adults—all centered on mental health awareness and the resources available in our community. THE PARIS FAMILY’S JOURNEY Introducing the event were three keynote speakers, the Paris family. Together, Dale, Patti, and Tyler shared a video detailing Tyler’s struggles with mental health and treatment that included perspectives from friends and supporters. “This was such an important story for us to tell, letting people know they’re not alone when it comes to dealing with mental health issues and finding hope in one another’s journeys,” says Allison Russell, Paris family friend and committee co-chair. “I think what’s really important, what I’d like to inspire people through the event, is to make a friend—to be kind, to be patient, to be understanding, and not be afraid to have conversations and ask questions.” RAISING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS After this powerful opening, three breakout sessions offered panels featuring patient stories, providers, and local organizations with resources for mental health patients and loved ones. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of the guest panel- ists and share stories surrounding mental health issues and concerns. Topics included discussion on what mental illnesses are, how to recognize signs and symptoms, and how to find resources to help navigate the path of mental health for you and your loved ones. Local agencies were also on hand and provided information on their respective services: Moses Lake School District, Serve Moses Lake, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin, Pathways, Promise for Tomorrow, Grant Integrated Services, and RetroAngel Photography. Samaritan Healthcare’s Foundation has set forth to provide events like this to the community that help inform the public, support the mission and vision of Samaritan Healthcare, and educate the community on the work of the Foundation. COMING UP NEXT Keep an eye out for the next Community Relations event in October, which will focus on women’s health. We hope to see you and your loved ones there! Mental health When worrying becomes worrisome We all worry. We worry about our finances. We worry about our chil- dren. We worry about the weird noise our car started making yesterday. It’s normal to worry from time to time. But how can you tell if you’re worrying excessively? If you find yourself worrying about many things every day or if you can’t turn off your worrying, you may have a worry problem. But don’t add worry to your list of things to worry about. Instead, take steps to get your excessive worrying under control. Make a worry list. Write down all your worries. Schedule a time every day to read over your list. Set a 15-minute timer to spend on the list. When the timer goes off, carry on with your life. If you start to worry about something after your dedicated worry time, remind yourself it’ll have to wait until the next day. Pick which worries are solv- able. Take a look at your worry list to determine which worries you can do something about, and then make plans to resolve them. Distract yourself in a healthy way. Exercise, for example, releases endorphins that relieve tension and stress. Deep breath- ing exercises can calm and quiet negative thoughts. Live in the present. Worry often involves what-ifs about future or past events. Try to stay focused on the present. Pay attention to everything going on around you now. Feel your feet on the ground or the wind on your face. Listen to the birds in the trees. Talk about your worries. Tell a friend what you’re worried about. Giving voice to your wor- ries can help you put them in perspective. And other people may offer solutions that might not have occurred to you. Source: Helpguide.org Want to get involved? Contact the Samaritan Healthcare Foundation by calling 793-9645 or emailing foundation@samaritanhealthcare.com .