Happy May, everyone! We are officially into spring, and summer is right around the corner…and the weather is finally catching up! Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we hope you got a head-start from our April newsletter and were able to participate in some of Be:Well’s weekly activities that support mental health, like the Friday Brain Breaks or the Weekly Wellness Walks.
Newsletter content written by Be:Well members Chelsea Jacobson & Carie Bishop-Sanders
Live:Well – Social Wellness
This month we are focusing on social wellness. Social wellness is a very important component of your overall health and focuses on the relationships you have with others.
Learn more about the importance of social wellness:
- Social Connections Overview (Kaiser)
- Social Isolation & Mental Health (Web MD)
- Social Wellness Checklist (National Institutes of Health)
Looking for new ways to be social? Check out Meetup, a social media platform for organizing activities, both virtual and in-person, with people who share similar interests.
National Pet Month
May is National Pet Month, and one way to improve your social wellness is by doing activities with your furry, scaly, slimy, feathery, or otherwise special friends! We’d love to see your favorite pic on the ESD 112 Pet Pics Padlet!
Here are some upcoming events that you can participate in:
- Humane Society for SW WA classes and training – ongoing
- Oregon Humane Society Doggie Dash – May 13th at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland
- Humane Society for SW WA walk/run – Held annually in early May
Social activities you can do with your pets:
- Socialize at the dog park! Dog parks in Clark County
- Dine with your dog! Pet-friendly restaurants in Vancouver
- Walk your dog – benefits both you and your dog (American Kennel Club)
- Cats – make homemade cat toys
Homemade, pet-safe treats!
Grab a friend and whip up some homemade, pet-safe treats!
- Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats (All Recipes)
- Homemade cat treats (The Cookie Rookie)
- Share your own pet-friendly recipes on the Recipes for Wellness Padlet!
Looking to adopt a pet or volunteer? Here are some resources:
Owning a pet and/or spending time with animals is great for your mental, emotional, and physical wellness as well! Check out the resources below to learn more:
- The Health & Mood Boosting Benefits of Pets (HelpGuide.org)
- The Power of Pets: Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions (National Institute of Health)
- The Healing Power of Animals (Husson University)
- Top 10 Best Animal Assisted Therapy in Vancouver/Portland
- Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas
Know someone who is involved in animal therapy or volunteering with animals? Email their info to bewell@esd112.org, we’d love to partner with them in the future!
Wellness walks are now weekly
Wellness Walks Are Now Weekly!
Come socialize with us during a weekly wellness walk! We are rotating the days and times to accommodate as many different schedules as we can. Meet in the ESD 112 lobby at the times listed on the monthly Wellness Walk schedule to take a stroll outside. We plan to walk, rain or shine, so please plan accordingly.
- First Tues of the month @ 10:00am (May 2)
- Second Wed of the month @ 3:45pm (May 10)
- Third Thurs of the month @ 10:00am (May 18)
- Fourth Fri of the month @ 3:45pm (May 26)
If you aren’t at the ESD 112 Vancouver campus, we welcome you to get a group together and take a walk at your location, at a time that works best for you. We’d love for you to share any pics and email to bewell@esd112.org.
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