Look Around, Look Within - May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the library is offering programs for stress management, self-care, and mindfulness to help support your personal wellbeing. You can also access helpful information and resources on a variety of mental health topics through the library’s collection and databases. Read on for information about programs supporting wellness and mindfulness, books from our collection that address mental health, and resources with high quality information on mental health topics, all available free at the library this month and every month.

Although we may not think we see mental illness every day, nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year [SAMHSA], 46% of Americans will meet the criteria for diagnosis within their lifetime, and half of them will show signs before the age 14 [Mental Health America]. The library aims to be responsive to the needs of our diverse community, and the following programs, books, and resources are supportive and informative on the subjects of mental health and wellbeing.

Please note: If you or a loved one need support or treatment, or are experiencing a mental health crisis, reach out to the experts at Henrico Mental Health and Developmental Services.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

• Meditation and Mindfulness Workshop Series
  • Sat., May 6, 13, and 20, 11AM – 12PM at Libbie Mill Library
  • Sat., May 6 and 20, 4-5PM at Twin Hickory Library
  • Explore new ways of managing stress, being present, and finding inner peace in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.  A certified facilitator from the Heartfulness Meditation Center will offer insights on the benefits of meditation and lead you through a variety of guided exercises in this series.  

• Color Yourself Calm
  • Mon., May 8, 10-11AM at Fairfield Library
  • Wed., May 24, 6:30-7:30PM at Fairfield Library
  • Practice mindful coloring as a way to destress from your day. Feel free to bring your own materials. Coloring materials will be provided. Books from the collection about mindfulness and anxiety will be available for checkout.

• Well-being Toolkit Session
  • Sat., May 13 and May 27, 2-4PM at Twin Hickory
  • This two-hour session, led by Meena Dasgupta, a transformational well-being coach, will offer guidance in creating a lifestyle of harmony, balance, well-being, and self-care. We will begin with Pranayama, a yogic breathing practice, followed by a guided Rose Meditation, and finally we will create a Mandala Wheel of Well-Being. For the art portion of the workshop, you'll need paper, a round object, a ruler, and any medium for drawing and coloring.

• Self-Care Basics
  • Thurs., May 18, 6:30-7:30PM at Fairfield 
  • Learn about different ways to engage in self-care: strategies for grounding, journaling, and self-care will be shared. Materials about self-care and mental health will be available for check out.

COLLECTION

In addition to programs, you can browse hundreds of titles on mental health and wellness in our collection. Below is just a small selection of recently released titles:

• The Absent Moon: A Memoir of a Short Childhood and a Long Depression by Luiz Schwarcz
• Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes by Rocky Callen
• A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence by Mary Bray Pipher
• Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing by Zee Clarke
• Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More by Christopher M. Palmer
• Eat and Flourish: How Food Supports Emotional Well-Being by Mary Beth Albright
• Emotional Labor: The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Claim Our Power by Rose Hackman
• The Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit: Quick Relief for Obsessive, Unwanted, or Disturbing Thoughts by Jon Hershfield
• The Origins of You: How Breaking Family Patterns Can Liberate the Way We Live & Love by Vienna Pharaon
• Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses by Sarah Fay
• Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans by Jenny T. Wang
• You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health--With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families by Ken Duckworth
• Where to Start: A Survival Guide to Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Challenges by Gemma Correll

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Find reliable, scientific information, and conduct research on mental health topics, through some of our Research and Learning databases:

Gale Health and Wellness Database

Visit Gale Health and Wellness to read through the latest health research. This carefully compiled database provides users with medical reference and periodical materials that you can trust.

Medline Plus

The National Library of Medicine brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. Learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition.

Teen Health and Wellness

A comprehensive database that provides teens (and those who care about teens) with research on issues important to their well-being. Complex topics are presented in understandable, everyday language, and teens can submit their own questions for a personalized experience.