Words from Wellness | May 2023

The Wellness & Healthcare Committee is once again dedicating the month of May to bring you information, events and resources related to Mental Health Awareness. Please stay tuned for emails and webinars from our committee – our goal is to help educate you on the importance of mental health and its connection to overall health. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable.

Birdwatching soared in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and interest in the pastime shows no signs of slowing. Researchers who have been investigating the science behind the hobby have discovered that it has numerous proven benefits to mental health and well-being. According to an October study published in Scientific Reports, birdwatching and its positive effect on mental health is becoming more clear as research continues. The team used the “Urban Mind smartphone application to examine the impact of seeing or hearing birds on self-reported mental well-being in real-life contexts” on 1,292 participants between April 2018 and October 2021, the study explains. It found that “everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with time-lasting improvements in mental well-being. These improvements were evident not only in healthy people but also in those with a diagnosis of depression, the most common mental illness across the world.” This further confirms a growing body of evidence that listening to birds can reduce anxiety and benefit those with depression.

Here are 7 health benefits of bird-watching from happiness.com:

■ It encourages mindfulness ■ It keeps you physically active

■ Nature is healing ■ It keeps you social

■ It provides moments of awe ■ It stimulates and challenges ■ It’ll make you laugh The takeaway

Just a reminder... Past Wellness Webinars can be found in the Video Library on the Intranet. understanding the impact on our mental well-being and strategies for cultivating more resiliency in our everyday life. Registration via Cigna will be required for this session. This session will not be recorded due to Cigna’s restrictions. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (separate meeting invites to follow) **please note that most sessions will be recorded and posted to the intranet if you are unable to attend live. May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 @ 5 pm GENTLE YOGA SERIES We’ll be offering a series of 30-minute gentle yoga classes (virtual) on each Wednesday during the month of May. Friends & family are welcome to join! May 10 @ 12 pm A SESSION WITH EAP Learn about all the benefits and resources that our Employee Assistance Program has to offer. May 30 @ 11 am RESILIENCE: PRIORITIZING YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING Hosted by Cigna, this is a 1-hour workshop on prioritizing emotional well-being. It will focus on

From reducing stress to providing real moments of awe, the mental health benefits of bird watching are many. It’s something you can do by yourself or as a family activity, and the birding community is welcoming and friendly. The mindful practice of birding is also fun, free and gets you out in nature. So, what’s not to love? For more details on the mental health benefits of birding visit: https://nicenews.com/animals/mental health-benefits-birdwatching/

“There is no health without mental health” (World Health Organization) DID YOU KNOW... ■ Poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions. ■ People with serious mental health conditions are at high risk of experiencing chronic physical conditions. ■ People with chronic physical

What is Mental Health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to

mental health problems, including: • Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry • Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse • Family history of mental health problems Mental health problems are common, but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.

conditions are at risk of developing poor mental health.

The good news is that many mental health conditions are treatable, and there are many resources available to do so.