7 News Belize

Green’s Good For Mental Health
posted (May 19, 2020)
Losing crops is only one of a myriad of mental health stressors sure to be affecting Belizeans during this COVID period.

So, the arrival of Mental Health month is timely. And while the expected panel discussions and solidarity marathons are a no go in 2020, the mental health NGO, Mind Health Connect has found a way for Belizeans to stand in solidarity for the cause while maintaining, all-important, social distance. Sahar Vasquez told us more:

Sahar Vasquez, Co-Founder, Mind Health Connect Belize
"This month, May is mental health awareness month and of course, every day should be about Mental health but in May we focus a lot more on that and so we decided that here in Belize we wanted to have a day where everybody just wears green even though due to this COVID-19 pandemic we can't really go out in public or have like events like a run in green or something like that we wanted to just ask people to wear green, post it up on social media with the hashtag there is no health without mental health and even if you don't have social media just wear green because the main thing is we want people to know that their not alone and there are a lot of people here to support you and you."

"Just trying to get through to people to let them know that at the end of the day this is a very tough situation no one expected it to get to this level and it's okay to feel what you're feeling there are ways to cope and we are ultimately here for you, we have a website that you can visit as well."

"It's very natural even if you don't have a mental illness feeling anxious is okay I mean I'm anxious most days but I think it's important to kind of get into a routine and we have an Instagram and a Facebook page and on that page, we're posting daily the things that you can do to cope with COVID-19 during anxiety whether it's kind of disconnecting from the news because you know all you're hearing is about the pandemic. Exercising, meditating, I know those things don't sound fun but they are helpful and we are encouraging people to do that right now."

"I miss my routine so for me I get up, I eat, I do a workout, and that makes me just feel a little bit normal like I'm not living in this outside world where I don't know what I'm doing and every day is unpredictable. So that's where the routine helps a lot."

We'll look out tomorrow to see you all resplendent in mental health green.




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