TIPS TO PROMOTE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Your organization likely already promotes
emotional wellness in several ways. This section of the guide provides
additional tips and suggestions for wellness promotion. Some of these can be
accomplished using your existing staff, programs, and other resources, while
others may involve acquiring additional support or partners.
Here are three approaches to promoting emotional
wellness:
Regardless of how your organization chooses to
share information on emotional wellness, the information should be provided at
an appropriate literacy level. Wellness messages should also be culturally
responsive and sensitive to the influence of social contexts on what is
functional, healthy, and appropriate. You can focus your messages on emotional
wellness around themes that apply to all women. For example:
- Emotional wellness is linked to better physical
health and greater life satisfaction.
- Every woman can learn how to improve her
emotional wellness.
- Women can improve their emotional wellness
through simple tips and activities to appreciate themselves, find their balance
and purpose, and connect with others.
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CONVERSATION
STARTERS
Simply starting a dialogue to encourage women to
begin thinking about these issues is helpful. Encourage women to think of
emotional wellness as a goal in itself, just as physical fitness is a goal in
itself. Conversations on emotional wellness can be brief. You can discuss any
concept related to emotional wellness (such as balance, self-esteem, or
relationships) with the women you serve. Bring up the topic in a neutral and
non-judgmental way and then actively listen for cues related to emotional
wellness.
Here are some potential conversation-starters:
- "It's important to find time for yourself, even
when you're busy. Let's talk about how you're doing that."
- "Many women have multiple roles and
responsibilities. Are you finding balance in your own life?"
- "Every woman deals with some stress in her
life. How do you relax and recharge yourself?"
- "Strong connections are important. Tell me
about some of your connections with your friends, family, or community."
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INCLUDE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
INFORMATION OR ACTIVITIES AS PART OF EXISTING PROGRAMS
Chances are your organization is already doing
something to promote health and wellness among women in your community. Aspects
of emotional wellness may be adapted to or incorporated into these existing
programs and activities. Encourage women to talk about issues such as building
self-esteem, making time for themselves, understanding their values, setting
their own expectations, forming healthy relationships, and connecting with
others. Many of these topics can be easily connected to your existing programs
and goals.
Here are some ways to include additional emotional
wellness themes in your existing programs:
- Conclude programs and activities by asking
women to name one thing they appreciate about themselves or other women in the
program.
- Prominently display tips on topics such as how
to take care of yourself, get enough sleep, or eat healthier foods, and explain
how these tips can help women achieve program objectives.
- For icebreaker or "get to know you" activities,
ask women to share their tips for creating more time for themselves.
- Ask women to share with others their goals and
progress towards reaching program objectives.
- Encourage women to get to know others and form
new friendships and connections to enhance their experience in the program.
Encourage them to make an effort to get to know someone from a different
background or culture.
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DEVELOP AN EMOTIONAL
WELLNESS PROGRAM
Your organization might want to develop a specific
program or activity on emotional wellness. These can be one-time activities, a
series of activities, or an ongoing program.
For example, your organization might:
- Sponsor a writing club
- Develop a photography project that explores
self-expression
- Teach leadership or entrepreneurial skills
- Encourage women to explore nature
- Help young women to prepare for the transition
from high school into a job or further education
The next section of the guide provides sample
emotional wellness program ideas. You can incorporate one or more of these
ideas into your existing programs. You may even be able to use one of these
ideas to achieve a current mental health objective in your organization.
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Bright Futures—A Community Organization's Guide To
Promoting Emotional Wellness [