HOLIDAY STRESS CAN BE CHALLENGING TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH!

 Mental Health America of South Carolina's Live Your Live Well Program Provides 10 Tools to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

 Mental Health America sponsors an innovative public education campaign to provide people with tools to deal with stressful times. Called Live Your Life Well, it features a wealth of research-based information, coupled with strategies that can help combat stress and promote well-being.

"The economic crisis has added to the daily stress that all American families face, and may be increasing their risk of depression and anxiety as well," said David Shern, Ph.D., president of Mental Health America.

"Live Your Life Well is the first program in the U.S. that brings together the information needed to help all Americans in difficult times and throughout their lives. Good mental health is much more than just the absence of illness - it's about being able to handle life's challenges and even flourish."

The Live Your Life Well program details the 10 tools and many of their benefits, including:

• Connect with Others. Research suggests that people who feel connected are happier and healthier - and may even live longer.
• Stay Positive. People who regularly focus on the positive in their lives are less upset by painful memories.
• Get Physically Active. Exercise relieves tense muscles, improves mood and sleep, and increases energy and strength.
• Help Others. Research suggests that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm and fewer pains.
• Get Enough Rest. People who don't get enough sleep face a number of possible health risks, including weight gain, decreased memory, impaired driving and heart problems.
• Create Joy and Satisfaction. Positive emotions can boost a person's ability to bounce back from stress.
• Eat Well. Eating healthy food and regular meals can increase energy, lower the risk of developing certain diseases and influence mood.
• Take Care of Your Spirit. People who have strong spiritual lives may be healthier and live longer. Spirituality seems to cut the stress that can contribute to disease.
• Deal Better with Hard Times. People who get support, problem-solve or focus on the positives in their lives are likely to handle tough times better.
• Get Professional Help if You Need It. If the problems in life are stopping a person from functioning well or feeling good, professional help can make a big difference.

 Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week Activities 

 November 25- November 22, 2013

Friday, November 15, 2013

Homeless Awareness Night Out

Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, 5503 Sunset Blvd. Lexington

7 pm to 7 am

Lexington Interfaith Community Services

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Living on the Edge: Youth Homelessness in Columbia

Richland Library Main- Bostick Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street

3 pm to 4 pm

www.richandlibrary.com/events/living-edge-youth-homelessness-columbia

Monday, November 18, 2013

H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Eat) Tour & Open House

Harvest Hope Food Bank, 2220 Shop Road

3 pm to 6 pm

www.HarvestHope.org

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Reconstructing Home: A Client Produced Art Shot to Benefit Transitions

Tapp's Arts Center, 1644 Main Street

5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

TransitionsSC.org

Tuesday, November 21, 2013

Interfaith Prayer Service to End Midlands Homelessness

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 900 Calhoun Street

12:15 pm to 12:45 pm- Coffee Hour to follow service

The Women's Shelter Annual Thanksgiving "Souper"

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

www.womenshelter.org

Friday, November 22, 2013

Homeless for a Night: Sleep-Out Awareness Event

Transitions, 2025 Main Street

7 pm to 7 am 

TransitionsSC.org

 Sponsored By:

MACH (Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless)

Lexington Interfaith Community Services

Transitions

The Women's Shelter

Richland Library

Harvest Hope Food Bank

United Way of the Midlands

Jean Ann Lambert, Community Research Director is collecting items for the Christmas Stockings for Bridges Clubhouse clients and William's Place and Kiva residents for the Christmas Season.

If you would like to donate items for the Christmas Stockings or a financial contribution to help supply a WalMart gift card to each of the participants, please contact Jean Ann at jalambert@mha-sc.org or call the MHASC office at 803-779-5363.

Our Operation Santa Party is planned for Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the American Legion on Pickens Street in Columbia, SC.