It has been an incredibly difficult time for many, if not most of us. The covid-19 pandemic has triggered bouts of stress, anxiety and even depression for people who normally might not be subject to those mental health issues.
As we begin to emerge from the worst of the pandemic, maybe now is a particularly good time to take a candid self-assessment and explore ways to give our emotional health a boost.
The Irish Diaspora Center, working through its CHAT committee—it stands for Community Help Awareness and Trust—is hosting “Mindful in May,” an open-air event providing a day of opportunities to do just that.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, from noon to 3 p.m. at Merry Place, 600 Glendale Road in Havertown. It will showcase diverse mental health services and activities for the local Irish community, and beyond.
The CHAT committee provides funds to help subsidize mental health services for people in the Irish community. But their mission is broader, as “Mindful in May” will demonstrate.
“We’re going to have stations around the park, including mindfulness and meditation, yoga, gardening, and other services that the Diaspora Center provides,” explains Emily Norton Ashinhurst, IDC’s executive director. “There will also be some activities for kids, and refreshments. It’s a good way to get out into the beautiful spring weather and really make sure we’re taking care of our mental health, especially coming out of this pandemic.”
It’s also worth noting that many people struggle with mental health issues, pandemic or not.
The CHAT committee, Ashinhurst adds, is chock full of good ideas and completely dedicated to providing mental health services for the Irish community. The committee’s counseling services are ongoing. But the goal right now is to raise awareness with an event once a quarter, that raises the visibility of the center’s dedication to this particular need.
“It’s an increasing problem for all communities, but we’ve been seeing mental health issues within the Irish community throughout the nation,” says Ashinhurst. “We’ve been seeing an uptick in mental health calls within our own center, but all of the Irish immigration centers—there are 11 across the country—are seeing an increase. Our CHAT committee has decided this is the way they wanted to answer the call this quarter.”
The focus of “Mindful in May” is on the Irish community, but Merry Place is also an open park. So walk-ins are welcome, Ashinhurst says, but registration is recommended. “We’re trying to do an early registration just so we can get a handle on the numbers, and have enough water bottles and other refreshments,” she says.
Event organizers will be adhering to local covid-19 guidelines.
(To reserve your place: You can register here.)
