MARCH - APRIL 2021
In This TOGETHER
THE ONLY LOCAL MENTAL WELLNESS MAGAZINE CREATED BY US AND FOR US! www.breathemagazine.net Get your Free digital copy today!
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REST
HOW DOES LACK OF SLEEP EFFECT MY MENTAL HEALTH?
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EXPERIENCE
WHY DO I FEEL ALONE?
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TOGETHER IN PRIDE Written By: Nick Vargas
SOULFUL
TOGETHER
25 RESOURCES & INFORMATIION HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS
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HELPING CHILDREN COPE HOW DOES SELF INJURY AND SUICIDE RELATE?
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TULARE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY LINES
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This Issue of Breathe Magazine - You Matter will help you do the following: MENTAL HEALTH
Help you understand and take steps towards feeling connected people around you or to start the process of finding your people. Help you understand why sleep is so important to your mental health and how to take steps towards getting better sleep. Help you understand self harm and suicide relations and how to identify signs to get help for yourself or a loved one. ENGAGE with Community
Join “WALK ON CANCER” to help raise money for cancer research and find a cure. Do this together with a team! HELP “ BACKPACKS WITHOUT BARRIERS” provide fully supplied backpacks to our homeless community. CELEBRATE
Celebrate Spring Together Celebrate Life Together Read a Book Together “Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
This is YOUR MAGAZINE. We want to hear from you. We want you to share your voice, your experiences, your heart and how you maintain mental wellness. We want your questions and your needs. We are here for you. We are in this together!
Founders Note Dear Readers, Breathe Magazine - You Matter is your magazine. We created it to be a platform where we can promote mental wellness, share resources, provide helpful information. It is a place where we want to hear your voices through the sharing of your experiences. We are here to research your questions, provide alternative proven treatments, any and everything else that will help us come together to help obtain and maintain mental wellness for our families, friends, and in our communites. Every aspect of our lives effect our mental health. We are committed to finding and providing information to help us all navigate through life in order to be our best selves possible mentally. Thank you for being apart of this journey together. Gwen Schrank
Contact Us www.breathemagazine.net
NEXT ISSUE- MAY 1, 2021 SPECIAL EDITION: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENSS MONTH
gwenschrank@gmail.com brittanyschrank@gmail.com
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: Breathe Magazine @Savinglivesbecauseyoumatter Instagram @breatheyoumatter Twitter @BreatheMatter
Breathe Magazine- You Matter is published bimonthly and is distibuted digitally and by print upon request. Views expressed in columns are those of columnist and not necessarily those of Breathe Magazine, advertisers, or partners. Our goal is to provide mental wellness resources, stop the stigma associated with mental health, provide suicide prevention and be a place where people can share their voices, experiences, and connect in ways that could save lives.
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You’re Not Alone Why Do I Feel Alone? The feelings of lonliness has a way of playing tricks on the mind when a person doesn’t have the tools to help remember and recoginize the pitfalls of emotions. Being alone with the mind in a lonely state can cause people to feel empty and unwanted. According to researchers people who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with other people. Some examples include: Being surrounded in a house filled with loved ones but feeling as if you are by yourself with no one to connect to. A student in school might feel lonely when playing on a team sport but doesn’t participate with others on the team or in a classroom setting. An employee might feel lonely at work because they aren’t invited to coworkers gatherings or lunches. There are many situational variables that can play a role in a person’s mind that may contribute to why and how deep the loneliness can disrupt ones ability to see the other side of the reality in their life. People are often triggered by a change in thier life, change in their location, people, or their sense of feeling safe to express themselves without judgement or control. Internal factors can also cause feelings of lonliness especially in people who have low self esteem, or lack confidence in themselves, and can feel unworthy which can lead to isolation. Researchers have found that people who have physical health symptoms, low quality of social relationships are often associated with high levels of lonliness. As we learn more about loneliness and how we can continue to learn about ourselves, what we can do, and doing the best we can with what we have; our lives and the lives of those around us will be better. Let’s discuss what we can do now to start the process. 8
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How Can I Overcome Lonliness? Loniliness can be overcome but it requires awareness and a conscious effort on the part of those who feel alone. It’s very important for people to come to terms with their feelings and emotions. It’s also very important for people to trust thier gut and their feelings while getting to know themselves and their triggers. Often times we ask people that we know what their opionons are of us which can be a good way to get feedback; however it is also important for you to trust your instincts as well. Journaling on a regular basis can help you keep track of your feelings and emotions. It will also help you keep track of any patterns that might arise due to certain internal factors or situational variables that might affect how you feel. The more you know about yourself, the better you will be at identifying things in your life that helps learn and grow to be more confident in yourself, self-esteem, strengths, and abilities. Researchers have discovered many different positive ways for people to help prevent the feelings of being lonely while also growing in your own personal strenght.
Join a Community Service Group This will help you find something in your community that you have a passion for. It will also provide the opportunity to work with and find people who have similar likes. You will be able to cultivate new friendships and social interations. Develope Quality Relationships Expect the best in friendships and relationships because you deserve it. Often times people expect rejection. “ DON’T” Focus on positive thoughts and attitudes in your relationships. Seek people who share similar interest and values with you. Recognize That Loneliness Is A Sign That Something Needs to Change There are physical and mental repercussions for loneliness such as increased stress, depression, memory loss, poor decision making, antisocial behavior, and possibly substance abuse. Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects and if you ever have suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-2738255 9
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How Can I Help My Family Member Or Friend Feel Less Lonely and Connected? Family members and friends can play a huge role in helping loved ones feel less lonely and connected. Unfortunately the rise of internet and social media has played a negative role in bringing people together, not to mention the day and age of Covid 19 restrictions and social distancing. HAVE NO FEAR... HOPE IS NEAR! Respect the boundaries of your loved one who is feeling lonely. Find out what you and your loved one have in common and ask your loved one if they would like to spend time on a regular basis participating in those activities. (Note: they may resist at first, thats okay. Don’t give up on them.) Find out what their love language is and be intentional about loving them in ways they feel loved. You can visit 5lovelanguages.com to find out information about love languages. Show and communicate value and respect to your loved one because it shows that they are worthy, valued, and reespected which goes a long way in building positive and engaging relationships. Don’t Judge, Don’t Judge, Don’t Judge Have Fun, Have Fun, Have Fun. Make the most of every opportunity to create fun and joy with your loved one. It’s the little things that people remember when things get tough. When a loved one is feeling alone, we want them to remember something happy, funny, and joyful. Remember to listen, learn, and respect your loved one, and don’t forget to communicate in a loving way. No one is perfect so we must give lots of grace when connecting with each other.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS Theodor Seuss Geisel was born to Theodor and Henrietta Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. Theodor known as Ted by his family and friends, was the grandchild of German immigrants and had one sister, Margaretha Christine (known as “Marnie”). Seuss was his mother’s maiden name and was pronounced in the German manner: He spent his childhood at 74 Fairfield Street, and when he walked through the Springfield Zoo in Forest Park with his father, he began bringing a pencil and sketch pad to draw animals. Dr. Seuss’s first children’s book was published in 1937 after it was previously rejected by publishers 27 times. And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street was based on his recollections from life in Springfield. Geisel was walking to Madison Avenue, about to throw the book away, when he ran into former classmate Mike McClintock, who had just been appointed juvenile editor of Vanguard Press. McClintock promptly took him up to his office where they signed a contract for Mulberry Street. Geisel once said, “That’s one of the reasons I believe in luck. If I’d been going down the other side of Madison Avenue, I would be in the dry-cleaning business
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today!” Author Beatrix Potter called the book “cleverest book I have met with for many years.” In 1957 The Cat in the Hat was published and was an immediate success. After a 1955 book by Rudolf Flesch and an article in Life magazine in 1954 by novelist John Hersey, in which boring school primers were said to be a major cause of children not wanting to read, William Spaulding (then director of Houghton Mifflin’s education division) challenged Dr Seuss to “Write a story that first-graders can’t put down.” One of his next huge successes, Green Eggs and Ham, was published as a Beginner Book in 1960. Dr. Seuss’s publisher Bennett Cerf, bet him that he could not write a book using fifty or fewer different words. The resulting book, which has the fewest words of all his books, is his bestselling title. Dr. Seuss won many awards for his various literary and entertainment projects, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for his special contribution to the education and enjoyment of America’s children and their parents. Three of his books received Caldecott Honors, he was the recipient of seven honorary doctorate degrees (including
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one from his alma mater), and he was even posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. Dr. Seuss died on September 24, 1991, but the man who inspired everyone from six-year-olds to NASA spacecraft engineers left behind a gigantic legacy of genius and imagination. And every year on his March 2nd birthday he is remembered around the globe as children and adults alike celebrate literacy in his honor.
DR. SEUSS DAY MARCH 4TH READ A BOOK WITH FRIENDS TOGETHER
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Why You Need Sleep How much does sleep affect your mental health? Chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of people who have mental health disorders. Longitudinal studies suggest that insomnia and other sleep problems worsen before an episode of mania or bipolar depression, and lack of sleep can trigger mania. Sleep problems also adversely affect mood and contribute to relapse or anxiety disorders. Source:Harvard Health How does lack of sleep affect your mental health? Lack of sleep can hinder you from thinking clearly and keeping your emotions at an even keel. Studies show that excessive sleepiness can wreak havoc on relationships, and lead to mood problems like anger and depression. Source: Web MD Does anxiety prevent you from sleeping? Anxiety can cause serious sleep issues such as insomnia. What are the long term effects of sleep deprivation? Sometimes the act of falling asleep may actually become harder due to the An ongoing lack of sleep has been closely associated anxiety and the body’s sense of worry or with hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, memory loss, etc. fear. Source: Stress.org 14
Source: Sleep Health Solutions
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MARCH IS NATIONAL BED MONTH
How much sleep do you need by age? •
Teenagers Age 14-17 years old need 8-10 hours of sleep
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Younger Adults Age 18-25 years old need 7-9 hours of sleep
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Adults Age 26-64 years old need 7-9 hours of sleep
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Older Adults Age 65+ years need 7-8 hours of sleep
Source: Sleeping Foundation
TIPS FOR ESTABLISHING GOOD SLEEP HABITS Keep the Bed for Sleep and Sex Only. Keep a Consistent Routine Only Go to Bed When You Feel Drowsy No Clock Watching Use the Half Hour Rule If you’ve been lying in bed for about 30 minutes without sleeping, hop out of bed and fo to a different room. Engage in a relaxing activity
How does sleep affect a child’s behavior?
until drowsy, then go back to bed
Lack of sleep causes irritability, increased stress, forgetfulness, difficulties with learning and low motivation. Over time, it can contribute to anxiety and depression. Sleep time guidelines depend on a child’s age. Every child is different, so take time to figure out what works best for your child.
and attempt sleep again.
Source: About Kids Health California When should I worry about my child’s mental health? Pay attention to how often behavior occurs, how long it lasts or the intensity of the mood or behavior can help you decide if it is a problem. When problems occur for more than a few weeks and interfere with your child’s ability to function or be successful at home or school, you should discuss with primary care physician Source: About Kids Health California 15
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STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 CS314915-A
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ENFERMEDAD DEL CORONAVIRUS
DETENGA LA PROPAGACIÓN DE LOS MICROBIOS
Ayude a prevenir la propagación de virus respiratorios como el nuevo COVID-19. Cúbrase la nariz y la boca con un pañuelo desechable al toser o estornudar y luego bótelo a la basura.
Evite el contacto cercano con las personas enfermas.
Limpie y desinfecte los objetos y las superficies que se tocan frecuentemente.
Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz y la boca.
Quédese en casa si está enfermo, excepto para buscar atención médica.
Lávese las manos frecuentemente con agua y jabón por al menos 20 segundos.
Para obtener más información: www.cdc.gov/COVID19-es CS314915-B
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How Are Self-Injury and Suicide Related The intent is different, though one can lead to the other This is an excerpt from Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones, by Janis Whitlock, PhD, and Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson, PhD.
It’s not unusual for young people who are struggling with painful feelings to engage in self-injury — things such as cutting, burning or scratching themselves until they bleed. Knowing that a child is intent on harming herself is very upsetting to parents, and many worry that selfinjury is a sign that their child is suicidal. Self-injury and suicidal behaviors — imagining, planning or attempting suicide — are related, but the relationship between the two is confusing. Because they can look similar, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between them. But there are important differences in the intention as well as the danger: Self-injury is virtually always used to feel better rather than to end one’s life. Indeed, some people who self-injure are clear that it helps them to avoid suicide. In
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fact, the technical term for self-injury is nonsuicidal self-injury, or NSSI. Differences Self-injury and suicide differ in multiple ways, including: The intent: The intent of self-injury is almost always to feel better, whereas for suicide it is to end feeling (and, hence, life) altogether. The method used: Methods for self-injury typically cause damage to the surface of the body only. Suicide-related behaviors are much more lethal. Notably, it is very uncommon for individuals who practice self-injury and who are also suicidal to identify the same methods for each purpose.
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aftermath of a typical self-injury incident is shortterm improvement in sense of well-being and functioning. The aftermath of a suicide-related gesture or attempt is precisely the opposite. Common risk factors Despite differences and intention, suicidal thoughts and behaviors and self-injury do share common risk factors. Some of these include: High emotional sensitivity A history of trauma, abuse, or chronic stress Extreme emotion or lack of emotion A tendency to suppress emotions coupled with few effective mechanisms for dealing with emotional stress Level of damage and lethality: Self-injury is often carried out using methods designed to damage the body but not to injure the body badly enough to require treatment or to end life. Suicide attempts are typically more lethal than standard NSSI methods. Frequency: Self-injury is often used regularly or off-and-on to manage stress and other emotions. Suicide-related behaviors are much more rare. Level of psychological pain: The level of psychological distress experienced in self-injury is often significantly lower than that which gives rise to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Moreover, self-injury tends to reduce arousal for many of those who use it and, for many individuals who have considered suicide, is used as a way to avoid attempting suicide. Presence of cognitive constriction: Cognitive constriction is black-and-white thinking — seeing things as all or nothing, good or bad, one way or the other. It allows for very little ambiguity. Individuals who are suicidal often experience high cognitive constriction. The intensity of cognitive constriction is less severe in individuals who use self-injury as a coping mechanism. Aftermath: Although unintentional death does occur with self-injury, it is not common. The
Feelings of isolation (this can be invisible in people who seem to have many friends/ connections) A history of alcohol or substance abuse. Because of these common risk factors, it is important for you to know that youth who selfinjure are also at increased risk for suicidality. Our work shows that about 65 percent of youth who self-injure will also be suicidal at some point (though many will not go beyond having suicidal thoughts). For many, self-injury is used alone or in combination with other behaviors as a way to keep emotional distress or disconnectedness at a manageable level. Reducing inhibition to suicidal behavior Although self-injury does not cause suicide, the other important thing to know about the relationship between self-injury and suicide is that the very act of engaging in self-injury reduces inhibition to suicidal behavior if someone becomes suicidal. In other words, having “practiced” injuring the body repeatedly makes it easier to actually injure the body with suicidal intent. Other factors that can place someone at greater risk of moving from self-injury to suicide include:
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MARCH IS
SELF INJURY & HARM AWARENESS MONTH Red flags for cutting
If you suspect that your child may be hurting herself but you’re not sure, look for these signs: Talking about self-injury Suspicious-looking scars Wounds that don’t heal or get worse
Greater family conflict and poor relationship with parents More than 20 lifetime NSSI incidents Psychological distress in the past 30 days A history of emotional or sexual trauma Greater feelings of hopelessness Identifying self-hatred, wanting to feel something, practicing or avoiding suicide as reasons for self-injury High impulsivity and engagement in risky behaviors Substance use A diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) or PTSD These risk factors may be present individually or in clusters. The more of these your child has, the higher his or her risk is of at least having suicidal thoughts (this is called “suicidal ideation”). What is especially important for you to know is that one of the most powerful protective factors against moving from self-injury to suicide is a feeling of connectedness to parents. Indeed, the consistency with which parents show up in our studies as important sources of support for their children is one of the reasons we wrote this book!
Cuts on the same place Increased isolation Collecting sharp tools such as shards of glass, safety pins, nail scissors, etc. Wearing long-sleeved shirts in warm weather Avoiding social activities Wearing a lot of band aids Refusing to go into the locker room or change clothes in school
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Janis Whitlock, PhD, is the founder and director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery. Elizabeth E. LloydRichardson, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. This piece is an excerpt from Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones, from Oxford University Press.
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Together in Pride Written By : Nick Vargus
Togetherness, unity, and celebration of the diversity of the human experience are felt at LGBTQ+ Pride events. PRIDE Visalia in particular has brought together people who ordinarily might not mix, in an area where a Pride ordinarily might not happen. The past four years of PRIDE Visalia have been attended by LGBTQ+ people in all their colors, ethnicities, identities, abilities, political affiliations, and ages. But what’s unusual about PRIDE Visalia is that it’s also been attended by an equal number of straight allies who wanted to demonstrate their support of the local LGBTQ+ community. And as someone who grew up in Visalia, the thought of having a Pride event was radical enough. To have it attended by over 3,000 people equal amounts of straight allies was paradigm altering for me.
giving out “Free Dad Hugs’ alongside the moms at the entrance to PRIDE. I’ve also seen our local elected officials like Devon Mathis and Bob Link engage our youth programs in civic discussions. Most importantly, our local sponsors have stepped up to show their support with donations so that we can have large cultural events. Having an event for 3,000 people costs more than one might think. And for businesses and individuals to sponsor an event and put their name/logo on display as supporters shows our community that we are seen and that we matter. Visibility is a key component of acceptance and togetherness. We are seen as valuable members in our own community. This hasn’t always been the case.
In all the Pride events I’ve been involved in, most of the attendees are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Of course you see a lot of support from straight allies, but I’ve never seen so many proud parents, siblings, and classmates come out to show their support. Tulare and Kings counties have historically been difficult places for LGBTQ+ people to live openly. Access to health care, suicide rates, and other markers of LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion have been worse than other areas in California. In 2016 when we began this work, there wasn’t a single healthcare provider listed on The HRC Equality index. With our support and guidance, we have fostered meaningful relationships with our local health care centers, and 3 of them are not only listed, but work with us directly to increase access and safety for our shared clients. As I think back on the founding of The Source in early 2016, it makes sense that half of PRIDE is made up of allies. Our founding board was half straight allies, and continues to be today. Particularly women ages 25-45 make up our strongest supporters. But I’ve seen dads
At PRIDE 2018 a local man came up to me and said that it was a dream come true to have this event in his hometown. He’d always wanted to go to a Pride, but his circumstances were such that it was never possible to make it to San Francisco or LA. When he learned about Pride Visalia he was overjoyed. But he was brought to near tears when his mother and his sister said they wanted to come too. They insisted on taking pictures in our “Portraits of Pride” studio and buying
a “Proud Mom” button. Events like Pride create space for people to show their support. During the pandemic we’ve continued to bring the community together by reaching out and into their lives, virtually. We hosted “Pride Inside’’ an event that reached over 3,000 households on Facebook alone. If there were just 2 people watching in half of those households, we would have reached over 4,500 people. We can also see in the Facebook stats that many of our viewers live outside the Visalia area. So we are bringing together even more people than an in-person event. The engagement with Pride Inside was amazing, but we engaged with even more people in our virtual LGBT+ Center in the form of community conversations, support groups for people living with HIV, support groups for trans people, and our “Mental Health Monday’’ livestream. We’ve been told several times that these virtual groups have helped people feel the connection and hope they desperately needed in 2020. 2021 will see another virtual Pride event on May 29th. And we are planning to host a “hybrid” Pride Visalia event on October 23rd in conjunction with our Halloween Gala, which will also be a hybrid event. Hybrid in that people can attend in person, or participate from home. Technology allows us to do this and make it so that a person can still engage with others, bid on auctions items, and even talk to vendors. In 2020 our virtual event fundraisers raised over $100,000 for our mission. I’m especially proud to say that we gave more value to our sponsors such as Family HealthCare Network, Kaweah Delta, and Gilead than we would have in an-person event. Being virtual means that their commercials and logos embedded in our broadcast will be seen by people who couldn’t attend the event and who view it years down the road. We believe that when people feel safe and included, the whole community thrives. We’d love to see you, your family, your business virtually or in-person. Your support of our events is bringing people together which is saving lives and making our community a place that works for everyone. Email me at nick@thesourcelgbt.org or call 559429-4277
Helping Children Cope During and After a Disaster A Resource for Parents and Caregivers The amount of damage caused from a disaster can be overwhelming. The destruction of homes and separation from school, family, and friends can create a great amount of stress and anxiety for children. They may not fully understand what is going on. A child’s reaction and signs of stress may vary depending on age and previous experiences and typical coping behavior with stress.
What You Can Do to Help Children Cope with a Disaster Set a good example by managing your own stress through healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. When you are prepared, rested, and relaxed, you can respond better to unexpected events and can make decisions in the best interest of your loved ones.
The following tips can help reduce stress before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event. Before •
Assure your children that you are prepared to keep them safe.
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Review safety plans before a disaster or emergency happens. Having a plan will increase your children’s confidence and help give them a sense of control.
During •
Stay calm and reassure your children.
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Talk to your children about what is happening in a way that they can understand. Keep it simple and appropriate for each child’s age.
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After
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Give your children opportunities to talk about what they went through. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions.
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Encourage your children to take action directly related to the disaster so they feel a sense of control. For example, children can help others after a disaster, such as volunteering to help community or family members in a safe environment. Children should NOT participate in disaster cleanup activities for health and safety reasons.
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Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after a traumatic event.
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Help your children to have a sense of structure, which can make them feel more at ease or provide a sense of familiarity. Once schools and child care opens again, help them return to their regular activities.
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CDC Continued Common Reactions The common reactions to distress will fade over time for most children. Children who were directly exposed to a disaster can become upset again and behavior related to the event may return if they see or hear reminders.
If children continue to be very upset or if their reactions hurt their relationships or schoolwork, parents may want to talk to a professional or have their children to talk to someone who specializes in children’s emotional needs.
Learn more about common reactions to distress below:
For Infants to 2-Year-Olds Infants may become more cranky. They may cry more than usual or want to be held and cuddled more.
For 3 to 6-Year-Olds They may have toileting accidents, bed-wetting, tantrums and a hard time sleeping, or be frightened about being separated from their parents/caregivers.
For 7 to 10-Year-Olds Older children may feel sad, mad, or afraid that the event will happen again. Correct misinformation the child may get from others.
For Preteens and Teenagers Some preteens and teenagers respond to trauma by acting out or feeling afraid to leave the home. Their overwhelming emotions may lead to increased arguing and even fighting with siblings, parents/caregivers or other adults.
For Special Needs Children Children with physical, emotional, or intellectual limitations may have stronger reactions to a threatened or actual disaster. Children with special needs may need extra words of reassurance, more explanations about the event, and more comfort and other positive physical contact such as hugs from loved ones.
Want to learn more? https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/index.html CS305921-A
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Do something fun to help you feel better. You can dance, listen to music, tell a story, play with toys, read, draw, or color! If it’s safe and your parents say it’s okay, you can even play outside with friends.
Fold Here
What do you like to do for fun? Color in your favorite activities. If your favorite fun activity is missing, draw it in!
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CONNECT THE DOTS If you still don’t feel better, imagine you are blowing up a balloon. Breathe in slowly and then try to blow your balloon as big as it can be in one breath. Repeat two more times. Connect the dots to reveal the picture! 35
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PRESENTS
BACKPACKS WITHOUT BARRIERS The Leadership Visalia Class of 2021 plans to distribute 200 fully-supplied backpacks to our homeless neighbors in need on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in partnership with The Warehouse Ministry. And we need your help!
TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT: PROVIDE A MONETARY DONATION Please complete the attached commitment form, and make a check out to VISION VISALIA or make an appointment to pay with a credit card. Monetary donations will be used to purchase supplies to enhance our project. SUGGESTED LEVELS OF SUPPORT Supplier $100 Helper $50 Supporter $250
Partner $500
OR DONATE ITEMS TO FILL THE BACKPACKS: Travel size flashlights Travel size hygiene products Travel size hand sanitizer Neck cool-wraps ALL DONATIONS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 26TH. DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.
For more information, please contact a Leadership Visalia representative at leadershipvisalia2021@gmail.com.
$25 provides one fully-supplied backpack!* *Actual cost may vary.
We understand how important it is to attend to the social and emotional needs that arise during this time of uncertainty related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and school closures. If you need social emotional support or encouragement or just someone to talk through worries and concerns you have, our school psychologists and school social workers are here to talk with you. The VUSD CareLine is available during the period of school closure, Monday-Friday between 10am-4pm (excluding holidays) at: (559) 931-8510 The VUSD CareLine is NOT a crisis line but a support line for VUSD students, staff, and families. If you are experiencing a serious crisis or mental health issue, please call 911. You may also call the Tulare County 24hour Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-800-320-1616.
RECOVERY STARTS HERE What is the SUD 24/7 Access Line? SUD’s 24/7 Access Line, 1-866-732-4114 or TTY: 1-800-735-2922 is a confidential, free, 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year information service for individuals and family members facing alcohol and drug addictions (substance use disorders). What types of information will be provided? How to access needed services
24/7 ACCESS LINE
1-866-732-4114
Referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations Will my information be kept confidential? Yes, this service is confidential.
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