SUNSERVE FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH WITH ‘WHOLE PERSON HEALTH’ EVENT

John Hayden

"Smile, you’ll feel better.”

“It is what it is.”

And worst of all: “Don’t worry, be happy.”

The world is filled with platitudes that, at best, gloss over and minimize the real mental health struggles millions deal with every day. The problem is magnified for LGBT people, who also face state sponsored attacks from the legislature to school boards

While SunServe helps many segments of the community, their focus on mental health is second to none in South Florida. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, they are hosting Whole Person Health: Strengthening Your Inner Core, on May 25 at Hagen Park Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

“The emotional inner core of a human is the deepest, most fundamental essence of who they are,” SunServe’s Director of Communications John Marler said. “It is composed of their feelings, emotions, desires, hopes, fears, and values. It is the part of a person that determines how they think, feel, behave, and interact with others in the world.”

Mental health is hard for people to view as a “real” illness because, unlike a broken bone or cancer, outwardly visible symptoms are uncommon. Because of that, it’s easy for people to ignore their own problems.

The event will help people develop a better understanding of self-care and why it’s important, as well as techniques to incorporate it into their daily lives. Benefits can include better mental health, lower stress, and feel better overall. Mental health professionals will also be on hand to answer individual questions.