Free mental health sessions extended
The Healthcare Network in Naples received a grant to extend its free mental health program to help essential workers and their families cope with the impacts of COVID-19 through March 31. Essential workers include teachers, health care workers, first responders, grocery and retail workers, janitors and maintenance workers, truck drivers and more. If you’re interested in the free mental health sessions, call 239-658-3000. Learn more at healthcareswfl.org/direct-relief.
More free mental health resources
Last spring, when the pandemic began, Dr. Paul Simeone, the VP Medical Director of Behavioral and Mental Health at Lee Health, suspected there would be a greater need for behavioral health services in Southwest Florida. He started conversations with local providers and now Lee Health and some 20 other organizations are working to address those needs through Healthy Minds. The new initiative provides free mental health screenings, a resiliency toolkit that’s available online, lists of resources and local events where you can talk with volunteers to ask questions and get support for yourself or a family member. Learn more at healthylee.com/healthyminds.
Learn mindfulness, for kids and adults
When experts talk about dealing with stress these days, they often bring up mindfulness. Caloosahatchee Mindfulness, a local nonprofit, aims to help people understand and benefit from the practice through two free video series: Mindfulness Moments and Mindfulness for Children. Local professionals lead the videos, including Stacey Brown, a licensed mental health counselor; Maggie Stevens, a retired educator and meditation teacher; Kandy Love, a certified yoga teacher, and Mary Robinson, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Learn more at caloosahatcheemindfulness.org.