Prioritizing mental wellness is a year-round practice. But there’s something about the winter months that can put us in a funk.
The “Winter Blues” as we call it. There’s less daylight while driving home from work, sub-zero temps in the morning, and not as many people out in the neighborhood. And so far, this snow-sparse winter means lots of favorite winter activities are delayed.
“A more severe type of the ‘Winter Blues’ is Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD,” says Greg Scheitel, Regional Mental Health Consultant at Southwest West Central Service Cooperative and chair of the Windom Area Health Foundation Board.
“According to the National Institute of Health, SAD is known to be diagnosed in as many 10% of people in the northernmost states compared to only 1% of people in the southernmost states.”
Embrace the Winter
Fight the Winter Blues by embracing the cold! We’ve heard the saying, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.” At my house, you’ll find us lighting candles, drying mittens on radiators, brewing tea, and growing plants from seed to prepare for summer.
“Just like we do in the summer months—enjoying the outdoors, the lakes, and the weather—we need to do the same in the winter on days that are not dangerous to be in the cold,” says Scheitel.
Embrace the winter by getting outside and making inside extra cozy.
Prioritize Mental Wellness
Whether you’re fighting the “Winter Blues” or there’s a challenge of a longer duration or of deeper seriousness in your life, now is a great time to do a checkup of your mental wellness.
We all would do well to be more cognizant of our screen time habits, stress coping, sleep, exercise regimen, and nutrition. This might mean taking a step toward seeing a counselor or licensed therapist.
“If you are committed to these activities and still find it challenging, consult with a mental health professional who can support you and help you find solutions that will work for you,” advises Scheitel.
Mental Health Fund
One new initiative that supports mental wellness in our community is the Mental Health Fund through the WAH Foundation. Fundraising efforts during the late summer led to the start-up of this Fund in the fall.
Why this Fund? It’s no secret that access to mental health services is limited in our region. Administering mental health resources faces barriers due to limited funding and staffing. This Fund operates as a financial resource to remove barriers from accessing and administering mental health care.
The Fund’s purpose is three-fold: 1) Support community initiatives that improve awareness of and responsiveness toward mental health crises; 2) Support professional training (therapists, first responders) to provide seamless, higher levels of care while responding to mental health crises; And 3) Support families through direct assistance for an eligible unmet financial need due to a mental health crisis.
How the Fund Works
Do you have an idea for your workplace to step up their efforts in promoting mental wellness? Are you a mental health professional who could benefit from higher-level training, or an individual who has a financial barrier to accessing mental health care?
This Fund could be for you!
The Foundation Board has already received and funded requests in our community. Preferential consideration is given to creative projects that are highly collaborative or have the potential to impact many people. Requests are scrubbed for confidentiality and reviewed monthly at Board meetings.
To learn more about the Mental Health Fund or to donate so it can have a strong impact in our community, contact Foundation Director, Katie Greener, at [email protected] or 507-831-0633.
By Katie Greener, Director of Foundation & Auxiliary