April 2022

Stress Awareness Month has been recognized every April since 1992, but this year it seems particularly important. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life. We all experience stress, but we we may experience it in very different ways: because of this, there is no single definition for stress, but the most common explanation is a physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Long-term stress can prove to be more than just a mental issue. From headaches to stomach disorders to depression--even very serious issues like stroke and heart disease can come as a result of stress. Learning healthy ways to cope and getting the proper care and support can help reduce stressful feelings and symptoms.

Now more than ever, screens and technology connect us with romantic partners, friends and family, co-workers, and strangers alike. For too long, harassment, cyberbullying, sexual abuse, and exploitation have come to be expected as typical and unavoidable behaviors online. This April, the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM) campaign calls on us to "Build Safe Online Spaces Together." We can build and are building online communities centered on respect, inclusion, and safety--where harassment, assault, and abuse are taken seriously. Together, we can build a safer online world and create communities that thrive online and offline. Learn more about SAAM and how to get involved here.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) designates April of each year as Counseling Awareness Month--a time of advocacy for the profession and celebration of the outstanding efforts of counselors in different settings as they seek to foster the growth and development of all people. One way that you can celebrate and support counseling awareness is by wearing teal on Friday, April 8!

April is National Minority Health Month, a time to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect people from racial and ethnic minority groups and encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications. This year's theme is "Give Your Community a Boost!" As noted by the US Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health, COVID-19 vaccination (including a booster) is one of the strongest tools we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately affected communities of color. Learn more at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities website.

Every April, National Volunteer Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate the impact that volunteers have on our lives. Typically unpaid, volunteers generously donate a part of their lives to do the work that nobody else likes to do: cleaning up after an event, fostering shelter dogs, chaperoning field trips, etc. There are so many areas that require volunteers. National Volunteer Month is also a chance to engage in active volunteerism in our communities: how will you volunteer for your community this April?

Over the past decade, major progress has been made towards increasing access to education generally, as well as for people with autism, specifically. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe and a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, the disruption in learning reversed years of progress and highlighted inequalities in education. Many students with autism have been especially hard hit and studies show that they have been disproportionately affected by disruptions to routines, as well as services and supports that they rely on. This year's observance will address inclusive education through a virtual event that will include a panel discussion and brief presentations by advocates, educators, and other experts. Learn more at the United Nations website.

The Ryan Bartel Foundation's original series of teen workshops uses evidence-led best practices in mindfulness and positive psychology and have been created for teens to promote a positive sense of identity and well-being. They are designed to help teens that may be struggling with anxiety, low self-worth, loneliness, or depression ward off negative thoughts and teach the skills that will support a lifetime of positive mental health. The "I Am Valuable" series will help teens identify and appreciate the value of their ideas, opinions, imagination, and contributions, building empathy and compassion for better relationships. Register here: a refundable $40 deposit is requested.

The "I Am Enough" series will help teens foster individual awareness and acceptance by exploring one's potential and purpose and embracing one's value. Register here: a refundable $40 deposit is requested.

The Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ students and allies all around the world take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools. Started in the mid-1990s by two college students, the Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April, students go through the school day without speaking, ending the day with Breaking the Silence rallies and events to share their experience during the protest and bring attention to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive. Visit the GLSEN website for resources and ideas on how to participate.

The FORT by the Ryan Bartel Foundation is a community space for teens to connect, make friends, be themselves without pressure, and participate in workshops that help them deal with the stresses of everyday life. This month, teens will have the opportunity to select two of four workshop experiences: music expression with A Place To Be, canine experience, art expression, and equine experience. Register here ($25 fee).

FORTitude for Parents is an online discussion series where invite mental health professionals and wellness experts are invited to provide parents with resources and guidance on how to better understand, support and improve their relationship with their teens. This month's discussion will focus on how becoming involved in meaningful service projects as a family can impact self-esteem. Learn more about the panelist and register here (admission is free).