Martina N.’s Post

Today, on International Self-Care Day, let’s celebrate the importance of nurturing our well-being in ways that resonate uniquely with each of us. Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for our mental health and overall happiness. Whether it’s hitting the gym, diving into a good book, or simply pausing to recharge, self-care practices vary widely but share the same goal: to promote inner balance and resilience. However, for many, especially the homeless community, self-care presents profound challenges. Imagine facing each day without basic necessities like access to showers or personal hygiene items. These struggles take a toll on both physical health and mental well-being. Another challenging barrier that can cause social isolation. This International Self-Care Day, let’s extend our support to those who need it most. REACH Niagara is committed to providing crucial resources to Niagara’s homeless population, including essential hygiene products that are often taken for granted. With this summer’s extreme heat, we have seen an alarming increase in requests for sunscreen and sun safety products. Please consider donating so that we can help meet this demand. Follow the link below for more information on how you can donate to REACH Niagara’s personal hygiene and sun safety efforts. Your donation can make a world of difference, offering dignity and the opportunity for better sun safety self-care practices. https://lnkd.in/dWtWhh8S #InternationalSelfCareDay #SelfCare #MentalHealth #REACHNiagara

🚨👩🚒👮♂️ On First Responders Day 16th May, let's come together to honour and support the brave people who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe! Here are some ways YOU can participate and show your appreciation: 💌 Write thank-you notes or letters to local first responders expressing your gratitude. 💰 Make a donation to organisations supporting or directly to emergency services. 🤝 Volunteer your time at fundraisers, events, or support programs. 📱 Share messages of thanks on social media using #FirstRespondersDay and #ThankAFirstResponder. 🎉 Attend local events or ceremonies honouring first responders in our community. 💡 Educate yourself in First Aid, and others about the importance of first responders and the challenges they face. ❤️ Support wellness programs for first responders to promote their mental health and well-being. 🌟 Show random acts of kindness, like buying coffee for a police officer or delivering snacks to a fire station. Let's make sure our heroes know just how much they're appreciated! 🙌 #FirstResponderAppreciation #FirstAidSavesLives #CommunityStrong #Appreciationpost 💪🚑🚓

Being a strong advocate for your community means understanding its resources! From food banks to mental health services, knowing what's available can make a huge difference in the lives of those we support. ️ Here's why getting familiar with local resources is key: ✨Empower individuals: Connect people in need with support systems they may not know about. ✨Advocate for change: Identify gaps and advocate for new resources to address community needs. ✨Build stronger connections: Network with organizations and individuals working towards similar goals. How to connect in your community? ✨Reach out to local nonprofits and community centers. ✨Check government websites and online directories. ✨Talk to neighbors and friends. ✨Check out your local volunteering needs and sign up Together, let's build stronger communities! #communitysupport #localresources #empowerment #makingadifference #doula #resources #doularesources #community #thedoulanetwork #tdn #tdndoulas

As Mental Health Week comes to a close, we had a visit from Joe Donnelly from TAMHI Mental Health to discuss how we can continue to support their incredible work as our Charity of the Year. TAMHI's dedication to promoting mental health awareness through sports and community engagement is truly inspiring. During our conversation, Joe shared insights into the transformative impact of their programs and the vital role that community support plays in their success. Here are a few key takeaways from our chat: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🤝 TAMHI’s initiatives rely heavily on active participation from local communities. We discussed ways our team can get involved in upcoming events. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 💙 Every contribution makes a difference. Joe highlighted the importance of sustained fundraising to support their ongoing projects and outreach programs. 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 📣 We talked about the power of advocacy in breaking the stigma around mental health. Sharing TAMHI’s mission and resources within our networks can amplify their message. I'm excited about the future collaborations and the positive impact we can make together. Supporting TAMHI is not just about charity; it’s about fostering a healthier, more inclusive community for everyone. Let’s keep the momentum going! If you’re interested in learning more about TAMHI or how you can get involved, feel free to reach out. Together, we can make a difference. 💫 #MentalHealthWeek #TAMHI #CharityOfTheYear #MentalHealthAwareness

As part of National Recovery Month, this week we're focusing on the importance of purpose as a motivator for positive change. Finding purpose can be a powerful driver for recovery. Purpose can be found in things like meaningful daily activities, employment, school, volunteering, caregiving, or creative pursuits. Helping others can bring a great sense of purpose and contribute to your or someone else’s recovery. Supporting someone in recovery can be a powerful, healing experience for their journey. Whether it’s volunteering, helping a friend or teaching someone a new skill, these acts of kindness foster a sense of connection and purpose that strengthens recovery. Recovery isn’t just about healing yourself; it’s also about building meaningful relationships and making a positive difference in the lives of others. By helping others, you can reinforce your own path to wellness. Check out our blog post for other ways to support a loved one in recovery: https://lnkd.in/eHgRgB-3 #YouMatter #RecoveryMonth #RecoveryIsPossible

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week. Loneliness is something that affects us all. It's part of being human. You can be the life and soul of the party and still feel lonely. If you're feeling lonely, here are a few things you can do to connect with others: 💙 Try to schedule 15 minutes each day of face-to-face time with another person. Just asking someone if they fancy a cuppa could be the start of a beautiful friendship. 💙 If this feels too much, then start small. Smiling at someone or simply saying "hello", will not only brighten your day but it may also help someone else who is struggling with loneliness. 💙 Visit our website to learn how we can help. Perhaps you could consider joining one of our groups, as it will give you the opportunity to meet new people and connect with others. Head to the link below to find out more details. https://lnkd.in/eNZgn3K5 Remember, feeling lonely doesn't mean you're alone. We're here to support you. #LonelinessAwarenessWeek #ConnectionMatters #Loneliness #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthCharity #LocalMentalHealthCharity #LocalCharity #WestKentMind #LocalSupport #SupportLocal #WestKent #Sevenoaks #Tonbridge #TunbridgeWells

We at EMPLAURA believe the smallest acts of kindness can help change someone’s life. Emplaura encourages community volunteerism. Especially for those who have found sobriety and a recovery lifestyle. Volunteering or “giving back” provides newfound self-worth and confidence with the impactful measure of helping others - in a very simple way, a simple act: the kindness of one’s time together with others for a common good. Emplaura’s mission is to provide ongoing encouragement and resources for our beneficiaries to volunteer within their communities. In fact, the only thing we ask is a simple pledge….  It goes like this: Emplaura Pledge:  This oath I make freely and upon my honor: ●      To protect my sobriety & recovery in all endeavors, personal and professional, to the best of my ability. ●      Endeavor to serve local community volunteer programs, sharing my experience, strength, and hope with others, in order to “give back what was freely given”; that others may see, feel and know that community resources can help change their life path for the good. Emplaura’s Pledge to our Beneficiaries: ●      Sincere encouragement to our Beneficiaries in order to help stop the cycle of addiction, abuse, neglect, and trauma. ●      Continuous access to local or regional community resources, giving assistance, information and support so our Beneficiaries can accomplish their own passionate goals. Because this kind of “love & service”, to volunteer and give back to our communities, is the kind of love and service we never knew was possible…. Until we actually do it. #soberliving #communityservice #givingback #selfconfidence #employmentopportunities #healthsystems

Join us in raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by first responders. 💙💛❤️ Over 80% of first responders report experiencing traumatic events on the job, and around 87% experience critical stress but avoid seeking help due to stigma and concerns about confidentiality and career impact. To support them, we offer a Resilience Scholarship designed to provide funding for mental health and wellness services. Our scholarships cover a range of services, including therapy, and can assist with insurance co-pays or self-paid fees. As a nonprofit organization focused on supporting first responders, we aim to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with seeking mental health care. Your support can help them get the relief they need. Visit https://lnkd.in/gviUNewx to learn more about our Resilience Scholarship and https://lnkd.in/g7XHYERS to donate. #Awareness #Appreciation #FirstResponderSupport #BooneCountyMO #MentalHealthMatters #ResilienceScholarship

National Volunteer Week is April 21-28. So what’s the big deal? Many nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to help meet their needs. Not only does volunteering help improve your community, it also improves your mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteers have shown reduced rates of depression, stress and anxiety, along with other mental health concerns. And the more hours per year a person volunteered, the less depressed they felt. Volunteering can also improve your physical health. It helps you get up and moving and keeps you active. Volunteering can lessen the symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease. And if you can be outdoors, you can soak up some Vitamin D from the sun. Volunteering as little as 1 hour per week can add up. And if you bring a friend, that’s the equivalent of 2.5 weeks of volunteer hours in a year! So what will you volunteer to do next week? Please share in the comments below! Pcitured is me at a local horse rescue in WV, Heart of Phoenix, with my buddy Khan. He has since been adopted and living his best life. #whatinspiresme #volunteeringmatters #bestadvice #personaldevelopment