Mental Health Awareness Month

At Leader Creek, we know the value of maintaining our physical, emotional and mental health. During our season, we’ll be working 7 days/week and up to 16 hours each day which takes a toll both physically and mentally! It can be challenging to maintain a positive outlook as we work through the fatigue that comes with this taxing position and we know that COVID-19 has added another layer of stress and anxiety into our lives.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and since this is a topic that is near and dear to our hearts, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide some resources and suggestions surrounding this important topic:

• According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, self-care can and should be a priority despite a busy schedule. Reducing stress and anxiety through self-care activities “can be done in as little as 10 minutes a day and with no cost at all.” Some ideas include:

  • Exercise: Moving your body can reduce and prevent symptoms of depression or anxiety.

  • Relaxation Training: Take a moment to tense/relax certain muscle groups—learning to control your muscles’ stress reaction can positively impact your ability to deal with stress when it hits! Check out these recordings to learn this tactic.

• MindWise, an organization dedicated to suicide prevention, has created a list of apps that help “improve your mental health in the palm of your hand”:

  • Apps to reduce stress:

    • Breathe2Relax: Use your breath to relax your nervous system has never been easier!

    • Headspace: Quick meditation and mindfulness exercises to easy anxiety and stress.

  • Apps to manage a mood disorder:

    • Anxiety Coach: Do you struggle with Social Anxiety? Check out this app for tailored recommendations!

    • Panic Relief: Panic attacks can be common when anxiety is out of control—symptoms can be so severe that individuals feel they are experiencing a heart attack! This app will walk you through exercises that are aimed toward reducing the physical effects of a panic attack.

  • Apps to improve mood:

    • Happify: Positive thinking is a skill that can be practiced! Through games and exercises, you can acquire habits to view the world through a positive lens.

    • ThinkUp: Affirmations are a great way to encourage positive thinking and positive self-talk. This app helps guide users towards gratitude and confidence!

Sometimes maintaining mental health isn’t something we can tackle alone. Even with accessible tools or an awareness about best practices, we can feel helpless or hopeless as we struggle toward wellbeing. It’s important to remember that you are not alone. At Leader Creek, you have a community that cares. If you are struggling—reach out. Tell someone. At our local clinic, Camai Community Health Center, we have access to behavioral health services, so even in remote Alaska, we can support your mental health and wellbeing.

As we draw close to the start of salmon season (just a few weeks!), we are looking forward to meeting each and every one of you and dedicating our energies towards having the best year yet!