A study by the National Institutes of Health reported that 46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life. Nearly 50% of Americans are fighting the battle against mental health, regardless of age.
It is important to take care our mental health for our wellbeing. Additionally, negative mental health can seriously aggravate physical conditions, therefore it is crucial that we take care of our minds as well as our bodies.
That is why Sun Health Wellness is hosting Resiliency: The Mind-Body Connection, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the Vista Center for the Arts, located at 15660 N. Parkview Place in Surprise. The event features keynote speaker Mathew Blades, award-winning Phoenix radio personality and host of the “Learn from People Who Lived It” podcast. This community event is presented at no cost and will be in-person and online. It is designed to leave attendees feeling refreshed and ready to conquer life’s challenges. Registration is required by calling 623-471-9355 or visiting SunHealthWellness.org/resiliency. Masks are required for in-person attendees.
“We want to increase an individual’s tools and awareness of resources, so they do not get bogged down by stress or overwhelming feelings of emotions and feel alone,” says Alex Stark, M.S., Sun Health wellness specialist. “We are providing different approaches since resiliency does not have a one-size-fits-all approach.”
The event also includes:
• A presentation by Ann Sebren, Ed.D., certified mindfulness teacher and former ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus faculty assembly president.
• On-site community resource booths offering health checks and valuable health and wellness information.
“There is so much research out right now that is really drawing that straight line between your mind to body connection to pain,” says Blades, who walked away from his 27-year on-air career as a Phoenix radio DJ to focus on his mental wellbeing.
After taking time to learn from his experiences with mental health, he started his podcast to share knowledge with others. “I don’t know that there’s ever an age where it’s a good or bad time to start working on this thing. I just think it’s now. And if you’re 80 or you’re 18 and there’s something in the way, and you’re aware of it, it’s just time to work on it.”
