Wellness and Mental Health. Jessie Early, Archie Moore, Tami Gatzke, Monica Colbert-Kelly, Jasmin McCane, Matthew Starosky, Ray Harris. Our project is about providing a safe comfort zone to discuss the topic of mental health. We are offering hair cutting services to practice dialogue in an intimate manner to provide an open ear to questions and concerns. We are also offering food to service the community by creating a nourishing space in hopes to have open dialogue. This experience is an overall wellness experience in celebration of mental health awareness month and discussion on the importance of knowing one’s awareness in mental health

1. Jessie Early, Archie Moore, Tami Gatzke, Monica Colbert-Kelly, Jasmin
McCane, Matthew Starosky, Ray Harris

2. depression bipolar anxiety personality disorders adult responsibilities in youth chronic depression suicidal ideation drug
addiction suicidal attempts alcohol addiction worry over loved one’s health self-harm cutting bipolar isolation during covid
overmedicated phobias disenfranchisement - unhomed, means to access, veterans, teens, youth anxiety bullying seasonal affective
disorder childhood trauma genetically predisposition to mental health issues, fear of financial insecurity physical health issues
food addiction anorexia bulimiadepression bipolar anxiety personality disorders adult responsibilities in youth chronic
depression suicidal ideation drug addiction suicidal attempts alcohol addiction worry over loved one’s health self-harm cutting
bipolar isolation during covid overmedicated phobias disenfranchisement - unhomed, means to access, veterans, teens, youth
anxiety bullying seasonal affective disorder childhood trauma genetically predisposition to mental health issues, fear of
financial insecurity physical health issues food addiction anorexia bulimia depression bipolar anxiety personality disorders adult
responsibilities in youth chronic depression suicidal ideation drug addiction suicidal attempts alcohol addiction worry over loved
one’s health self-harm cutting bipolar isolation during covid overmedicated phobias disenfranchisement - unhomed, means to
access, veterans, teens, youth anxiety bullying seasonal affective disorder childhood trauma genetically predisposition to mental
health issues, fear of financial insecurity physical health issues food addiction anorexia bulimia depression bipolar anxiety
personality disorders adult responsibilities in youth chronic depression suicidal ideation drug addiction suicidal attempts alcohol
addiction worry over loved one’s health self-harm cutting bipolar isolation during covid overmedicated phobias
disenfranchisement - unhomed, means to access, veterans, teens, youth anxiety bullying seasonal affective disorder childhood
trauma genetically predisposition to mental health issues, fear of financial insecurity physical health issues food addiction
anorexia bulimia
About one-fourth of the world’s population are diagnosed with mental health disorders.
Additionally, many are affected by life challenges that impact their mental health.
The impacts of mental health are to blame for about 90% of suicides (Tay & Li, 2022).
It is our responsibility to equip our community with awareness, education, and empowerment so
that we are encouraged toward the processes of healing for ourselves and others.

3. Literature Review

4. It is our goal to normalize and mainstream discussion of
mental health within our community by providing a safe
and comfortable environment to encourage this.
We began by interviewing professionals whose work deals
directly with those who struggle with the issues that impact
one's mental health. These professionals worked within the fields
of law enforcement, mental health, and social work.
We also interviewed persons in the community who have struggled with their
own issues that affected their mental health. These interviewees worked within major
corporate institutions and law enforcement.
We have created an online survey to ask those who are willing to participate what mental
healthcare needs they may have, how they advocate for their needs, and how we can best
spread awareness.
We will be providing access to facets that encourage self-care including barbering
services since traditionally it is a profession in which people speak more intimately.

6. Analysis:
There are an infinite number of contributors that may
impact our mental health wellness. It is not a them and us
issue. Struggles can arise due to genetic predispositions,
but life trauma, great or small, acts as a contributor as
well. Physical health, financial insecurity, and grief
processing also play a part in our mental wellness.
Findings:
Solutions lie in communicating your needs to trusted
family, friends, healthcare professionals, and other
community supports. Being open about your diagnoses
or struggles lets others know they are not alone. Finding
what you love and taking time to enjoy those activities is
imperative in keeping the good feelings going. Keep an
open mind when others talk about their own struggles
with mental health. Feelings of despair are not unique to
a certain type of people – we all have them.

7. Conclusion
Know Local Resources
WA State Healthcare
Authority (Medicaid)
Health Trust Foundation
Salvation Army
Rehabilitation Centers
Pioneer Human Services
You Can . . . get a referral from work or from your primary
care physician, practice gratitude everyday (name 1-3 things
you are grateful for), turn to music, art, or writing for
healing, talk to your safe small circle, trust the process – that
it will get easier, get outside to garden or exercise, work on
financial insecurity or improve your credit score, remove
personal judgements around mental health for yourself or
others, accept help, do some self-care like massage, a good
night of sleep, or a healthy meal.

9. therapy sleep mask talk with partner gratitude exercise work related referrals be in the moment exercise for stress
reduction Al-Anon talk to your hairstylist medication groundedness music as a part of healing process picture a safe
place talk openly about depression deep-breathing accept help find small circles of safe people assess you moon write
poetry artistic outlet gardening community resource and rehabilitation centers re-entry training networking with
friends and family remove personal judgements around mental health be open about your own mental health diagnosis
massage nutrition sleep herbal tea get outside video games take time for yourself therapy talk with partner gratitude
exercise work related referrals be in the moment exercise for stress reduction groundedness deep-breathing accept
help find small circles of safe people assess your mood picture a safe place 12-step programs 12-step programs
journal
artistic outlet gardening community resource and rehabilitation centers re-entry training networking with friends and
family remove personal judgements around mental health be open about your own mental health diagnosis massage
nutrition sleep herbal tea 12-step programs get outside video games take time for yourself remove personal
judgements around mental health be open about your own mental health diagnosis massage nutrition sleep herbal tea
12-step programs get outside video games take time for yourself therapy talk with partner gratitude exercise work
related referrals be in the moment exercise for stress reduction talk to your hairstylist medication groundedness
music as a part of healing process picture a safe place talk openly talk to your hairstylist medication groundedness
music as a part of healing process picture a safe place talk openly about depression deep-breathing accept help find
small circles of safe people assess you moon write poetry artistic outlet gardening community resource and
rehabilitation centers re-entry training networking with friends and family remove personal judgements around
mental health be open about your own mental health diagnosis massage nutrition sleep herbal tea 12-step programs
get outside video games take time for yourself talk with partner gratitude exercise work related referrals be in the
moment exercise for stress reduction talk to your hairstylist medication groundedness music as a part of healing
process assess your mood write poetry exercise for focus on goals journal be open about your own mental health
Endnotes

10. Aron, Elaine. (1999). The Highly Sensitive Person’s Workbook. Harmony/Rodale.
DeCamp, M., & Levine, M. (2021). Physician Suicide Prevention and the Ethics and Role
of a Healing Community: An American College of Physicians Policy Paper. Journal of
General Internal Medicine, 36(9), 2829–2835. https://doi-
org.evergreen.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06852-z
Furfaro, Hannah. Here Are the Basic Facts about Mental Health and Treatment in
Washington State. 19 Sept. 2021, https://www.seattletimes.com/.
McLaughlin, C., McGowan, I., Kernohan, G., & O’Neill, S. (2016). The unmet support
needs of family members caring for a suicidal person. Journal of Mental Health, 25(3),
212–216. https://doi-org.evergreen.idm.oclc.org/10.3109/09638237.2015.1101421 Ph.D.,
Oei TPS, Sullivan LM. Cognitive Changes Following Recovery from Depression in a
Group Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy Program. Australian & New Zealand Journal of
Psychiatry. 1999;33(3):407-415. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.1999.00562.x
Tay, J. L., & Li, Z. (2022). Brief contact interventions to reduce suicide among
discharged patients with mental health disorders—A meta‐analysis of RCTs. Suicide
& Life-Threatening Behavior, 52(6), 1074–1095.
References