Epiphany Center Marks Mental Health Awareness Month in May

Carla Graham, Program Director, Epiphany Center Adult Services attends the Celebrating Mothers Luncheon in May.

Carla Graham, Program Director of Adult Services at Epiphany Center honors Mental Health Awareness Month in May by sharing her insights on the power of intentionally developing resilience during challenging times.

“As we come to the end of the COVID 19 pandemic, I realize how resilient we all are. The coronavirus took the world by storm. The changes that we had to make in a moment’s notice, the abrupt interruptions in our social lives, professional lives, health, and family relationships were all experiences that we were not prepared for. We were given many recommendations on how to survive the threats to our health and our healthcare systems.

What I learned from this experience, is that we are a resilient people. Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and significant sources of stress. As much as resilience involves “bouncing back” from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth.

As we continue to recover from the pandemic, I encourage you to become more resilient, by prioritizing your relationships, joining support groups, and fostering your wellness. Avoid negative outlets, practice mindfulness and taking care of our bodies are some things that we can do to continue becoming flexible and strong. It is also important to remember, ‘we are all in this together.’ Remember that you are not alone on this journey. While we are not be able to control all our circumstances, we can grow by focusing on aspects of life’s challenges that we can manage with the support of loved ones and trusted professionals. “

Thank you, Carla for sharing your years of experience helping women and families overcome trauma and find the strength within to rebuild healthy, hopeful futures.