The Importance of Social Connection for Seniors

During May is Mental Health Month, we talk a lot about being kind to your mind. But what does that actually look like? We can start by:Recognizing the good in our lives. When we take a moment to be grateful for the positive things in our life, we become more in tune with the good things that are all around us. This doesnt mean that we dont acknowledge the negatives; instead of dwelling on the bad, we can thank the experience for the lesson it taught us and continue to seek out the positives. When we make an effort to be mindful in this way, we begin to appreciate lifes simple pleasures more.Practicing self-compassion. Self-compassion means giving ourselves grace through the hard times. Rather than criticizing ourselves or ignoring the pain, acknowledging how we feel, and giving ourselves time to really feel those emotions helps us properly move forward.Changing our self-talk. When we find ourselves being negative or hard on ourselves, we can take a deep breath and change our tone. Positive self-talk does wonders for the mind. Doing this helps us be more understanding and patient towards ourselves and others, and more focused on our goals.Reflecting. At the end of every day, pick a rose (something good about the day), a thorn (something that was challenging), and a bud (something to look forward to). By reflecting on how our day was, we build emotional intelligence through understanding ourselves more.Doing something each day that we enjoy. As simple as this sounds, this often gets overlooked as an essential element of healthy living. Whether thats exercise, baking, crafting, reading a book, or watching TV, reserve time each day to spend doing activities that fill our cup.Taking care of our physical health. The body and mind are so connected which means that consistent care of the body (which impacts the soul and mind) is like preventative medicine. Small acts of physical self-care can quickly add up and help protect, promote, and maintain health and wellbeing. Prioritizing sleep, drinking enough water, and fueling with nutritious foods can go a long way.When it comes to being kind to our minds, doing just a little bit is better than doing nothing at all. Spending even 10 minutes at a time doing something you enjoy can go a long way toward beating the stressors of everyday life. Just reading one chapter or going on a 5-minute walk around the block is an example of being kind to your mind! Taking care of ourselves helps us feel calmer, more refreshed, and more energized.Self-care is an important part of building resilience or bouncing back from stress, trauma, and burnout. The strategies outlined above can help you recognize your emotional responses to stress and develop coping skills to manage them. This May lets be kind to our minds and encourage our loved ones to do the same.

Storing, Securing, Saving Lives: Firearm Safety and Suicide PreventionFirearms are used in nearly 50% of all suicides in the United States.Many suicide attempts are made with little planning during a short-term crisis period, and evidence has shown that putting time and distance between a person feeling suicidal and a firearm can significantly impact the survival rate.Lethal means restriction (practicing safe firearm storage) is an evidence-based practice shown to reduce death by suicide. Even if someone attempts suicide in another manner, they have an increased chance of survival because other means are less lethal. By keeping secure firearm storage in mind, we can all help reduce the number of suicides involving firearms.No one takes their life for a single reason. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use problems especially when unaddressed increase the risk of suicide. That risk is greater when a firearm is present and accessible in the home.  American Foundation for Suicide PreventionWe can all prevent firearm deaths by following the universal rules of gun safety:- Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.- Always point the gun in a safe direction.- Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.- Be sure of your target and whats beyond.- Never use alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription drugs before or while shooting.- Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.- Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.- Seek proper instruction, such as a firearm safety class.- Be sure the gun is safe to operate.- Store your guns safely and securely when not in use.- Consider temporarily off-site storage if a family member may be suicidal.When an emotional crisis (like a break-up, job loss, or legal trouble) or a major change in someones behavior (like depression, violence, or heavy drinking) causes concern, storing guns outside the home for a while may save a life. Family, friends, as well as some shooting clubs, police departments, or gun shops may be able to store guns for you temporarily. *If you are worried about a friend or a family member:Trust your gut and dont wait for them to reach out. Let them know you care.Ask them directly about suicide and encourage them to seek help. Talking about suicidal thoughts and showing concern will not put someone at greater risk.Talk about gun safety and options for temporary off-site firearm storage.If you are going through a difficult time:North Range Behavioral Health is a provider of Colorado Crisis Services. This no-cost resource connects people with free, immediate, and confidential help all day, every day.Call: 844.493.TALK (8255)Text TALK to 38255Walk-in: 928 12th Street in GreeleyFind other Colorado walk-in centers at ColoradoCrisisServices.orgSafe storage of firearms can protect you and those you love. It's okay to give firearms and gun lock keys to trusted family members or friends when life gets tough.*To become fully informed about making a temporary gun transfer, review Colorado gun laws, including C.R.S 18-12-112, or consult an attorney.Resources:Gun Safety and Your Health: A Proactive Guide to Protect You and Those around You by the American College of SurgeonsFirearm Suicide Prevention & Lethal Means Safety for VeteransFirearms and Suicide Prevention American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

To be the healthiest, happiest, and most secure versions of ourselves, implementing emotional boundaries is essential. This involves setting limits that protect our mental wellbeing and guide our interactions.Its okay (and important!) to create healthy boundaries. They help us put judgment aside and take care of ourselves. To help yourself create boundaries, take time to reflect on these questions:What are the things I need to do to honor my journey and priorities?What is stopping me from getting there?What do possible solutions look like?When communicating your boundaries with others, use clear, concise, and kind language that respects both your choices and the choices of others. Before setting boundaries, it's important to understand that boundaries are not about telling someone what they can or cannot do. It's about deciding for yourself what your limitations and values are and communicating them with others.Use I statements to talk about how you feel. For example, "I feel overwhelmed when I have too many tasks piled up at once, so I need some help with my workload." Or "I value my personal space and alone time, so I need us to schedule regular nights where we each have time to ourselves." Avoid you statements as they can sound accusatory and may cause the other person to become defensive.Establishing boundaries may mean saying no to some things, and thats okay. Reframe no, as not a rejection, but as the choice to make space for what really matters. By not overwhelming yourself and your schedule, you will have more time for activities you enjoy and more downtime to reflect.Boundaries in PracticeSituationHow to Communicate a BoundaryHolidays with some family members that can cause stress.We are happy to attend the family dinner! Just so you know, if Aunt Suzie starts drinking too much we will leave.With this response, we are not saying Aunt Suzie cannot drink. That is not within our control, and it is her choice. However, we can choose when we leave, and we can choose to leave with love sharing this upfront is one way to do so.A customer at my job brings up issues I cannot help them with.It is not that I dont care about your housing situation, but when you bring up a conversation that is outside of what I can help with, I will bring the conversation back to why we are here. I want to be respectful of your time and really help you with the things that I am capable of helping with.A family member is struggling with substance use and being there for them is taking a toll on my mental health.Im here for you. I just cant be there for you in a way thats not healthy for either of us. When youre ready for help, Im in your corner.'When' statements create a balance between establishing a healthy boundary and leaving the door open for a future relationship when they are ready to try a different path. This allows us to keep a connection intact while at the same time taking care of ourselves. This boundary lets them know that they matter and that the door for support is still open.Establishing boundaries and saying no to unnecessary obligations helps us reclaim our power and peace.Maintaining these boundaries can aid in strengthening connections, avoiding unhealthy relationships, and boosting self-esteem. By prioritizing our mental health, we can show up as the best version of ourselves for those we love.