Hey everyone, we’re raising awareness about mental health this month and today we’re exploring how empathy is different than sympathy.
Check out this explanation (from Brené Brown).
Mental Health: Empathy & Compassion Fatigue
Hey everyone, we’re raising awareness about mental health this month. CMHA has featured empathy in their mental health week campaign this year – and empathy is very important in communication and in relationships!
However, and as CMHA highlights here in “Empathy and Compassion Fatigue” by Allison Dunning (Peer Support Canada), it’s important to know about and be aware of the “downfall” of empathy: compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue happens when we spend so much of our human energy trying to listen, understand and support others that we become exhausted ourselves. We can spend so much time thinking about other peoples’ experiences, needs and well-being, that we can forget to think about our own.
“Empathy and Compassion Fatigue” by Allison Dunning (Peer Support Canada)
Self-care and guarding against compassion fatigue are important parts of being in a caring profession. There are many resources available online as well as lots of posts on our website with information, resources, and strategies to help with compassion fatigue.
You can also check out suggestions to guard against compassion fatigue while still engaging in empathy in the original article on the CMHA website here, or their further suggested reading on strategies here.
Mental Health: Empathy & Practice
Hey everyone, we’re raising awareness about mental health this month and today we’re asking you to consider practicing empathy!
Did you know that empathy is like a skill? It’s something you can learn, and something you can get better with at with practice.
CMHA has featured empathy in their mental health week campaign this year – and you can check out 5 ways to incorporate and practice empathy in your life here! Why not pick one and give it a go?
Get connected!
Hey everyone, just a reminder as we head into the holiday weekend to check out the Family Support Institute’s Calendar for Connection – get connected with local events, or get connected online!
Mental health: Listening & Relationships
Hey everyone, we’re raising awareness about mental health this month and today we’re asking you to consider the art of listening!
Do the people you listen to feel understood? Does the way you listen enhance and enrich your relationships?
Listening is the communication skill that links up with EMPATHY – which is what CMHA has featured in their mental health week campaign this year – and communication is at the heart of relationships. If you’re interested in developing quality relationships in your life, or want to enhance the quality of the relationships you have, check out the art of listening (and get some great pointers!) here.
Nelson Care-aoke!
Zoom karaoke party happening on May 26th hosted by Nelson Cares! Check it out!
Drop-in anytime between 6-8pm on Thursday, May 26th for the latest instalment of our Nelson CARE-Aoke party! Everyone will get a chance to sing at least one song of their choice, but you can also watch, listen, chat, or sing along with the group! This has become a favourite event of mine and it will be a casual time with lots of opportunity for connection and some great performances.
Click here to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6291747361
Dance the night away on May 20th!
Thanks to Nelson Cares for passing this along!
Queer Dance Party at the Royal
Kootenay Pride is hosting their first event of the year on Friday, May 20th from 8pm ‘til midnight at the Royal. This will be a fun evening to celebrate inclusion and equality for everyone, with awesome music from Mraki and our friend DJ Unalive. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at https://www.theroyalnelson.com/events. All proceeds will go to the Christopher Moore Legacy Fund to help trans community members access gender-affirming care.
Mental health: Empathy & listening
Hey everyone, we’re raising awareness about mental health this month and today we’re asking you to consider how you listen!
Do you listen to others to understand, or do you listen to others to judge? Check out the difference here!
Listening is the communication skill that links up with EMPATHY – which is what CMHA has featured in their mental health week campaign this year. The great news is that they’ve also published an article with a checklist that goes through steps to effective listening! Check it out here and brush up on your listening skills.
Re-connect on May 19th!
Thanks to Nelson Cares for passing this along!
Self-Advocacy Group Meeting at Lakeside Park
The Nelson Self-Advocacy Group will be holding our first in-person meeting since the start of the pandemic at Lakeside Park on Thursday, May 19th from 1-3pm. We will be meeting in the covered area with the picnic tables by the tennis courts and snacks will be provided! This is a great opportunity to re-connect with the group or learn more about what we do. There are a lot of great ideas for what the group can do this year and now is the time to have your say and be part of the plan! Email Jaymes (that’s me!) at vocationalcounsellor@nelsoncares.ca for more info or if you need help getting to the park.
Everybody Belongs!
Hey everyone, the (previously postponed) Inclusion BC conference “Everybody Belongs!” is coming up in Surrey at the end of the month! You can get more information about the conference and register here.
