We have many identities. From our work, struggles, gender, sexuality, relationships to similar life experiences. And, each of these identities makes us unique while also bringing us together. Our mental health struggles are also a way to recognize community. March is Self-harm awareness month and this serious issue is not discussed nearly enough and the stigma surrounding it needs to be shattered. Our unique take on this issue features in some of our blog articles.
From the Blog
Mindfulness Techniques to fight Self-Harm
An informative article in useful techniques that might help against self-harm.
“If you are a loved one of a person who self-harms, it is important to note that self-harm is not a cry of help or a demand for attention. But this does not mean that people who self-harm don’t need care and compassion. When someone opens up about their pain, chances are that it’s not your opinion they seek; it’s your acceptance. A simple smile goes a long way!”
What makes you, you?
An article about the importance of identifying your core values.
“With commitment to your values, you can start to live your life with intention. However, it is unavoidable that we may sometimes slip back into unhealthy behavioral patterns. In those situations, you can reset your internal compass by becoming aware of your values and the reasons why they’re important to you. If the values are truly what make you, this exercise can jolt you back into control of your life.”
LonePack Conversations
We have been discussing alternative therapy techniques in our second season of LonePack Conversations with a completely fresh new perspective. In our latest episodes, we explored Sound Therapy and Drama Therapy.
Sound Therapy ft Suzy Nairn
Listen to Suzy Nairn, a singer, sound therapist and educator. She’s the founder of Soundsphere and the co-founder of ANSU School of Sound. She is also a member of the board of the International Therapeutic Sound Association.
“I just love the different sounds and it gives me a lot of peace to actually know that it’s helping a lot of people and for my own personal experience, when I’m delivering sound or working with instruments, it’s a really creative process.”
Drama Therapy ft Anshuma Kshetrapal
Anshuma Kshetrapal is is the founder of The Color of Grey Cells, the co-founder of The Arts Therapists CoLab, and a founding member of the Indian Association of Dance Movement Therapy.
“Therapy typically would want you to delve deeper into unconscious elements and the arts are a wonderful way of doing that. The arts perpetually have a way of bringing out our unconscious aspects. So when you pick a pose or when you pick a character to work with or when you pick a story, what guides your motivation to pick those things? We look at that more closely.”
Highlights
In some exciting news,
LonePack and Patrician College of Arts and Science have signed an MOU to recruit and train students into the LonePack Buddy program. The College will provide guidance services for all LonePack activities.
Our co-founder Siddharth Sudhakaran will be speaking at the TEDxVITChennai stage on April 11th 2021 about LonePack’s journey from inception to establishment. You can register for the event here.
From the Internet
Cleaning to improve Mental Health
…clutter and happiness levels are connected: "The more clutter you have, the less life satisfaction people report," says Joseph R. Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University. "There's a sense of contentment that comes with having things organized. We feel relieved, re-energized, there is a weight lifted off of our shoulders."…
Teaching Mental Health at School
School is the one place we can make a difference rather than having to rely on expensive or inaccessible counseling outside. Mental health and well-being are high on the agenda for Dubai schools during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Words have power - diagnosis as a cause
In the last decade or so, there has been a huge push to destigmatise mental illness and talk more openly about our distress – spearheaded by government and charity campaigns with taglines such as “It’s OK to not be OK” and “Every mind matters”. Broadly, this is a good thing. But when you attempt to smooth down a vast and thorny landscape into punchy hashtags and ad-friendly slogans, nuance gets lost – and there has been some collateral damage.
If you need someone to chat about your mental health issues, LonePack Buddy is your solution to get the conversation started.