Last Day of Summer Learning Series
Yesterday, we held the final day of our Peer Mentor Summer Learning Series and concluded Mental Health First Aid! We were so pleased with all our presenters throughout this series. After taking this time to learn and get to know our team better, we are ready to start the school year and get back in classrooms.
Last Day of Summer Teen Group: Let’s Talk About It!
Today, we held our final of six weekly sessions of Let’s Talk About It! Our psycho-educational summer teen group facilitated in collaboration with the Eliot Family Resource Center in Everett. Throughout the series we have covered different mental health topics such as active listening, managing reactions, and mindfulness & reflection. We practiced coping skills together, discussed self-care and community care, and played so many interactive games. It was incredible to work with such a wonderful group of youth from the community, and we wish them all the best as they enter their academic year this Fall!
QPR for Student Leaders at Montserrat College of Art
Today, our team presented QPR Suicide Prevention Training to Resident Assistants and Orientation Leaders at Montserrat College of Art. We appreciate Montserrat’s proactive approach to suicide prevention and the willingness of these student leaders to engage with this important but hard to discuss topic.
First Day of Mental Health First Aid Training
Today our Assistant Director, Lizzie, held the first of a two-day Mental Health First Aid training for our senior staff and Peer Mentors. We discussed the signs and symptoms of some of the most common mental health challenges, as well as risk factors and protective factors for mental health. Our team looks forward to diving deeper into these topics as we complete our Mental Health First Aid training.
Presentations to GIFT Students at NAGLY
Today our team presented to the G.I.F.T. students at NAGLY in Salem. Our Peer Mentor, Mia, shared her story and we discussed The NAN Project’s origin, mission, and Peer Mentor role. It was great to meet this newest G.I.F.T. cohort, we look forward to joining their graduation this week!
Mindfulness and Reflection at Let’s Talk About It!
Today we focused on mindfulness and reflection at our summer teen group, Let’s Talk About It! at the Eliot Family Resource Center in Everett. We practiced a 5 minute guided meditation, shared our go-to stretches with each other, and played a fun get to know you game. Our Peer Mentor, Emilia, shared her comeback story and touched on the role of mindfulness in her recovery. To end the day, our group reflected on what our favorite parts of the past 5 weekly sessions have been, and which activities we want to revisit on our last day next week!
Summer Learning Series Day 5
Today, we had another session of our summer learning series! Sam Tammaro led a CPR and NARCAN training for our Peer Mentors in the morning. In the afternoon, musicians Kev and Tony from Tunefoolery led us in a conversation about the importance of music in mental health recovery, sharing their personal experiences as well as their music. It was great to learn some life saving skills as well as engage with Tunefoolery’s music and mental health mission!
This summer learning series was funded through a grant by CHNA 15, and was made possible by Determination of Need funds received from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Winchester Hospital.
Teen Group at Eliot FRC and Presentations to Merrimack College
Today, we held another session of our summer teen group Let’s Talk About It! At the Eliot Family Resource center. The session was focused on active listening and our group engaged in an activity where they took turns listening to a partner without speaking and then summarizing what their partner said. We also a game of simon says and mental health taboo; the friendly competition energized us for the rest of our day! Our Peer Mentors presented to graduate students studying adolescent psychology at Merrimack College yesterday evening and were happy to answer the students’ questions as they prepare for their future careers.
Summer Learning Series & Presentations at North Shore Community College
This week at our Summer Learning Series, Jenna, an art therapist, led us in a group art project. We used shaving cream and food coloring to create marbled art pieces, and then made original stamps based on an image that was meaningful to us. Then, we put our art pieces together to create a garland that we will hang up in The NAN Project office. This summer learning series was funded through a grant by CHNA 15, and was made possible by Determination of Need funds received from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Winchester Hospital.
Our team also presented to North Shore Community College’s First Year Experience at the Lynn Campus for the first time!
Day 2 of Presentations to La Colaborativa Interns
Today, our Peer Mentors returned to La Colaborativa in Chelsea to share their stories of lived experience and help spread mental health information and resources with the interns working there this Summer. We were so proud of the interns and our Peer Mentors for their hard work in creating and facilitating these mental health presentations.
