A month of giving and three awareness walks

Everyone needs kindness, strength, and compassion.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on every one of us. We’re all struggling and watching other people struggle. You are not alone and you can make an impact on someone else’s life, even if you never meet them and they never know your name.

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. It’s a month to raise awareness about the warning signs of suicide, spread hope, and advocate for mental health care.

You can participate in a month of giving and help raise awareness for physical health, mental health, and welfare issues at three virtual walk in Hawai‘i:

Foodland Give Aloha

During September 2021, Foodland Maika’i members can make donations up to $249 to Hawaii nonprofits at any Foodland, Foodland Farms, or Sak-n-Save, or online at Foodland.com. Foodland Give Aloha, an Annual Community Matching Gifts Program, was created in 1999 to honor Foodland’s founder, Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan and continue his legacy of giving back to the community. Since the program began in 1999, a total of more than $34.4 million has been raised for Hawaii’s charities. #FoodlandGiveAloha #GiveAloha

Visitor Industry Charity Walk

From August 30 through September 12, 2021, walk with the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association and their members to help build a better, healthier Hawai`i for all of us. The Charity Walk gives everyone a chance to raise money for Hawai`i’s charities. In 2019, Hawai‘i raised more than $500,00 to make Hawai‘i stronger and healthier. This year, the walk is virtual, and you can download an app to track your steps and keep connected. #CharityWalkBECAUSE #CharityWalkKauai #MauiCharityWalk #CharityWalkHawaiiIsland #CharityWalkOahu

Out of the Darkness Virtual Walk

On September 18, 2021, acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and the lives of those we love. Join the Hawai’i Out of the Darkness Virtual Walk and walk for remembrance, hope, and support. Every dollar you raise through the Out of the Darkness Walks allows AFSP to invest in life-saving research, education, advocacy, and support for those impacted by suicide. @afsphawaii #TogetherToFightSuicide

NAMIWalks Your Way

On October 9, 2021, do a virtual walk “your way,” meaning you choose what you want to do on event day to raise awareness about mental health and help reduce the stigma of mental illness. Join a team or create your own team on NAMIWalks Hawai‘i Your Way. Then choose your creativity: on walk day, you can walk 7,000 steps, plan a craft day with the kids, hold a virtual bake-off, or practice self-care with a favorite hobby. Together we can make a difference for people affected by mental illness. #NotAlone

Do you know someone who is struggling right now? If yes, what is one thing you can do to help them? What are you passionate about changing? How do you take care of yourself?

Asking “Where does it hurt?” not “Why?”

“All cultures, since the beginning of time, have had to deal with suicidality,” said Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, LCSW during a webinar, “Managing Hopelessness, Helplessness, and Despair with Our Younger Clients.” The presentation was part of the virtual 2021 Suicide Prevention Summit, sponsored by the Mental Health Academy.

Two things struck me about her presentation.

The first thing I learned is that that we don’t know why. And for most of us, “Why?” is the wrong question.

We may know risk factors for suicide. We may know warning signs of suicide, which are similar to signs of depression. We may understand that talking about suicide will not encourage suicide.

However, according to Dr. Goldstein, “Research shows that people actively experiencing some form of suicidality cannot give a clear or intelligible account of what is going on for them at the moment” (emphasis added).

The right questions to ask, Dr. Goldstein said, are “Where does it hurt?” and “How can I help you?”

Be curious. Ask questions about what about they are feeling physically, because it can lead to talking about how they feel emotionally.

The second thing I learned is that our bodies reflect our trauma and attachment history. More than that, our bodies can determine our behavior and influence our emotions. For example,

• Posture: Are your shoulders straight or slumped over? Do you feel assertive or helpless?
• Eye contact: Are you looking at people when you speak or are you avoiding eye contact?
• Mobilizing: Is your body frozen or are you moving freely? Are you engaged in the conversation or shut down?
• Boundaries: How close or far away are you from other people? Do you keep physical barriers (crossed arms, a table, a backpack) between you and others or you are open to people?

This is the “Somatic Narrative.” We can start listening to other people’s body language – and to our own. We can help people feel physically safe by respecting what their body is telling us, and help people feel emotionally safe by asking questions.

By connecting with people, we can help create a buffer against hopelessness and psychological pain.

What is your body telling you right now about how you are feeling? How does your body react in joyful situations and in tense situations? Do you know someone right now whose body is telling you that they are in psychological pain?

Bringing cities to life with art

Hawaii is coming back to life with art. There are beautiful and eye-catching murals on formerly drab building walls and park restrooms. There is gorgeous artwork decorating formerly practical electrical boxes along the streets. There are historical storyboards celebrating formerly forgotten place names and history. And there are statues and art pieces in public places through the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

There are more public spaces that are calling out for more art and beauty…

On utility poles. Imagine walking along the road and passing utility poles decorated with animals, flowers, children’s artwork, and commemorative scenes, or poles sharing Hawaiian legends told in sequence as you pass from one block to another, or poles reflecting the unique features and history of the neighborhood.

Springfield, Missouri did it. In the Moon City Creative District, more than 130 utility poles (as of 2017) were painted. “The poles display work ranging from love of nature to community pride, and help outline Moon City’s 10 square blocks,” writes Scott Harvey, KSMU (photo by Ryan Welch, KSMU).

On pedestrian walkways and sidewalks. Imagine walking through down Fort Street Mall in Honolulu or along a residential neighborhood, looking down, and seeing elegant graphics or even painted murals.

Chattanooga, Tennessee did it. “Local rising artists installed the new colorful sidewalk and asphalt paint with the help of community volunteers,” writes Aislinn Kotifani, in an article for Blue Zones. “With flexible seating options, vibrant sculptural swings, landscape planters, and even a payphone for calling friends and family, the public space is now a popular meeting place, desirable event hosting and birthday party locale, and a “hotspot” for selfies, bringing new faces to the area.”

Along highways and overpasses. Imagine driving along the highway, passing by walls with rows of planters giving life to the city… or bright murals that tell the stories of the places you are driving through.

Lewburgh, New York did it. They worked with Chilean-born street artist Dasic to create a stunning mural on the ceiling and walls of a large overpass, writes Christopher Jobston in an article, “Overpass Illusion and Other Murals.”

What parts of your town would you like to see beautified with art? What ordinary places could become extraordinary with art?

“Perception is Everything” by Victor Armstrong MSW

Perception is our way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something. It’s the way that we make sense of the world. Some of it comes from our innate characteristics (our disposition or personality) and some of it comes from lived experience (what we have learned through experience).

If you are a person of color walking at night, and a police car follows behind you, flashes its lights, and someone emerges from the car, what do you expect to happen?

Victor Armstrong, MSW shared this true experience during a webinar, “Perception is Everything: Stigma, Mental Health, & Suicide in Historically Marginalized Communities.” It was part of the virtual 2021 Suicide Prevention Summit, sponsored by the Mental Health Academy.

The answer was unexpected: a fox had been following Armstrong. The police officer wanted to make sure that Armstrong was aware of the fox and was following the fox to make sure it wasn’t rabid.

It was a memorable introduction to Armstrong’s talk about perception and implicit bias.

But what if your perception is incomplete or flawed? What if you are finishing someone else’s story based on your own perception? That’s implicit bias, our perception and expectation of the world.

Imagine you are a man washing your hands in the men’s restroom. A woman comes into the restroom, looks confused, and you gently explain that this is the men’s restroom. A second woman comes into the restroom, looks confused, and you again gently explain that this is the men’s restroom. Upon leaving the restroom, you look at the sign on the door, and realize that this is in fact the woman’s restroom.

Armstrong shared this story, also true, and then spoke directly to mental health professionals, arguing that implicit bias is woven into the fabric of behavioral health. He said that implicit bias influences our ability to engage in truly person-centered care – and our ability to interact with others.

How can you connect with or help someone if you don’t acknowledge, understand, or accept their perception of their life as a person of color?

“For a black man growing up in a society where men and boys of color disproportionately have negative outcomes when involved with law enforcement,” Armstrong said, “his vigilance in everyday life may be perceived as a natural consequence of racial profiling by a provider of color.”  But it may be perceived as paranoia and suspicion by someone who doesn’t understand his perception of the world.

What we can see and interpret is influenced by our experience and our perception.

A compelling speaker, Armstrong ended his talk with his moving essay-poem, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” It is an eloquent contrast of lived experiences in the United States.

“When you listen to what’s in the ground, buried in the soil of America, do you hear what I hear?”

How can you become aware of your own implicit biases about other people? What perception of the world do you want others to understand or acknowledge about you?

5 Ways to “Get into your sanctuary”

In Hawai‘i we are surrounded by beautiful beaches and the Pacific Ocean. For some, the ocean is a place of excitement or danger; for others, it brings a sense of peace and connection to the world.

Around and within Hawai‘i, we are stewards of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The Hawaiian Islands are the principal winter breeding grounds for the North Pacific humpback whale population. Here they breed, give birth, and nurse their young.

To the north, we are caretakers of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine sanctuaries in the world. The 1,350 mile stretch of coral islands, seamounts, banks and shoals supports an incredible diversity of coral, fish, birds, marine mammals and other flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the Hawaiian Island chain.

This week, August 2-8, 2021, we are celebrating all of our marine sanctuaries during “Get Into Your Sanctuary” days! You are invited to join a variety of activities across the National Marine Sanctuary System – from sea to shining sea.

Here are 5 ways you can “Get into your sanctuary” this week:

1. Take photos of your marine adventures. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries annually hosts a photo contest from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Winning photos are featured in their Earth Is Blue Magazine and on the Earth Is Blue social media campaign.

2. Earn badges with a Park Passport. In collaboration with the National Park Trust, Blue Star Families, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, you can earn badges for your virtual Get Into Your Sanctuary visit and/or for outdoor recreational activities completed throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System. Download the ParkPassport App from the App Store or Google Play.

3. Pledge to be a responsible wildlife watcher. These seven pledges are simple and easy to commit to. As a Responsible Wildlife Watcher, I pledge to… 1. Hang back and enjoy the view. 2. Keep my hands to myself. 3. Report wildlife that seems sick or abandoned. 4. Keep my pets home or on a leash. 5. Lend a hand with trash removal. 6. Keep my snacks to myself. 7. Lead by example.

4. Visit the Waikiki Aquarium virtually. On Wed. August 4, 9 am HST, you can explore some of the marine habitats and critters found in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8632215628111318541.

5. Participate in an virtual storytime and book discussion about “A Perfect Day for An Albatross” by Caren Loebel-Fried. Also on Wed. August 4, 10 am HST, join Hawaiʻi Artist and Author Caren Loebel-Fried as she reads her wonderful book “A Perfect Day for An Albatross” and hosts a short discussion about her recent visit to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Papahānaumokuākea. After the book reading, learn about three species of Pacific albatross that cross the vast Pacific Ocean to forage in the productive waters off California and breed and nest in the predator free remote tropical islets of Hawaiʻi; as well as some of the free education resources to teach and learn about these seabird species. Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8221208285806181390.

What is your relationship with the beach and the ocean? What places energize you and bring you peace?