2BWell.org’s Post

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 Have you ever truly stopped to appreciate the power of your native language? This post got me reflecting today, and it’s just fascinating how deeply it shapes the way we communicate and connect. As a native Cantonese speaker, I’ve often found myself grappling with an impossible task: trying to translate certain expressions or feelings into other languages. No matter how hard I try, there are nuances - connotations, emotions, cultural undertones - that simply can’t be transcribed. And I’m sure this isn’t unique to Cantonese; every language carries its own magic that gets lost in translation. Connotation, in particular, plays a huge role in how we interact with one another. It’s not just about 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭, and the layers of meaning that come with it. It’s a reminder of how important it is to communicate in ways that resonate deeply with others - something I’ve been thinking about a lot this week. On a related note, I’ve been reflecting on a question I keep getting asked this week: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐀𝐏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭? Here’s how I see it: EAP is just one piece of the puzzle. At Intellect, what we’re striving for is something much bigger—an 𝐞𝐧𝐝-𝐭𝐨-𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 to mental health. This means caring for the entire mental health journey, from nurturing the importance of self-care to being there for critical moments when EAP services are needed. I.e. you don't want to get your vaccine only until you're already sick. I’ll share more on this next week, but I couldn’t resist bringing it up today. It’s a topic that feels so close to my heart and the work we do ❤️

As we celebrate Latino/e Heritage Month, it’s crucial to highlight the mental health challenges within our honoring of the community. The numbers tell a story of real struggles that demand our attention, action, and unwavering support. By acknowledging these truths, we take the first step toward meaningful change. But our commitment must go further. Here’s how we can make a difference: 🟣 Open Conversations: Let’s break the silence and foster open, stigma-free discussions that create safe spaces for Latino/e Youth to share their experiences. 🟣 Culturally Responsive Support: We need to advocate for mental health resources that respect and activrly address the unique cultural needs of the Latino/e community. 🟣 Accessible Resources: It’s time to push for broader access to acessible mental health services, ensuring no one is left behind. 🟣 Raise Consciousness: Spread awareness about mental health, signs of mental illness and the resources available. Empowering People is what we do at AAKOMA. Learn more and read the full report at The AAKOMA Project website (aakomaproject.org). Statistics source: State of Mental Health for Youth of Color 2023 Full Report

Pacific Clinics' Asian Pacific Family Center's Mental Health Therapist, Kevin Ngyuen, was mentioned in a Los Angeles Times article, "A Guide to Mental Health in Vietnamese." The piece goes on to discuss the history of the stigma of mental health conversations between elders and youth, but also the language barrier and not having formal words to fit the feelings. Read more about the discussion here: https://bit.ly/3W98Iy2 Illustration by Matty Huynh

🎯 “Turning everything into anger” = anger as a ‘cover emotion’… ie, underneath the (expression of) anger are the primary unpleasant feelings one is really feeling… 1) Why would unpleasant feelings like embarrassment, sadness, vulnerability, etc be expressed as anger? 💡One important, common reason is how the culture in which we develop sends messages about what feelings are “acceptable” for certain groups of people (eg, men) & shape our emotional lives/experience. That, however, doesn’t erase the feelings underneath. 2) Why would we want to access & feel these other unpleasant feelings? 💡Feelings relate to needs (Rosenberg, 2003). We tend to feel pleasant feelings when our needs are met and unpleasant feelings when our needs are not met. Certain feelings tend to relate to certain needs. For example, we tend to feel frustration when our need for progress toward a goal is thwarted/delayed. We tend to feel embarrassment when we don’t show up how we wanted or when others react harshly (or we *imagine* they do) to how we showed up. Intensity often relates to the importance of a need & how deprived we feel. 💭Imagine if an athlete cut themselves off from or ignored bodily feelings. Recognized early, a nagging pain in the knee might only signal a need for additional stretching or new running shoes. Ignored, it might go away, or it might become tendonitis — it begins to routinely hurt so bad it forces us to pay attention & address the need/get help. So it is with our unpleasant (& pleasant) feelings.

How to get involved When one person starts a conversation, it doesn’t stop there – it can ripple out to their friends, families and networks, creating a groundswell of conversation, connection and support.  That’s why, we’re calling on all to join our campaign of Mental Health First Aiders - take a pledge to make every conversation matter. Become part of a growing movement that’s making mental health support accessible for anyone and everyone. Share if you feel someone needs to hear this today. Let’s connect: Vikki Paealiki My Values: Connection, Save a Life, Everyone has a voice. Follow my profile for post notification.

Over the coming weeks our own Darius Lacey will be sharing a mini-content series about how meeting young men where they are can deliver insights to drive change - stay tuned + follow along to hear all about it! #research #insights #methodology #bestpractice

🌍 European Mental Health Week 2024 🌍 As we observe European Mental Health Week 2024, let's take a moment to reflect on what impacts our mental health and how we can make a difference. This year's key messages focus on involvement, co-creation, and support: 🔹 What impacts your mental health? Understanding the factors that influence our mental well-being is the first step towards better mental health care. 🔹 If YOU were involved in decisions regarding mental health initiatives, what would you prioritise and how? Your voice matters. By involving those with lived experience in policy-making, we can create initiatives that truly meet real needs. Co-creation is an approach that prioritises real needs and inspires responsibility and shared accountability. When professionals and people with lived experience work together with respect and equality, everyone benefits. You are not alone. Collaboration between professionals and those with lived experience fosters a supportive environment where respect and equality prevail. Co-creation: Collaboration. Respect. Equality. Let’s make it a reality together. By working together, we can build a future where mental health initiatives are effective, inclusive, and empowering. Join us this week in promoting these vital messages and advocating for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to mental health care. #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek #CoCreation #MentalHealthMatters #Collaboration #Respect #Equality #YouAreNotAlone https://lnkd.in/e7mGWZt8

🌍 European Mental Health Week 2024 🌍 As we observe European Mental Health Week 2024, let's take a moment to reflect on what impacts our mental health and how we can make a difference. This year's key messages focus on involvement, co-creation, and support: 🔹 What impacts your mental health? Understanding the factors that influence our mental well-being is the first step towards better mental health care. 🔹 If YOU were involved in decisions regarding mental health initiatives, what would you prioritise and how? Your voice matters. By involving those with lived experience in policy-making, we can create initiatives that truly meet real needs. Co-creation is an approach that prioritises real needs and inspires responsibility and shared accountability. When professionals and people with lived experience work together with respect and equality, everyone benefits. You are not alone. Collaboration between professionals and those with lived experience fosters a supportive environment where respect and equality prevail. Co-creation: Collaboration. Respect. Equality. Let’s make it a reality together. By working together, we can build a future where mental health initiatives are effective, inclusive, and empowering. Join us this week in promoting these vital messages and advocating for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to mental health care. #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek #CoCreation #MentalHealthMatters #Collaboration #Respect #Equality #YouAreNotAlone https://lnkd.in/e7mGWZt8

The toll of the PhD on your mental health is still underappreciated. In our latest episode, we go over the hidden costs of doing a PhD. Answers from over 150 academics on social media! You don't want to miss this👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g64cmASm

Anyone can be an offline influencer! It's about building trust by creating meaningful, face-to-face connections that leave a lasting impact. Here are three simple ways to get started: 🗨️ Encouraging open and honest conversations about feelings and mental health can reduce stigma and make seeking help easier. 💚 Distributing information about local mental health services, hotlines, and support groups can help those in need find the appropriate assistance. 🤝 Organizing social gatherings and activities can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness by fostering a sense of belonging and community. Embrace your role as an offline influencer to help make a difference in the mental health and well-being of those around you! Learn more and connect with resources at the link below. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g28p_Ddy