Coping with cumulative loss is distressing. These past few years have been upending for the many whose brains battled cognitive overload trying to process fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. The ongoing health and political crises have affected people’s mental health around the world. The effects will be long-lasting. Many people are suffering — some worse than others, depending on gender, personality, age, health, socioeconomic status, and race. Ongoing research shows that people are experiencing mental health issues at higher rates than before the pandemic. Issues include stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

To help Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) members deal with the many different types of loss individuals and families may have experienced over the past few years, the Family and Individual Development Program of Work (POW) is reaching in (versus reaching out) and addressing self-care. The 2022-2023 program focuses on Self-Care and Mental Health: Taking care of YOU. 

To encourage self-care, the KEHA Homemakers in the Northeast Area  took part in the Self-Care and Mental Health: Taking care of YOU lesson. In Carter County eight leaders attended the lesson and completed a post-lesson evaluation. They then went back to their communities to share the lesson with over fifty members.  Of these, 100% reported that they gained knowledge about mental health and self-care, and 100%found the program to be helpful overall. 

100%  learned new ways to promote self-care through healthy eating, 100% through physical activity, 100 % through sleep, and 100% through emotional expression.

100% participants reported intentions to use suggestions from this lesson to enhance self-care and improve mental health.  

To support the Focus Area activity, 100% made and distributed self-care Survivor Kits. Approximately 30 kits were distributed.

Participants also reported learning more about grief and loss and ways to handle stress. They reported planning to each better, develop better sleep hygiene, exercise, drink more water, and spend time with friends.