May 6, 2020


May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

All month long we will be posting information for you to get involved with this important month. If you are interested in contributing something to the blog in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month please email Sohail.Eftekharzadeh@pathways.com. We would love to see poems, short stories, art, and even videos from our members!

Many organizations are hosting events in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Please see the calendar of events from stigmafreeoc.com for ways to get involved!
​​

​April 29, 2020





























June 2, 2020

































​May 1, 2020















​

​



​May 21, 2020






















​

​



           BACK TO THE TOP           OR             PRIOR BLOGS

May 22, 2020


Art Titled-Isolation by Natasha C.
“Make a phone call” By Natasha C.

Not belonging
Not being loved
Isolation

Is this the new world we live in?
Masks and social distancing
Isolation

Can’t get out of head
Heaviness on your spirit
Isolation

When you fall
Get back up again
Reach out
Make a phone call
Resilience

​

June 16, 2020

Food Resources
Written By: Shayda Bakhtiari, Office Assistant

​


















Our world is currently enduring a very challenging and unfamiliar time, which can make providing food for our families increasingly difficult - so please don’t hesitate to ask for help! An estimated 15% of the population is considered to lack the necessary amount of food. There are multiple free food resources available in the Orange County area, which can help supply families with food each month. Whether a facility offers non-perishable groceries or canned food, hygiene supplies, toiletries, or others, the resources below can truly help make an impact when in need of assistance. If available, special requests may also be made. For example, baby food, diapers, and other supplies may be provided to those in particular need. If you are a senior citizen, you may also enroll in a Meals on Wheels service or receive dietary supplements from a food bank. Please contact the facility nearest you and register before visiting. Below are 5 food centers in our neighboring areas:

Families Forward (Se habla Español) 
Address:  9221 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine, CA  92618
Number:  (949) 552-2727  Website:  https://www.families-forward.org

  • Provides non-perishable groceries. Some items distributed may not be suitable for those with health concerns such as allergies or diabetes. Baby formula and supplies such as diapers may be available.


The Main Place Christian Fellowship
Address:  1310 E. Lincoln Ave. Orange, CA  92865

Number:  (714) 505-1734    Website:  https://themainplace.com

  • Provides a food pantry for those in need and other social services, including information on financial assistance for bills, rent, and housing.

 
Catholic Charities of Orange County: Cantlay Food Distribution Center  (Se habla Español) 
Address:  3631 W. Warner Ave. Santa Ana, CA  92704

Number:  (714) 668-1130   Website:  https://ccoc.org

  • Offers food distribution for those in need every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30am-12:00 pm.


EV Free Fullerton (Good Samaritan Center)
Address:  2801 Brea Blvd.  Fullerton, CA  92835
Number:  (714) 529-5544   Website:  https://fullertonfree.com

  • Offers food distribution for those in need every Monday-Friday from 4:15 to 5:15 pm.


The Gary Center (Se habla Español) 
Address:  341 S. Hillcrest St.  La Habra, CA  90631
Number:  (562) 691-3263   Website:  http://garycenter.org/ 

  • Offers food distribution for those in need every Friday, from 9-11 am. Call for qualifications.


Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
Address:  8014 Marine Way,  Irvine, CA  92618
Number:  (949) 653-2900   Website:  https://www.feedoc.org

  • Second Harvest Food Bank works through a network of more than 300 non-profit partner agencies and programs to provide wholesome food and fresh produce to more than 250,000 hungry children, seniors, and families in Orange County every month.


If the above resources do not satisfy your living area or needs, or if you’d like to view other food bank resources, please visit this link, which lists Yelp’s Top 10 Food Banks in Orange County. Additionally, 211oc.org is a 24/7 free and confidential service which helps people find local resources that they may need, including bills/financial help, employment assistance, family care, clothing, health care, food banks, and so much more!

​

May 27, 2020

April 2020 – Wellness Center Central – Suggestion Box Comments and Responses

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! We, MAB and staff, have tried our best to comment on each suggestion/comment to meet your needs.  Please let staff or a MAB member know if your question/comment has not been answered and/or addressed. Thank you!

Suggestions

  • “Can we have more classes in the afternoon?”
  • We have already added additional groups in the afternoon. Better Days, DBSA, Choir, Comedy Hour and Poetry. Please join us!


  • “Can I teach Guitar Lesson?”
  • Thank you for your suggestion. Yes! Please contact Sohail and give more information.


  • “When will the center open up again?
  • At this point, we don’t know the date of our re-opening. We are waiting to hear what guidelines are set from the State/Local/CDC for a safe return. Once we open, we will share it with everyone.


  • “Are we going to have Social Outings when we return?”
  • Great suggestion. We will need to follow State guidelines, once we return will review and let everyone know.


  • “Can we watch a movie in a Web Group?”   
  • We will look into seeing how we can provide it over the WEB.


Staff Kudos

  • “Great staff. Program and staff are great!”
  • Thank you so much for the compliment.


Please call 714-361-4860 to talk with Sohail or email him at Sohail.Eftekharzadeh@pathways.com if you have any further comments, suggestions, questions or other concerns.

​​

​June 1, 2020

Written By: Shayda, Office Assistant
Goodbye May - Mental Health Awareness Month

“The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered there is opportunity for growth.” 
 
Thank you all for celebrating Mental Health Awareness month with us this year! Started in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA), the purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to fight stereotypes, provide care, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illnesses. Whether you joined the Fun Night In: Bingo Bonanza, discussed mental health with other peers, took a mental health test, reached out to your family or friends who are struggling, or practiced self-care this month, you have personally drawn awareness to a highly important area of well-being, Mental Health. 

Though May and Mental Health Awareness month are now officially over, we would like to encourage you all to continue breaking down the stigma against Mental Health throughout the rest of the year and always! By sharing your story with family and friends that you know, love, and trust, you not only have a safe place to openly discuss your health, but also the ability to inspire somebody who might be facing similar adversities to take a stand and ask for help. You can also suggest that they try one of our classes to see if they would be interested in applying to become a member at the Wellness Center. 

Below are some suggestions to improve your mental health: 

Surround yourself with nice and trustworthy people 
Learn different techniques to deal with stress
Eat healthy meals
Drink plenty of water
Exercise regularly
Practice mindfulness
Make small, yet achievable goals 

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911.

You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA to 741741 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.​

April 29, 2020






























June 4, 2020

This week in Poetry we talked about recipe poems. Enjoy the poems and join the group every Wednesday at 3:45pm to get involved! 
























​

June 11, 2020

Written By: Shayda, Office Assistant

How to Make a Face Mask 

As we are just now getting accustomed to consistently wearing face masks in public, many different simple and effective ways to make our own masks at home have been published online! In this blog post, I will demonstrate 3 different ways for you to construct your own face mask with whichever design and style you choose to make! 

Please note that the information below does not refer to medical-grade face masks. 

1.  Bandana Mask - Easiest Way! 

Supplies You Will Need: 

  • A bandana or scarf
  • 2 rubber bands, or hair ties 
  • A coffee filter, paper towel, or a kitchen roll
















 


This is said to be the easiest method of making your own face mask. The CDC recommends folding your bandana in half, then folding it again twice, from both the top and bottom. Then, you will add a square piece of coffee filter, paper towel or kitchen roll (whichever you prefer or have laying around) which will be changed out in the future. Then, you will place the rubber bands, or hair ties, around your strip of material, and fold the material in towards the middle, tucking the ends into each other. Click here for a demonstration on how to properly use this method. 

2.  T-Shirt Mask
Supplies You Will Need: 

  • A T-shirt
  • Scissors
  • Coffee filter or paper towel (optional) 











​​
Ideally, you should choose a T-shirt that is 100% cotton and as opaque as possible. To begin, simply cut the bottom off from your T-shirt. The length of the material that you need should be the same as the length from the top of your nose to underneath your chin (around 7-8 inches). Then, you need to cut your T-shirt around 7 inches to make the ties for your face mask. Next, cut your ties so that you are able to retie them around your head. Adjust the mask until you get a snug fit. If you would like, you can also add a coffee filter or paper towel to your face mask, securing it with a safety pin. Click here for a demonstration on how to properly use this method. 

3. Sewn Mask - Most Challenging! 
Supplies You Will Need: 

  • Cotton fabric (10 x 6 inches) 
  • 2 x 6-inch pieces of elastic or rubber bands/hair ties
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle and thread
  • Scissors 
  • Pins
  • Thin wire (optional)















​​


First, cut your fabric to 10 x 6 inches. Next, place your two pieces of fabric on top of each other. Make sure the pattern that you would like on the front of your mask is face down. The piece of material facing up towards you will be the inside of your mask. Next, fold over the long sides of the material around ¼ inch. Fold the edges and stitch them so that your fabric will not fray and will stay together. Once you have hemmed along the length of your face mask, fold over the sides of your face mask around ½ inch and hem those sides too. Once you have created your hem, you can thread your elastic ties through the hem you have created. You’ll need a needle to do this so that you can poke the elastic through your hem. You could also add some thin wire into the top hem of your face mask to help you shape it around your nose. Click here for a demonstration on how to properly use this method. 

Please feel free to send us any pictures or videos of you participating in this arts and crafts activity or the face mask(s) that you made, as we would love to stay connected with you all during such a difficult time! 



Wellness Center Central                            Sohail Eftekharzadeh, Program Director (714) 361-4860
401 S. Tustin Street # C Orange, CA 92866

June 12, 2020

Wellness Center Central is excited to announce member Kate L. recently got two books copyrighted and is awaiting them to be sold by the end of the year. Congratulations to Kate on the hard work and an amazing accomplishment!





















May 13, 2020





















Do You Know Your Tools2Thrive?

While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. The good news is there are practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency - and there are ways that everyone can be supportive of friends, family, and co-workers who are struggling with life’s challenges or their mental health.

This May is Mental Health Month Wellness Center Central is highlighting #Tools2Thrive - what individuals can do daily to prioritize their mental health, build resiliency in the face of trauma and obstacles, support those who are struggling, and work towards a path of recovery.

One of the easiest tools anyone can use is taking a mental health screen at mhascreening.org when they need answers. It’s a quick, free, and private way for people to assess their mental health and recognize signs of mental health problems.

This May, we are also exploring topics that can help you build your own set of #Tools2Thrive - recognizing and owning your feelings; finding the positive after loss; connecting with others; eliminating toxic influences; creating healthy routines; and supporting others - all as ways to boost the mental health and general wellness of you and your loved ones.

When it comes to your feelings, it can be easy to get caught up in your emotions as you’re feeling them. Most people don’t think about what emotions they are dealing with but taking the time to really identify what you’re feeling can help you to better cope with challenging situations. It’s ok to give yourself permission to feel. We also know that life can throw us curveballs - and at some point in our lives we will all experience loss. It may be the end of a relationship, being let go from a job, losing a home, or the death of a loved one. It is natural to go through a grieving process. By looking for opportunity in adversity or finding ways to remember the good things about who or what we’ve lost, we can help ourselves to recover mentally and emotionally.

It also is true that connections and the people around us can help our overall mental health – or hurt it. It’s important to make connections with other people that help enrich our lives and get us through tough times, but it’s equally important to recognize when certain people and situations in life can trigger us to feel bad or engage in destructive behaviors. Identifying the toxic influences in our lives and taking steps to create a new life without them can improve mental and physical health over time. And we know that work, paying bills, cleaning, getting enough sleep, and taking care of children are just some of the things we do each day - and it is easy to be overwhelmed. By creating routines, we can organize our days in such a way that taking care of tasks and ourselves becomes a pattern that makes it easier to get things done without having to think hard about them.

For each of us, the tools we use to keep us mentally healthy will be unique. But Wellness Center Central wants everyone to know that mental illnesses are real, and recovery is possible. Finding what work for you may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, it is possible to find balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, and physical health and mental health – and set yourself on the path to recovery.

For more information, visit www.mhanational.org/may.

​

June 4, 2020





















Greetings,

My name is Lamba Aziz-Hanifzai and I am the CEO of Qazizada Foundation, which is a Mental Health Clinic based in greater Los Angeles and Orange County area. Qazizada Foundation welcomes you all this Saturday, June 6th at 3PM to watch and listen to our guest speaker Brandon Lee, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker discuss institutionalized racism in the United States and how Implicit Bias has impacted the lives of the Black Community. Mr. Lee will address how to support the Black community and will provide mental health resources.

Mr. Lee's Biography: I am a black male from Alabama, I have had the privilege of gaining many life lessons in the work I have done. My passion for human behavior started as being the oldest of three and attempting to understand my siblings and how our upbringing would ultimately mold us. Fast forward some years and I never thought that I would find myself attending the University of Hartford in CT studying psychology. I had always considered myself a people's person and felt this was a great way that I could learn to connect to an individual on a deeper and personal level. My college experience, with its ups and downs, provided this at times, sheltered boy, the opportunity to experience and see the world in a whole new light. My future work in mental health, case management, and substance abuse would continue to challenge me in new ways and create a desire for me to obtain more knowledge. After being out of undergraduate school, I decided it was time for something more. After deciding to continue my education, I relocated to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, School of Social Work, and obtained my Master’s in Social Work. Once that was completed I relocated back to the East Coast, Boston MA, and currently a Program Coordinator for Psychiatric Emergency Services at Boston Medical Center. Being in this current leadership role has let me enhance my role of working with a majority dual-diagnosis underserved population, who face many barriers such as homelessness, addiction, and poverty. As a black male, I feel honored and privileged to be a part of this fulfilling career and look forward to continuing to obtain knowledge, experiences, and insight to better serve this population.

You can watch the interview by clicking on the following link, which will direct you to the video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Qazizada-Foundation-101241024941032

Thank you,

Lamba Aziz-Hanifzai
Qazizada Foundation CEO