National Wellness Week starts today!

SAMHSA, the federal Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services, is the sponsor for National Wellness Week, September 17-23, 2012.

To celebrate National Wellness Week, Northern Lakes CMH is sharing ideas on improving wellness on the flat screen monitors located in our lobbies all week. The ideas came from people attending our most recent Action Group meeting. The group looked at SAMSHA’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness (which are listed below) and shared lots of specific things they do in each area to improve their wellness. In addition to sharing the ideas in the lobbies, we’ll be including some of the ideas here. Check back daily to learn more!

Wellness means overall well-being. It incorporates the mental, emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of a person’s life. Each aspect of wellness can affect overall quality of life, so it is important to consider all aspects of health. This is especially important for people with mental and substance use disorders because wellness directly relates to the quality and longevity of your life.

SAMHSA’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness:

  1. Emotional—Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
  2. Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
  3. Financial–Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
  4. Intellectual —Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
  5. Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work
  6. Physical—Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods and sleep
  7. Social—Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
  8. Spiritual—Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life