Crestwood Employee Center
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we are proud to say that at Crestwood, we champion mental health every day! Crestwood’s mission is mental health. We live and breathe recovery. We lead with our values: Family, Compassion, Commitment, Enthusiasm, Flexibility, and Character. We lead with our Pillars of Recovery, helping people to discover Hope, Empowerment, Spirituality, and Meaningful Roles. We lead by example, utilizing for ourselves the very tools we provide the people we serve: WRAP, DBT, CRM, Zumba, Heart Healthy Diets and more.
From our homelike, Trauma-Informed environments to our compassionate care, Crestwood is leading the way in the field of behavioral health. And we’re growing! We are proud to be offering crisis services in San Francisco at our new Geary Stabilization Unit, which opened April 28.
This May, we will be represented at NatCon25, the largest mental health and substance use conference taking place in Philadelphia, PA from May 5 – 7. Crestwood is also proud to sponsor Peerpocalypse, an annual conference for peers and supporters happening May 5 – 8 in Seaside, OR. And of course, Crestwood is once again sponsoring and participating in several NAMIWalks throughout the state: Sacramento (May 3), Fresno (May 10), and San Francisco (May 17). We will also be at the California State Capitol on May 14 for Mental Health Matters Day. We are proud to be active in our communities, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month!
And we are proud of our entire Crestwood family! Thank you for the tremendous care you provide for the people we serve! We couldn’t help people on their recovery journeys without all of you, from our clinical teams to our culinary departments, to our housekeepers and recovery coaches, to our start-up team and recreation staff, you all have a meaningful role at Crestwood. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to wellness. We greatly appreciate all of you!
By Patty Blum, Chief Operating Officer
As we continue to grow and evolve as an organization, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging here at Crestwood Behavioral Health. These principles are integral to our mission, values and everyday practices. As stated in our Diversity Plan, our commitment is to increase equity and inclusion through the practice of cultural humility. It is crucial for us to create an environment where every individual feels recognized, respected and appreciated for who they are.
This year marks the 5th year since the creation of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team, and each year, we seek new ways to enhance our understanding of current practices while also exploring innovative ways to improve our efforts. We are always seeking dedicated individuals who are enthusiastic about fostering a workplace that prioritizes belonging and makes a meaningful difference for the people we serve, employ, and our communities. If you would like to get involved, please email belonging@cbhi.net. Thank you for being part of this journey!
As we celebrate National Nurses Week, we extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible nursing staff here at Crestwood! Established by the American Nurses Association (ANA), National Nurses Week is observed annually from May 6 to May 12 to recognize and honor the unwavering dedication, compassion, and expertise that nurses bring to every aspect of the health care field.1 During this week, we want to take this time to acknowledge the exceptional work that our nursing staff and medical professionals contribute every day.
Dear nurses,
Your reassuring presence, advocacy, and resilience have a profound impact on the lives of the people we serve. Your contributions play an important role in helping Crestwood provide compassionate care, inspire hope, and champion empowerment and recovery for others. Working in the mental health field requires deep empathy, patience, and tenacity; you show up with all of these qualities and more! In moments of crisis for persons served, your adaptability and solution-focused medical support reflects an unparalleled proficiency that brings restoration to others. You are a pillar of support for those experiencing mental health challenges and a treasure to our organization! Whether you are offering a listening ear, collaborating with team members to create a care plan, or helping persons served regain emotional stability, your impact is immeasurable! You are greatly appreciated, today and always! Thank you for your heart to serve others!
With gratitude,
Your Crestwood Family
On May 7,1986, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5472, commencing the special observation of National Barriers Awareness Day.1 May 7 is a day dedicated to dissolving stigma and creating a more inclusive society anchored in equal opportunities and accessibility for all. With the sole purpose of championing disability advocacy, National Barriers Awareness Day has highlighted different areas of society that present both physical and systemic hurdles.2 As a predecessor to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, National Barriers Awareness Day helped encourage a vigilance for social disparities, and over the years, has influenced society to be more cognizant of new and emerging barriers as humanity evolves through technology and innovation. Ultimately, National Barriers Awareness Day echoes a clarion call for action, accommodation, and social integration.
For Crestwood, National Barriers Awareness Day serves as a powerful reminder of the invisible and visible obstacles that many people face, including persons served. At Crestwood, we are barrier breakers! Through the meaningful work of our Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network (DEN) and our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team (EDIT), we break stigma and build bridges of support, access, and inclusion. We cultivate stigma-free environments for staff and the people we serve and prioritize helping individuals with disabilities succeed in Crestwood and beyond. Whether it is social limitations that impact peer employment or limited mental health services in local regions, at Crestwood, we leverage our resources, programs, and recovery services to help others experience victory in these areas and more! Truly, we strive to ensure that all individuals receiving our mental health care are seen, heard, valued, and supported! This pursuit to promote wellness and recovery would not be possible without our remarkable staff! Thank you for helping us break down barriers!
Walking has many health benefits, including weight loss, reduced cholesterol and blood pressure, better heart health, improved sleep, and increased energy. But the positive effects of walking are not just physical. The mental health benefits of walking are equally impressive:
- Better mood
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Depression symptom reduction
- Cognitive improvement
- Boost in self-esteem
- Connection and social interaction when walking with others
When you consider all the ways that walking can improve your overall health, it’s easy to get motivated to start a walking routine! Try to get outside and walk for at least 20 minutes a day and see the difference it makes.
Try this walking meditation the next time you go for a walk:
Focus on your body’s movement. Feel the sensation of your arms swinging. Notice the rhythm of your feet touching the ground beneath you. Pay attention to the cadence of your breath. Now notice your surroundings, utilizing your senses. Can you spot some flowers? Do you hear the birds in the trees? Do you smell freshly cut grass or moist soil? Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, or the cool breeze in your hair. Immerse yourself in this moment, here and now. Feel energized and refreshed!
May 1 – 31: Mental Health Awareness Month
May 1 – 31: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 6: National Nurses Day
May 7: National Barriers Awareness Day
May 11: Mother’s Day
May 26: Memorial Day
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