Greater Somerset County YMCA’s WELLTOGETHER Mental Health Newsletter Empowers Community Through Holistic Wellness

Community-Based Mental Health Initiative Kicks Off with Successful Open House Event

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, January 12, 2024 – This month marks the launch of the WELLTOGETHER Mental Health Newsletter, a community-based mental health initiative of Togetherhood®, led 100% by volunteers.

Greater Somerset County YMCA Association Board of Directors member and Somerset Hills YMCA Branch Board Chair, Dan McCauley, notes, “We can all benefit from enhancements to our lives that focus on wellness. The Y is the perfect venue for all to come together and embrace common needs. I am pleased that the Y provides a safe space and gives volunteers the latitude to pursue ideas for the betterment of the community.”

Dedicated to fostering mental health and wellness within the community, the newsletter provides valuable resources, member spotlights, wellness tips, and details on upcoming events.

“Being a part of the Y mental health initiative is very personal and important to me. When the opportunity to join the Togetherhood® community and be part of the mental health initiative arose, it was an opportunity for me to give back and be of service. Many of us struggle with the daunting effects from burnout – something I am personally familiar with – which could lead us down the road of helplessness and hopelessness,” says Nancy Lee, Somerset Hills YMCA Board Member. “My hope is that this initiative will do two things: help those who are struggling and maybe even prevent those from ever heading down that road, and obliterating the stigma of mental health.”

On January 6^th, WELLTOGETHER hosted an open house at Somerset Hills YMCA, serving as a vibrant kickstart for the new year. The event aimed to support mental health and wellness, creating a space for balance, positivity, and community engagement.

Attendees had the opportunity to experience the therapeutic presence of four friendly therapy dogs, offering comfort, joy, and moments of relaxation. The make-a-bracelet station allowed the community to express creativity while contributing to a shared sense of well-being. Centered around the theme “intentions” for the new year, participants selected their word of the year, planting it onto seed paper to be planted and nurtured into growth. Transforming their chosen word into a wearable bracelet, they embarked on a journey to carry their intentions throughout the year.

A highlight of the open house was the 2024 Intentions Banner, where the community added their goals, dreams, and positive affirmations, collectively envisioning energetic and inspiring visions for the year ahead. The act of writing their chosen word on the Intentions Banner became a mosaic of hope and opportunity, symbolizing a shared vision for the community’s collective journey ahead.