Mental Health Awareness Month: Brooklyn Center Counselor Gives Tips To Cope With COVID-19

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. A Brooklyn Center counselor gives us some tips on how to cope with the many concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This pandemic mentally impacts everyone on some type of level,” said licensed professional clinical counselor Tanya Young and owner of Peace Be Still counseling.

Young mainly works with African immigrants and underserved and marginalized communities, who do not typically utilize counseling.

“I’m really cautioning our people of color away from suffering in silence, and this strong black mode where you have to be so strong, everything is strong. You know, strength is reaching out for resources,” said Young.

During the stay-at-home order, Young teamed up with Brooklyn Park-based African Career, Education and Resource Inc. (ACER)group to offer virtual counseling services. They call the program Wellness Wednesdays.

“It’s allowing people to really dig deep in and really disclose how they’re really feeling,” explained Young.

Statistics show one in five adults in the U.S. has a mental illness. Young says we all have to be aware of our mental well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She suggests doing a self-check with your emotions daily.

Mental Health Advice: “Honor Your Feelings”

“Honor your feelings. That’s a big thing. We don’t give ourselves permission to feel vulnerable or permission to say ‘I was scared today,” said the counselor.

The Brooklyn Center counselor suggested these tips for to help with mental health:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

• Practice deep breathing
• Make sure you are eating right
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise

Young also recommends having a positive mindset.

“This is a time of rediscovery. It’s not what’s going on, it’s how you’re looking at it,” said Young.

Peace Be Still is located at 3220 County Road 10 Suite 131 in Brooklyn Center

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