Strengthening Our Community (SOC) is a collaborative group of individuals from our community with the goal of building relationships and creating capacity to become a self-healing community through mental health awareness and decreasing the social stigma surrounding mental health, as well as distribution of resources for mental wellness.

Each October (aka SOCtober) and May (aka Mental Health May) a rigorous effort is made to build resilience (capacity to recover from difficulties) and self-healing strategies for those living in and around Wagner. Efforts include distributing the suicide hotline number, providing mental health challenges, and sponsoring sock drives.

This year SOCtober will “kick off” with a wellness walk around Wagner Lake. Anytime between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, the community is invited to walk around the lake, taking in nature’s beauty, reflecting on things to be thankful for, finding forgiveness or whatever your mental health needs are. There will be special artwork from our community’s youth on display. Also, participants will be eligible for door prize drawings.

Watch the SOC Facebook page for “Monday Minis” which will feature short videos from the SOC committee with strategies on how to develop individual and community resilience. Resilience is the process of and skills for handling adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant stress. The following are ways are some resilience strategies:

• Resilient individuals and communities involve building connections and prioritizing relationships. Having trustworthy and compassionate individuals help us feel less alone and cared about. and so

• Taking care of your and so body and emotional needs in healthy ways is another resilience strategy. Good the co sleep habits, balanced diet, opportunities to exercise all contribute to our ability to handle stress. being

• Practicing mindfulness or other spiritual practices can restore hope and foster self-awareness.

• Psychologists have also found that resilience can be built when we help others, set and move toward goals, Contact and look for opportunities for self-discovery.

• Embracing healthy thoughts, such as finding Ericka K humor, accepting change, keeping things in perspective, and flexibility in thinking and problem-solving Connie K also help us be more resilient.

• Getting help when you need it is also crucial.

Need help now? The SD suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-8255. If you have not programmed this number into your phone or have it posted somewhere convenient, please do so now. You never know when you will need it for yourself or to help someone else.

Signature SOC socks, as well as silly socks, are available for purchase at Lavender Lane, Stems and Cells and both grocery stores. Socks sales help support SOC. They can be worn anytime to promote mental health wellness, to give as a gift with a balloon or bouquet to show someone you care or be worn in May when Silly SOC Day is celebrated.

For more information about SOC, contact Ericka Kotab at 491-0260, Connie Kaufman at 384-3418 or Jaycie Culbert at 760-1869.