Janine Monico, Author at Healthy Minds Philly®

About Janine Monico

Janine Monico is a digital marketing consultant who has managed the Healthy Minds Philly initiative website since 2015.

Dancing for Mental Health

Every Friday evening, music and laughter fill the halls of the Polish Home in Philadelphia. At 7 p.m., seven women get together to dance, share stories, and keep their cultural heritage alive. But the Friday dance meeting is not only about tradition and movement. It’s also about community, connection, well-being, and mental health. Did you know that dancing and socializing with friends offer significant mental health and well-being benefits? Dancing can boost your mood, reduce stress, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. The physical activity of dancing releases endorphins [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:26:55-04:00January 30th, 2025|Community, Lived Experience, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

The Graham’s Example of Service for Community and Personal Well-being

Bonnie and Gary Graham are two busy retired Philadelphians. They always knew their retirement would be anything but sitting around. With their professional responsibilities behind them, they have dedicated themselves to a life of service. Their missions? Supporting gun violence prevention in Philadelphia, and building homes for Native Americans living on reservations. "Volunteering gives our lives meaning," Bonnie explains, her voice strong with passion. “It is very important for me to connect with people who have different experiences because they enrich our lives." Garry agrees, "There is something incredibly fulfilling [...]

Janine Monico2025-01-29T08:39:07-05:00January 28th, 2025|Community|

Recovery from Opioid Use: How John Did It

John, a 73-year-old man, lives a comfortable family life in one of Philly’s great neighborhoods. He is healthy, funny, loves the Eagles and Italian restaurants. His neighbors appreciate his willingness to help and love chatting with him when he walks his dog. But John didn’t always live this way. His long-healed injection scars tell the story of his recovery. “I started using heroin as a teenager in the 1960s,” John said. The high helped him avoid stressors. “I didn’t need to care about anything. It made me feel calm in [...]

Janine Monico2025-01-29T08:51:49-05:00January 23rd, 2025|Addiction & Recovery, Lived Experience|

A Journey to Well-being through Gardening

Daniel, a passionate gardener, knows about the healing power of gardening for the body and the soul. He started gardening when his kids were born. “[My wife] was big on making sure the kids ate healthy,” he said. He did not know at first that he was so good at it, but soon it became clear that Daniel had a green thumb. “I failed a few times. It was frustrating because I didn't know the things you can do to make something great.” So Daniel watched YouTube videos and asked [...]

Janine Monico2025-01-21T12:28:01-05:00January 17th, 2025|Mental Health, Self-Help|

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