About Janine Monico

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

Nature-Based Therapy Tools for Enhancing Well-being

Connecting with nature is important for your well-being. For many of us, being in contact with nature can help us feel better. Some often report feeling better after doing activities outdoors or even when caring for plants indoors. According to the National Institute of Health, “Being outdoors in nature can be health-promoting, can decrease depression, and increase mental well-being.” Nature-based therapy, also called ecotherapy, green therapy, or horticultural therapy, uses nature as a tool for healing. It is part of holistic approaches to maintain our well-being and improve our health. [...]

2025-07-08T15:53:31-04:00July 8th, 2025|Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

Recovery After Strokes: Ignacio’s Story

Ignacio is a 50-year-old Argentine tango dancer and instructor. He moved to Philadelphia less than two years ago from Argentina to live with his partner, Meredith. Their life together took an unexpected turn in March 2024, when he suffered a life-threatening cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The Day Everything Changed On March 9, 2024, Ignacio was at home with Meredith when he began to feel ill. He lost mobility and his gaze became blurred. After emergency services arrived, Ignacio was transferred to Temple University Hospital, where his life was saved with an [...]

2025-05-20T09:46:25-04:00May 20th, 2025|Awareness, Lived Experience, Stress|

Tango Into Community

Meredith is a renown tango performer and teacher with deep roots in Philadelphia. Her talent has taken her dancing all over the world, but now she is at home running the Philadelphia Argentinean Tango School in Fishtown. For 26 years, tango has been her anchor, providing a sense of belonging that had long eluded her. "Tango has been the first long-term consistent community that I have been part of," Meredith shares, highlighting the profound effect this dance form has had on her well-being. Her childhood was marked by loss and [...]

The Power of Social Tango Dancing: Community, Growth, and Calm

During summer, Philadelphia comes alive with festivals and public events, giving residents many chances to try new activities. These celebrations help people discover things that can enhance their well-being and bring global cultures into the city through music, food, art, and community gatherings. These occasions are a great time to embrace social dancing. A fun way to enhance overall well-being, social dancing offers physical, mental, and social benefits—such as increased confidence, reduced stress, and new friendships. To help Philadelphians discover how social dancing can improve health and happiness, HealthyMindsPhilly visited [...]

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