Self-Help Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

Mind Your Holidays: A Season for Compassion, Connection, and Care

The Holidays Aren’t Easy for Everyone The holiday season often brings excitement, gatherings, and good cheer; but for many, it can also stir up feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and grief. At Population Health’s Healthy Minds Philly Initiative, we recognize that the holidays can look different for everyone. As part of our community commitment to mental well-being, we’re inviting you to Take the Pledge to Mind Your Holidays - to bring mindfulness, compassion, and care into every part of the season. Why "Mind Your Holidays" Matters Behind the glitter and festivities, some people [...]

Janine Monico2025-11-04T10:11:05-05:00November 3rd, 2025|Awareness, Holidays, Self-Help|

BlazeBorn Band: AMLA Summer Music Graduates Rock and Roll

HealthyMindsPhilly interviewed BlazeBorn‘s band members after they performed at a local event. Elizabeth Melendez (15), Layla Delarosa Adrian (15), Inesanned Santiago (16), Nicolas Castillo (16), Zahir Cordero-Severino (18), Genesis Garcia Vega (15), and Daniela America Soriano Gonzalez (19) met while attending Esperanza’s AMLA Summer Music program. Although they have been playing together for just seven months, the band’s seven members feel “pretty close.” At AMLA program, music is more than just notes and lyrics-it’s a lifeline for young people seeking connection, self-expression, and personal growth. The impact of their songwriting [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:25:02-04:00July 21st, 2025|Family & Youth, Mental Health, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

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. [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-08T15:53:31-04:00July 8th, 2025|Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Self-Help, 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 [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:26:14-04:00May 13th, 2025|Depression, Lived Experience, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|