We are living in the midst of a mental health crisis. Prolonged effects of COVID-19, disconnect in an increasingly virtual world, and social injustices impact each and every one of us.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 5% of the adult world lives with depression. In the United States, 19.1% of adults live with diagnosable anxiety, and 22.8% have experienced some form of mental illness.
Barriers to adequate mental health care are many – societal, cultural, and personal. As a therapy practice, we witness many of these hurdles firsthand.
In 2017, we first launched The Resilient Brain Project (RBP), to help create a world with more accessible healing options.
A Comprehensive Library
The Resilient Brain Project is a website with resources for twelve mental health struggles and related topics. It spans the struggles of trauma, depression, identity and discrimination, anxiety, grief and loss, stress, body image, sexuality, and more. Within each topic are five categories – Actions For Now, For Allies, You’re Not Alone, Master the Subject, and Advocate.
Each category contains website articles, guided meditations, interactive pages, statistics, help lines, and other useful tools. We understand that mental health struggles impact the individual, their loved ones, and extended network. Also that family members, partners, co-workers, and acquaintances impact those who are struggling.
As such, we created these five categories with the intent to support, educate, and promote overall healing.
Interactive and Accessible Mental Health Support
The goal of The Resilient Brain Project has always been to help make mental wellbeing tangible and accessible to all. The worksheets, websites, and videos that are shared within RBP are looked over by our team to ensure that they are free and not promotional in nature. Instead, they are resources that can be used, in any given moment, by those accessing them.
This past summer, we updated our website for RBP and are excited to share it in a new, more easily accessible, and interactive format. Within its design and details, The Resilient Brain Project is made to be a bridge and a helping hand.
For many reasons, people can be unable or unwilling to begin therapy. So our hope is that RBP can help them learn, know that they are not alone, and incorporate healing tools, should they wish.
This month, we are also launching Resilient Brain Project Learning Labs – monthly virtual workshops offered with an equitable pricing model.
Learning Labs
In every workshop, a clinician on our team will focus on one topic from RBP. Learning Labs are organized into three sections – education, experiential learning, and support.
Beginning with a look into the science behind a mental health topic, they will bring insightful information to attendees about how they or loved ones may be impacted.
During the experiential learning portion, attendees will be guided through an activity (breath pattern, worksheet, etc.) that leverages the science of our nervous system.
Lastly, during an open discussion, participants can ask questions to receive support or help connect loved ones to support.
It is important to note that our Learning Labs are not therapy groups. They are education and empowerment-based workshops. Should someone require immediate help, please utilize this list of emergency resources.
Our Mission
Our goal is for the Resilient Brain Project to reach 100,000 people by September 2028. Whether RBP is a first step towards prioritizing wellbeing, an education tool to support a loved one, or utilized to enhance clinical work – the thought of a world where more individuals have been educated and empowered around mental wellbeing is the kind of world we want to know.
Will you join us in this goal?
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Sign up for a Resilient Brain Project Learning Lab or access The Resilient Brain Project. To connect with a trauma-informed clinician who can guide you towards improved mental health, contact us at info@vivapartnership.com.
About The Authors:
Dr. Julie Lopez is the founder of The Viva Center. Social worker, entrepreneur, and author Dr. Julie has over twenty-five years, of experience in the field. Her passion, expertise, and vision drive all of our operations at Viva.
Mary Grace Comber is the Client Specialist at The Viva Center. She supports our clients and clinicians through administrative and intake processes. She also organizes our Holistic Professionals Group and social media presence.
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