This week we are celebrating Mental Health week and we will be sharing all the ways we help build mental wellness and resilience. While mental health is a vital part of our well-being every day of the year, we’re taking this opportunity to deep dive into the subject and explore the powerful connection between movement and mental health.
Have you ever gone for a walk to clear your head? Done yoga to relax? Lifted weights to relieve frustration? You’re onto something!
Research has shown that physical activity is highly beneficial for our mental health, in addition to providing many physiological benefits.
As part of our commitment to providing whole-person care at Covenant House Vancouver, youth have access to spaces like our gym, fitness room, and wellness room, that are dedicated to improving mental and physical well-being.
Here, youth are able to connect with youth workers and take part in a variety of activities from spirited team sports that foster friendly competition to quiet meditation, trauma-sensitive yoga, and stretching. Individuals have the opportunity to not only strengthen their body but to set goals, create routines, practice self-care, and embrace various relaxation techniques while enjoying the peace and calm that surrounds them.
But our commitment to movement and care for the body, mind, and spirit extends beyond the walls of Covenant House Vancouver (CHV). Through our Excursion program, dedicated volunteers lead youth on bike rides along the seawall, and take them on nature walks that include sweet treats like bubble tea or ice cream. These outings combine the benefits of physical exercise with a connection to nature and moments of joy in the outdoors.
While approximately 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year, access to resources and care can be difficult. Our commitment to mental health at CHV extends beyond physical activity, encompassing a holistic approach to health and wellness that addresses the unique needs of each individual.
Together, we’re working to create judgment-free, safe spaces where youth are empowered, valued, respected, and loved—one step, one stretch, and one breath at a time.