Director's Note Edition #74 - Mental Health Tips

October 10 marked World Mental Health Day and this year’s campaign focused on recognizing mental health as a universal human right. At a time when current events, social media, and our conversations feel heavier than ever, I’m grateful for the opportunity to check on my own mental health and the health of the GenSpace community.?

This week, GenSpace shared five mental health tips for older adults. Research has shown staying physically active, maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in a diverse set of cognitive activities, staying socially connected, and expressing your creativity all help increase and maintain positive mental health.

But, what happens when one or more of those habits gets out of alignment? At GenSpace, I’ve been lucky to witness first-hand how our community shows up for our members. When a member takes a week off from visiting, it’s their GenSpace friends who check in on them and invite them back – and the same can be said about our staff and instructors.?

Our western culture is deeply individualistic – we rely less on community and as a result we can often feel alone. There’s a reason why consistent research shows that community and connection are key to a long, healthy life. We are not meant to do everything alone – even the most simple gesture can make a world of difference, especially for someone who is struggling. If you’re a food lover like me and aren’t sure how to help, I was reminded that even a home-cooked meal can be enough to make someone feel a little less alone.?

I hope you can take some time for your mental health this weekend and if you’re feeling mentally strong, I invite you to reach out to someone else!

The Director's Note is a weekly newsletter from Jennifer Wong, PhD, Director of the?Wallis Annenberg GenSpace. At GenSpace, we reimagine aging through wellness, connection, and lifelong learning — all in a vibrant, inclusive community space. We help change the outdated national conversation around aging — how we think and talk about it. Follow us on?Instagram?and?Facebook.