Good evening, I'm Kate Barrow community engagement specialist with the North Carolina division of mental health developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.

Welcome to the division scoop for managing stress series, I'm honored to participate in this important conversation with you, consumers and family members and stakeholders in the state.

I'm grateful for PBS North Carolina and the governor's institutes, partnership and collaboration and presenting this series has skipped for stress.

School for stress is an evidence-based practice model for managing stress.

At important to make sure that you're taking care of your mental health.

Behavioral health is a core to our overall health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic there's an extraordinary amount of stress on us and it's normal that people are experiencing at behavioral impacts because of that.

These are actions that you can take and resources available to you to help you maintain your mental health and specific steps you can take regularly to improve and maintain your mental well-being.

These will be discussed this evening and throughout the part five-part series.

First scoop for stress.

I'd like to welcome our presenters for this evening we're starting with S in this in scoop.

Stay connected.

Lori Coker Lori is a North Carolina certified peer support specialist, she's also the director for executive director for Green Tree pier center and a retired registered nurse.

>> Lori has been a valuable advocate for the public mental health system in North Carolina for many years.

Welcome Lori thank you for being here.

Pam is also joining us.

Pam, good ine she's also North Carolina certified peer support specialists currently working for Forsyth County stepping up program.

She also does training for our peers heart specialist in North Carolina.

Welcome Pam, thank you and if you haven't already please follow us you can follow North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on facebook twitter and instagram if you're tuning in tonight and would like to be part of this conversation.

Use the hashtag scoop for stress.

So Pam and Lori I'd like to turn it over to you now.

To get started on our topic for tonight.

>> Okay.

Good evening, everyone, my name is Pam didn't.

Thank U K for the injured a shame, maybe it's.

The government is to to change its air is the DH is.

It depicted to be able to be here today and to be present he state could make it.

>> So what we would be talking about today will be tension of 4 different points.

We would be to finish and real experiences with others can a beat down now.

Being each of these labs would consist 60.

It's where is creating new meaning together.

In the past not to Larry.

>> Thank you if you could forward the sides place.

So is Pamela saying the the 4 points we're going to talk about sharing real experiences with others, what that means is mutuality experiencing something together.

Connecting through a real dialogue.

Being in each other's last consistency and creating new meaning together.

Next slide please.

So staying connected to friends and family it it just seems like a real obvious logical thing we all say that we know a lot about up the importance of this and yet we're moving into and you're aware because of social change is technology making of our relationships be redefined through distances because of social media.

And because of actual true isolation related to our experience for a lot of the pandemic we're having to rethink what this really looks like what what staying connected really is and isn't just a feel-good thing yeah, it's absolutely critical to our health and our mental health and there is research that shows that when folks research done with elderly people that also down across the age fans shows the folks who are not connected socially with other people who are living in isolation.

We'll have a higher incidence of significant health care problems and you can imagine that if you aren't and of the social vacuum, you don't have.

Drivers relationships involved in your life you lose some motivation to take care of yourself so it makes a lot of sense if you think through this.

So there are there are some low research related to some resort to the bottom of the slides.

Next slide place.

So even before the pandemic hit there was a series of studies coming out showing.

That the consequences of social isolation.

Resulted in.

Besides the physical health issues are already talked about anxiety and depression being we'd only social isolation in a strong factor in that.

And because when you are in isolation it's raising 4 months you can kind of an echo chamber, sometimes of our negative thoughts and that that's going create not only are the kids that you're our brain chemistry is actually impacted by what we experience and by our thought process is so I decided to pressure an hour elevated when people staying to socially isolated.

Yeah thing that's interesting is that.

There are individuals who may have a harder time connecting in creating strong relationships.

They they may perceive.

They're already at risk of perceiving their even more isolated than 9 maybe so you know you can think of individuals who may be surrounded by loving family, but they still feel kind of isolated.

Well it is shown that that sense of isolation.

It just their perception of isolation does have some consequences on on their mental health.

Next time please.

So we probably should have created another slide for.

That's updated that what we do know already he's even by late June.

The impact of the epidemic pandemic.

Was already showing itself to increase levels and anxiety and depression.

Trauma and stress related disorders.

The increase in substance use.

And the increase in soon sell it e we're we know in our communities that.

Systems our hospital ladies.

Are being overloaded because of the increased across all these arenas center where the social determinants of health have been impacted.

At by you know.

The increase in incomes.

The increase of people having to be staying at home so much more together.

It has been more violence happening and how so there's always obvious ways that it's impacting behavioral health and today I happened to go out for a routine appointment with my doctor and she was talking about how much more mental health problem, she's saying and how much more should sing those be a factor in her patients.

Next time.

So this is where Pam joy going to be a lot of help in explaining some of what we learn.

I just wanted to mention that as people who have chosen to offer peer to peer support to others and we may really find that a meaningful role we're realizing had a mutuality the commonality of experience is something really we should draw on in relating to other people because it kind of helps to normalize can what we're going through and and can decrease the level of stress among us.

So.

That that first asked was it the first little boy we talked about was not sharing our experiences batters.

So the mutuality of this experience that we're all gone through together and helps to reframe our perspectives.

I I have a good friend here has struggle with autism and some other mental health challenges live long.

And he said that this situation of knowing everybody is struggling with isolation has made him feel a little bit better a little bit more like it's fully engaged citizen because everybody around them is experiencing somewhat his experience so it's kind of refrain for him but we're going through and he's feeling optimistic about getting through because he knows we're all in this together.

So any kind of reframe how you're looking at something it can help you help help you become were grounded.

Emotionally we're not so driven by all the confusing emotions as much as being able to kind of get the site.

They're not really they're still out there still does those emotions are there.

But you get to where you kind of can files and live alongside and push through a meaningful way.

So the refrain is really important and that happens largely through sharing our experiences with other people.

And you want to have some point you learn through your work and to your own experiences and your families about this.

Absolutely.

>> And so way before the pandemic even took place it was so important that we stay in touch with there it's you know I have now from Al Paris no way an estate helping to people about things that I was experiencing.

Yeah, we believe the Phillies at was having and I have noticed with the people that him some point in the stepping up program when they open up and they talk about things it's sort of have spam I honestly believe that the pandemic is proven to cause more people to its fans to predation is with his isolation.

You know bad as having a curfew I haven't not been able to get back to the best of my son doing but things that we're so used to going.

You know cause some people that does did not have it then noses to experience some isolation, but Billy that you know with this pandemic we have how they're using tools.

We are up against and to which any of us to say can make this age is social media and his own weakness and Micah, some team meetings and so whatever lies is that no matter what is going on.

You know enough.

The next tree around us.

We get into a place in which we need to tell us so we have to take that responsibility to actually pick up the phone and call someone or either pick up the telephone and take someone.

But we don't have to be alone and we don't have to suffer and in the nation.

And you know he she helps when at really some of the feelings that I'm having you know and was so meaningful of that right there is day when the person disappoint lay is a scene is me and they're not sitting there waiting to come up with an answer and so it's very important to me as well as so many other people that the person that we can can we have these actually listening to as and allow us to get our thoughts and feelings out with that being interacted.

Thank you.

Next slide.

It's one of the.

>> The things that I find it.

That that we struggle with what we're trying to learn how to connect with people then we may not usually had his partner was in it you know in our routine lie.

Is is that feeling that we feel compelled to has something in common or to already be able to relate about certain things or we just get nervous because we're not sure you know what we're going to be able to say this person we may not know someone who could actually benefit a lot of being connecting with us and likewise we can benefit so much by connecting to somebody else we may not know so much and so I I consider just some simple things about relating to boats that or we can to not think about but it really is all right to just kind of be honest and real and I think at this point it's interesting as I think back to when we first did this presentation a few months back.

I think by now a lot more folks have come to a place where they are able to share on a story about the frustrations of going to all this and they realize that you know what it takes a look I'm gonna put myself out there for this conversation so learning how to take a little risk that they really honest and transparent with each other is so important right now.

And the other thing that's really important is that.

You know just talking about the simple routine stuff that we have to deal with it just started that they experience is.

It it helps us to farm with each other just a little things we do to kind of keep a rythm to are a lot because humans really depend on rhythms in order to kind of.

To stay healthy to frame how we use our time to ditch determine what we want that rhythm to the dress in other words.

You know eating certain times getting some of the hours of sunlight in a week and I say we because very few of us are getting more than an hour today right now, but.

It does little simple things daily life right now are are good things to be talking about each other and so it doesn't it's not like we have to know exactly what to say when we connect with somebody.

We just connected be Realty check with each other.

I think you want to add on that.

>> I agree is very important is okay to be transparent to be real.

You know no matter where it's going how we you.

>> It's a point that you fan the right person to support you so bitter at this elite 8 and a plan to protect.

Am I and that is very important to have more than one supporter.

France is that release fad you know that way at one right now one person Sharon is a thing that it hurts and over and over again.

But I have multiple people that tell 200 telephone every share one thing with the other person and get their thoughts and ideas about that right there and then share something that someone else.

But like you said, is so important that we are comfortable when we are connecting with people.

We don't want to have it does convey.

So security we want to do it they have to do if and those people it's an age thing this into you have your best interests at heart.

>> So Pam you mention something I think it's important to kind of break out and talk about a little bit more you said you use wrap and we probably have some people who don't know what rap is can you talk a little bit what wrap stands for and how somebody can use that every day in their life.

Okay we >> so ramps on the air and put the weapon it's Rick every it simply an it was created by Mary Ellen kopan is some of the people who are learning how want to learn have to manage their own dad noses.

Mariam happened to go to when I heard about this and he promised to have the answer for her, but when she get bank he didn't have the NSA so she began to us and networking cnns and surveys asking people what works for you and do that right there.

Mary Ellen covid was able to create a curriculum and wish the presidency has actually added a fast things just going to have them.

So it consists of the rallies to Boston where it is to box things day.

We made.

Day helps it throughout the day 10 it can be.

So what is getting a bad debate in opening up the curtains that.

Or even in this.

This maelstrom the trees or to air.

You know, so it says some things and we do on a day-to-day basis, you know it's basically like him and his schedule and they've been able to act in fact those things that may take place day was chase you out and coming up with a plan so they it those stresses to come.

You would not have a bad we Chanel response to them and so rap is I am with his base pranked is meeting made it in the Senate is reckoned that has.

>> Thank you I think it was I can't remember if it was last week or the week before to say I share this when I talk to people that time just kind of feels a little bit blurred right now.

And I think when when we started doing this when director Victor Armstrong had introduced ask you for stress.

We did that whenever that was he actually talked about how one of the things he does is he has a day where he calls people and I think that's a really good point to make that if you're not used to contacting reaching out to people just picking a day where you you call somebody who is important to you or you call a friend is one way to start incorporating wrap into and staying connected to people into your schedule.

Some some of us need things that are written down in time to write we need to have those props to remember to do things we don't do.

And then we just kind of going to our or our habits that can help.

You are our habits that are not helpful in maintaining our stress that can just kind of cut us off from the rest the world like what kind of what Lori was alluding to a little earlier.

There was something I wanted to mention on on that slide that had the data about how people are responding to the stress of the pandemic.

That actually is still a city that's being conducted and write it in December that the study reported that now 36 to 37% of the participants in that particular group we're reporting anxiety and depression, so I think you know as we continue to see what studies are coming out of COVID-19 in the full impact will probably gather more information but I think you'll probably see that those rates are rising and that's kind of scary and sad at the same time.

Let's get back to what we're talking about before.

Lori.

Just a can.

>> Bill on some panelists sharing the wealth recovery action plan is simply.

Kind of a formulaic way of trying to learn.

Learn how to live with deliver C. Alarmed live with intention.

So that you're not overcome by everything going on you you still have some control because you have to create a plan and and to the victors comment.

Mister Armstrong's to comment.

Flying in to connect with people socially is really really important because if we just follow our moods.

Yeah.

Well we have a plan and that plan is based in our values, our values are staying healthy in supporting other people's health.

It makes it makes it really important and it can can can can be in action step toward our own well-being so but it brought that up ladies.

The next hot.

Sign here we're talking about the importance of dialogue.

The reason live conversation.

We sometimes kind of don't.

It's under right, how important can be that a real dialogue is where there's an effective exchange between 2 or more people of ideas.

And so the conversation it's really really important because it's a way we share meaning.

And >> it's it's.

I think it's so important right now during these times to think of the whole concept of dialogue.

We we don't have a lot of dialogue get talked that we get lots of imaging through our gadgets are devices.

We get lots of sound bites.

But right now we need more than sound bites from each other we need real dialogue and dialogue involves taking a risk of being real and then taking a chance on another person respecting our meaning our perspectives and so we just urge people to to move forward to take those little risks and and and go forth and hope to somebody else monsters see what you're saying to him.

It's just so important and we're kind of living in a world where we're come communication is changing so this kind of brings us back to some real basic simple idea of dialogue.

So this year and is therefore to be equalizing and it should be meaningful it makes a share the meaning well putting us all on a similar plane as humans so so low right side of my head yeah, thank you for mentioning that exciting to a lot of time since we are.

>> Doing in the live in our own homes and kind of separated from people.

It's easy to forget that sometimes people are going through the same thing that you're going through I think of parents a lot right now if you're hot if you're home.

>> With your cat your child and you're doing the remote learning.

And sum up some of its comedic rate some of it can be really funny and but it's real life and I think when you are able to share that with other people and you go through the stories of you know where are you hiding the chocolate in your house this week or how many times to try to lock the door so you could have 5 minutes by yourself like that.

Those are real experiences and being able to share those across different avenues it helps people normalize well I I'm going to that too and sometimes I sit in my car.

And my driveway, so I can have 5 minutes of peace and quiet I get that.

>> Suzanne do we have any comments or anything coming in on the chat.

>> So far so now we don't yet I send out a couple chats encouraging people to put their thoughts and comments and but yeah.

>> This is a great time if anybody's watching through facebook to share some of those stories maybe you have.

Similar experience if you're doing the remote learning, there's all sorts of horror stories we can tell about tactics.

It did they honestly, they're funny when it comes down to it they're funny and it's brings a little bit of joy to it and that's something we need to be able to share together right now it's a little bit of joy and humor.

So hopefully some folks will be able to comment and that maybe share story of of what you've gone through recently or something you like to talk about conversation starters.

>> Well another reason why I brought this up I was kind of surprised in the not surprised I thought through it one of the groups that was where there was seemed to be a lot of impact on their mental health.

Well as mothers having stay home with their children.

And we tend to not think of that.

Yeah into middle age mothers with children as struggling with social isolation, but if all those other demands are impacting them and they're not having as much time sometimes to connect with other adults and just have adult conversations and get the reassurance they name so when you think of that list of people at the highest risk of social isolation ironically we need to put young mothers there now, and so some of us who are is occupied with young children need to remember to reach out to some of those people are a lot of sun may be going through this and they've tried so hard to be strong to look strong for their children for their spouses and Partners for.

Other people and and inside there they're starving for something that they may not be getting so I brought that up but and and dads too I think there's also a lot of dads out there who >> in a dip and what the situation is as there's data also doing some split caregiving.

>> Our they're doing is the majority of the lift in caregiving and so there's isolation and that and it's not.

A social Norm to see a dad taking the child to a playground, but that is something that happens.

And so parents being able to connect with other parents is really important to yeah.

Thank you friend.

>> Highlighting that let's go Mets.

All right to the slides.

>> Being in each other's lives with consistency.

>> I mentioned the work related ability will it go.

We've built really natural and supportive relationships when we share with each other.

And especially when we share about this experience for all having together.

And sometimes you know I think there's a nervousness that how much time do I have to give to conversations outside of what I've got right in front of me.

Even really brief conversations that are feeling frequent can do so much to help somebody get through the week.

As as one who operates a peer support center was in Salem.

During covid when we first the first time the governor.

Everybody kind of has mostly at home.

And we close the pier center.

We contacted everybody a telephone and stay in touch, even though we were seeing each other face to face and I was surprised how it's not like you had to have a really really the converse of people were just happy to touch bases because it increases their sense of being part of a community.

So.

It's not like we're having to dig real deep with each other these times.

The reliability of what we're going through and just sharing a touching bases even briefly in some situations can go really long way so I want to encourage people to realize that.

I'm aware that there are some several church congregations kind of hopped into a mode making calls especially to the people who are more socially isolated elderly folks single individuals without the you know they just kind of jumped right into that early on during the pandemic and just a little touching bases through the week help somebody validates your role and a small community and that is someone or are socially.

Absolutely anything you want to add to that camera anybody else is >> and I agree staying connected.

Is so point you know with the pandemic a lot of base organization should Dow.

You know they stop meeting physically in said church building and the service changes have big and so tons for saying the school as we are is facebook glad church services and so you know with the church.

What has not been able to go into the church was still stay connected.

And it is so according to special for people of this to learn how to do something different with that as you know they're so used to.

Going into the church and they've managed it.

Now bad the pandemic is allowed is to cut HD could make 10 and so you know at that massive participate in a lot is only cows.

You know foulk House couldn't with him.

Throughout the week days.

And I also would like them each and and also do a owner Andrew with rain tree only says night Ko means we had his ways with AM and the group is basically about you know just that can make people together and so I have reached out to several people and you know they might change yet.

They may stay fed made it to 20 it is to the whole Al but it's definitely have been there increased awareness back connecting.

Well thank you I.

>> I want to just touch on something since you brought up mothers and.

In the last one we're talking in the last slide but there's a lot of women who have given birth this year.

And that's that's got to be a different kind of experience in itself and when you talk about postpartum depression and anxiety.

Touching base with new moms right now is be really something that would really help them just in general pandemic or no pandemic just reaching out and saying hey how are you doing are you holding up OK is everybody wants to know about the baby.

But just asking those questions about how that person is doing.

Make some really big difference to somebody.

>> It is.

>> When fewer people to celebrate those little life markers we have and yeah bank.

And that's that's pretty isolating when you have a newborn okay so things that we need to do to is really just kind of >> direct people where they can go for resources for thumbs that stuff like the hope for Hiller's oh yeah and North Carolina on you know our Web site.

Our team out list serves where we send out resources, Green Tree and various other things across the state we just need to really be conscious of now during this time that we really making a concerted effort of directing people to the resources that are available.

>> Absolutely yeah.

>> Yes, I believe several of those resources are listed further down our presentation but that's real good point we yeah we can learn.

People know what's out there now.

>> And definitely reaching out for the the hope for healers and hope friends see or contacting our division we we've done a lot of work to accumulate a lot of that information to help get it out quickly too so.

Yeah.

To go back to our site there we go.

>> So before we move into the slot comment.

I want to do one last thing we talked about dialogue, we've talked about can actually talked about conversation and communication a lot.

But I want to be sure we did not.

These people.

Not thinking about the importance of holding space for each other and by that I mean the kinds of conversations where we can listen and listen day point we don't necessarily feel compelled to talk a lot.

Can be some of the most healing conversations for talking with individuals who who are experiencing a lot of pain.

And Carol and I have both had some training in something called emotional CPR and you can Google that to learn more about it that it's it is an amazing it's an amazing trying to help us value.

What true deep connection can look like and how a lot of times it's not about us filling the space with learns a lot of times it is about us making somebody feel so safe.

Together that even a brief conversation.

They can just let out what's going on and now it's safe and know that we the listener doesn't have to have the answer.

Sometimes we just need to get it out safely.

So we can move on and that such an important concept the that we were reminded ethan's both of us this weekend kind of had every training recently so holding space for each other is an important part of connecting really is.

Thanks.

And you want to add some of that you recently really gotten into some of this trying so.

>> Absolutely so emotion that CPR was a great training.

It's already happened to be at on the ski areas of apparent other a peer support spaces.

Didn't and manna 8.

I mean Metro.

>> That may.

And >> face it added to and so by taking the ecp apart.

China and Italy have me to learn how to do this simple and not be they might hate thinking about what am I going to say makes you know it stays they talk about was going on with them it can make them with their heart to heart for says, you know they hate 8 inmates in the heart to hiking nation.

Really what they're saying and there I was standing there and get what they're saying they're not being judged.

But I did it as if we were left to go to just express was going now with in sales and talking through they will come up with the solution misses the face to problems.

>> And that's really empowering to when you are really taking the lead on how to come up with a solution to a problem you're facing that can be really empowering.

>> So we've had a couple comments come and Heather rigsby said it was an excellent point she's a mother of 3.

To town with virtual school and an 11 week-old full-time student herself as well.

Many five-minute breaks in the car in the driveway and then Shelley Straub says we have to remember that there are.

People out there who are grieving the loss of family members who have passed away due to covid and in many instances, they the family members died alone and the hospital or they have currently have family members in the hospital fewer line and can't see their family while they're going through these trying times.

>> Yeah I think just holding space for that in and of itself is really important because that eye.

That's it that's a heavy lift that grief is really heavy.

>> I really appreciate that comment being added into this question because the typical ways we move through letting go somebody we love our totally interrupted right now.

That's going to impact things.

3 months 6 months 2 years from now and what's going on in the lot and somebody who's lost.

I loved one to this.

This time period and then then the pandemic.

And I just.

I'm so glad that she brought that up and I just thank or or for adding that because we need to be aware we have not even seen always this is going to impact all this emotionally and the ongoing needs for people through loss.

So thank you for any man.

So I guess the next slide.

So basically this we've talked a little bit about kind of creating meaning together as we move through this to our connections.

They want to say wanted to ask so what are the things you're going to remember about 2020 or 2020 to 2021.

You know what I'm going to be the factors and he will be the people that you're going to recall who are involved and you're getting through all this.

>> His lies him he's going to be remembering.

You and some of the things you may have said or done to help them get through this time.

So it's really important to think about that that we have an opportunity to really impact each other's lives even while we're all part physically.

And so that's what we want to challenge each other to do through this webinar.

Nexen.

So Katie what I shore.

Thank you >> yes, so there's a lot of different ways that people can connect I think we've talked about them a little bit throughout the duration of our conversation.

Some of these things people are probably already doing and obviously right now with the weather being chillier port visits may not be the best thing to do.

Because it's cold.

But I remember over over the spring and summer I saw a lot of articles and videos coming out of people.

He would go out and set on their porch and they would talk to their neighbors and maybe they were talking to their neighbors as much before the pandemic but now that.

Now that we're we're distancing more we're we're feeling that isolation a little bit more those port visits really became kind of integrity to the community and that does help us create a sense of community.

Socially distant walks or if you use ability to roll taking a role outside.

We've got some beautiful parks and greenways in this state, the Parks Department has a wonderful.

Passport guy so and it's free to get you can pick that up on their website, no mail to you.

Doing virtual social meet ups.

So sometimes you hear about people getting together on a Friday night, I've got a friend who does karaoke on Fridays.

She has different yeah, it's I'm not and confident enough to join karaoke but >> and then some people that's their jam and that's what they like to do.

I do like the idea of the zoom dinner parties or virtual dinner parties I kind of bring your own bring your own meal set up the camera and just talk to each other and sharing a meal is very social.

So having that ability to do that while still being distant is is kind of fun.

Phone calls of course going back to phone calls.

I try to be mindful of people who are comfortable on the phone they prefer text messages there's a lot of folks who are now prefer those text messages and check ins on messenger apps.

In this particular side we included some of the options that are out there.

Obviously there's so much more that has come out since since the pandemic really started but these are some of the basic basic social media options that people can use.

I think whatever you're comfortable with is probably the place to start and then just reaching out to the people you want to talk to or feel comfortable talking to.

We try and in our family we do facetime sometimes we do the facebook messenger things.

You know group chats Saturday is my son's birthday and so we're having a virtual birthday party for him since families out of town so doing things that way to help connect it's it's kind of fun.

>> So Kate we had a really good comic come in from Diana Holland.

She said perhaps a little easier for younger folks as they can still see this as temporary, however older folks are really struggling with hiding in their homes so last of there lives missing their grandchildren growing et cetera hear a lot about not getting to enjoy the last part of their lives from older people.

>> I think that's very true and I think we need to let's and let's talk more about that I think that's something that we need to address more.

And being able to help grandparents conecta grandchildren and.

Early on actually wrote this down Lori we're going to talk a little bit about.

People who live in long-term care settings.

In fact that can be various ages, but definitely for older generations who may feel like.

This is like the you know the rest of my life is being spent inside it doesn't feel good.

I think that's a very valid point and how can we address that for people.

>> Well I think too because what older folks I mean I know I already I don't the neural networking to be able to adjust to all the changes with the technology.

I use technology to do that.

But.

I already have that sense of feeling kind of closed off from some possible ways that the rest the world is communicating because it's just too hard for me, and so I think that's another thing is that we're talking so much about technology that for people in their 60's 70's and 80's there somewhere else to be able to stay really quick with technology.

But it feels like the world has is starting to move past us.

And and yet that's becoming more of the stronger ways we've been talking of technology so much this in this nation at so I think that.

This is where my community is really important and this is where the people in your neighborhood, you know who may not be connected to the faith community.

I think some time to go knock on a door and talk to a door was I just let them know you're checking on because they're part of your neighborhood.

Yeah yeah we do need to be thinking a lot more.

Energetic about folks that there are aging out because they already even before the pandemic they face a set of issues we are to know from the mental health outcomes and dad all on sunset Valley, everything.

But those later years are challenging.

But this has made it really hard to to fund a wall that.

Special for those who don't use a lot of technology that we know have been a trait that so.

>> Will and no new even people that use technology at a minimal level just even dropping a card in the mail for people that are older that you know.

Can't get out don't use technology a lot and don't see people and just you know sticking a card in the mail just can make somebody's day and it doesn't take that much to when you're out if you have to go out to run and dollar tree or dollar general and by several cars and then just to come in the mail to people around them.

>> I love that I was you can.

>> The time it really resonated with me and that felt a sense of said MS. My grandmother birthdays today as she's being down.

It scares now and you know I just got to the said his days ago because I was like I really it's going to sit on my porch.

It's a different color on the telephone.

And a day.

You know grandchildren too.

But I'm able to connect with them.

Some older people.

They they may not have a support critics and they may even be a grandparent they made.

>> They have only known saying and so having that connection is so cool.

You know I remember learn to have to use a computer trying to get my daughters to teach me added it was doing everything for me.

>> And I was like no me showed me step by step and so I just want to encourage their first in that it didn't share to track you could make was so there's going to take their time.

And you have to use social media, I'm part of the scene quiet my church right and I didn't wish to marry.

Some people we have was a little meeting but they went down to the air due to people you might get a camera that they're not gonna you know, so yeah.

So some time as we just have to say I'm going to try something new this is what everybody else is doing.

I'm going to try to do so at see those little boy's face just to see this man now we bring great joy T to you but it could reach happily things really get bad better.

>> So I think to I really like the idea of trapping a card in the mail I think everybody likes to get mail.

I get really excited when.

Mailman come.

But it you know it's it's kind of it's not a novelty it's it's fun to get mail and I think at the beginning of the pandemic we saw a lot of people.

I saw it on facebook a lot that different long-term care settings were.

Starting pen pal programs with the residents that live in those places and you don't hear about that as much anymore, but I think if you are living in a community that has a long-term care setting near you.

>> You know calling them and find find out if if there's anybody there that needs some some interaction and drop a note in the mail or you know offered to talk to people.

Because that doesn't hurt to to reach out and say you know, I'd love to talk to somebody that maybe needs our conversation in their life and you might find somebody who really enjoys music or art and books and you can talk about those things and that is that brings joy to your life and it brings joy to their life.

And again going back to that humanizing this experience.

>> Even I find that there are many people and those facilities that don't have family exactly you know that you know and saying they had they were came from small families and everybody else was passed on the sides them so there.

There are a lot of older people are even younger people that just what really don't have family left.

Yeah absolutely.

>> Absolutely no one thing.

They people can do want to support some of the people who made my family is can take in the nursing homes and then and there.

He's live in that they do not have family members.

And they would give you a list of names, so whatever, and you could do something nice for them back on to the dollar store picking up.

The bagel of it he said things in it and dropping, you know.

Hall said this was such a 6% and that would bring a whole lot of joins smiles to their faces way >> yeah, there's lots of different ways to do that and I think all of them are really good.

I think Temple University and they do a lot of community inclusion we've talked a lot about and community inclusion and some of our other training so that really is part of staying connected as part of peer support as well.

And one of the things I read today that they they recommended they have actually a whole resource guide on how you can stay connected while being socially distant are physically distant from people that you care about and I like Gloria like that you brought up you know that knocking on your neighbor's door and just checking in on them and just being mindful of the guidelines of staying, you know 6 feet apart wearing a mask and just staying safe while you check in on your neighbors, it it can be done.

Just being safe.

Yeah.

>> Well, and just one quick thing again to say Suzanne comment about a card or letter.

The cool thing about that too is that it's tangible if you can hold in your hands and it signifies in a solid way that somebody cares.

You know, we're we're we're moving past job notice how many fewer.

Christmas cards we get them when you know what I'm for there were years when I would get 60 Christmas cards in the future and now you know it's it it may be 8 or 10.

The world is changing but I think folks who are of the person or a shuns really still value and appreciate getting something that can open up and rain and and pick it up again the next day or a couple of times they're so I brought that up.

So.

Let's say so what's next what are what are we talking about this and try to remember we are here for I our my my 5 yeah, my science a challenge.

We have a facebook page that was put together in partnership with the division and the Center for integrated as he's made them I Center for integrated health.

And I'm and community inclusion project here in North Carolina and then pure voice which is a statewide organization of people with lived experience of mental health challenges they want to help other people.

You know we gain mental health and vitality enjoy the last where we all came together we created a video kind of model after something that they do that in New York that was really cool.

A little video is just a couple minutes long and encouraged issue to consider taking out a handful of folks that you check in with routine line.

And do it consistently over several weeks just to help those folks get through these times and so you can go to the facebook page at my 5 been seeing all this information is that their friend the but it's it's we've got to you know keep people in check in on that or Forsyth County Health Department.

Actually had 16 people sign up is a chain.

So when you think about that that's 30 individuals who have been getting regular connections from from folks who just made a decision to literally reach out because they knew otherwise these folks to be pretty isolated and have a lot harder times in this period.

So yeah check that out is my 5 minutes each challenge.

>> And I like that even included some some recommendations at 3 or more times a week for one month just to start picking 5 people right.

Exactly.

>> And it just kind of have to be a little intentional about hi, how you go about this and and as you said is people getting stronger and and some of those folks may decide to pick out 5 folks themselves and reach out to him so that's what we thought was a good and we learned that it again from another couple of states who are doing similar things that we want is kind of do it our way and so you can find out more about that through this page.

>> Great thank you so much and welcome.

I can go ahead and talk about the side if that's okay with you it's from okay.

Well scoop as you've seen is does just that since scoop of staying connected.

Scoop does stand for stay connected to friends and family.

Compassion for yourself and others.

Observe your use of substances particularly so that they don't become a problem.

Okay to ask for help.

It's brave and empowering to ask for help and we're going to dig into all of these later on and finally P physical activity to improve your mood and that doesn't necessarily mean heavy lifting exercise.

We'll go into that a lot of people think physical activity means that you have got to go start you know the couch to 5 K but that's not what that means.

So this week we did a stay connected and hopefully the people who are viewing this now I've gotten some good ideas on how they can connect with others and why it's important for your own mental health and the mental health of people that you care about.

It's also really good part of self-care and hopefully will we can talk about that more if we have time.

But February 16th will be talking about compassion for yourself and others.

March second will going to observe here use of substances.

March 16th will be okay to ask for help and March 30th will be physical activity.

Those will all be live streamed to the governor's Institute, so you can just bookmark that page.

Indefinitely share anything that you've learned about the series.

Using the hashtag scoop for stress so he can follow that conversation and see see what people are what's resonating with other people.

Suzanne do we have any other comments in the chat.

We don't right now OK.

So maybe we can talk and I'm not sure where we are with time, but we should probably talk a little bit about how staying connected.

Contributes to a good self care self-care planning and how that helps nurture our souls when we nurture relationships.

>> Also thought might be a good opportunity to help people understand a little bit more about peer support and in North Carolina.

About thank you piers sports kind of based on this whole concept of connecting and sharing because people had experiences that were similar in a way that it it.

Enables people to feel more of a sense of trust and safety and moving forward with the relationship there.

I thought I'd share because people may not realize that we have an old story little peer support operated agencies that are doing some really strong activities in their communities.

One is in for Mecklenburg County that's call promise resource network.

And that then in b#*#*#*#*#*#*#* County national sunrise community and then Grant raise in Winston Salem but because we all started our organizations based on principles of peer to peer support.

We were able to kind of step real number way into finding ways that we can continue to support each other.

It even with that by the end of March last year.

So all 3 of us independently were able to move to offering.

Wellness education, mutual support groups online.

Just real quickly so that the sense of community remain and I can draw to one the bridge.

She does for Green Tree, but so that's the kind of potential we have been and all these things can be access.

No matter where you live.

And they're not necessarily end the edges haven't had having had the experience of being mentally ill or mentally unhealthy.

They are really just saying that staying connected and doing things that make your life.

Moore says finding healthier and so.

You can check out probably just Google Green Tree pier center or promise resource network, or the sunrise center and will be surprised to see what's going on just kind of organically having developed this can't community very solid through all this time and I will say that some of the people raintree we're in a really large large enough building that we've been able to stay open except for a certain set of weeks that with the governor really call for closing down and then we stay closed.

The first 2 weeks of January because of the jobs in the covid counts but so are all of all of our folks have been tested.

And.

We've not had anybody.

Test positive.

We practice, you know physical, distancing.

We take it check temperatures for people come in and they must wear masks and do frequent hand washing.

But the point is this little community of folks are some of them who are not the least likely to use technology and and so they have really clung to the opportunity of just being connected in in in a small community and I have seen that each one of these are their lives are stronger and better then before covid so that shows you how important election steadicam auction whether people it can be you know.

Lawrence o.

>> Yes about how to Google like promise resource network or sunrise or green cherry.

What would you say to somebody who lives outside of one of those communities who wants to see what might be available in their community how would they find those peer resources and in their community.

>> Well I would say in our state we've been a little slower than some about about these kind of developments and that those are the only 3 I never really been strong.

The cool thing is because of the virtual community like Braintree basically supports to communities that the local folks to come in for support and engagement and they're just you know, socializing and attending some of our groups and that we have another whole different group that does online stuff.

And so right now if people don't have a little hub in their own communities.

They can actually go to one of those faced a lot of recruits are offer after 3 face the facebook they can reach out and be on an e-mail list to receive I as a schedule like I send out a schedule weekly of the topics that are going to be offered season.

The following week.

And so not it we've got somebody Wilkesboro that it involved not riding great.

And you know, so they don't not limited by you're not confined a space if you don't if you're happy you put it all is.

So that's the good thing and I feel like it was worth all share.

This is that we do have 3 communities where things are going online and anybody kids enjoy these.

And you don't have to have the magic play ball like a psychiatric diagnosis they are really and living a life well lived and overcoming and since a lot of our folks are people who struggle with trauma.

Right now is the time where we're all kind of struggling with levels of trauma and so our peer resource places are open and welcomes that anybody is welcome that happened said they help sand.

>> It does it does.

>> Yeah and I want to add to that we also the state also has better and support services that are similar to peer supports but specifically for folks who are veterans.

It's like a veteran peer support and I think it's important to remember that and just touch on that because we do have a lot of people in our state who are veterans and that's that's a different kind of experience in itself.

So just.

>> I think if you were to Google Google that are looking up on the Internet or human contact.

The division we can help navigate people to those resources as they need them.

I think Pam had to step away from from the zoom call so is there anything else do we get any other chat comment.

We have not okay well hopefully people are digesting this information and just thinking of ways that they can stay connected.

Maybe they're looking at their next book to be part of a a book club.

Any kind of activity that somebody finds interesting and engaging so I would be really remiss if I did not mention the 3 W's that we have talked about since the beginning of the pandemic out wearing a clock face covering over your nose.

Waiting 6 feet apart to avoid close contact and washing your hands frequently are using hand sanitizer you can find these resources on the covid dashboard a North Carolina has a wonderful covid dashboard with these resources both in Spanish and in English.

And this in combination with the vaccinations once that schedule continues to roll out more people are vaccinated well really help us reduce the spread of the virus.

So hopefully people are are listening to that maybe you're making masks together virtually on zoom in the sewing group that's one way to stay connected >> yeah, I've seen I've seen some virtual sewing groups to I think those are great and a great use of time and resources >> we can go to the next slide.

I suppose.

So this is your resource for finding your vaccination schedule.

Any questions you have about the COVID-19 vaccine with uploaded a few videos.

We also have English and Spanish versions on there for people so to just touch on and make sure that they're informed about the vaccine.

>> The other thing to know about the vaccines to is there is a slide back on their called vaccine one oh one.

And you can it's downloaded it's a downloadable you can share it.

You can reach out to our team in Mao.

>> At C E and E staff at dhhs dot and see .gov and you can request a vaccine training and we will make sure that you have a trainer.

>> That can come to your great virtually and provide the the vaccine.

One that one slide deck.

But.

Shots are limited vaccine doses are limited, but they are available people are getting them and it is so important to to when it's your turn to get the shot.

>> Absolutely yeah, thank you.

So we can go to the next one going back to the reason.

We're we wear mask, it's not just for sells its for our neighbors we all have a different reason to answer the call.

I wear my mask to protect you you wear your mask to help protect me.

So please please consider that when when you're out in public.

And maintain those those 3 W's.

These graphics are also available on our website, both English and Spanish and we hope that you can use them and your social media.

To share this message with others.

Next slide.

And these are this flight is really important.

This phone number hope for healers and hope friend C I hope friends see is resource and resiliency line you can call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to get information to help with resources in your community.

And originally we started that out on the East Coast and now it's across the state in response to COVID-19 hope for healers is for our first line first front line responders folks who are empties nurses, doctors hospital staff, teachers and educators.

We have a special line for our healers.

919-226-2002 is the hope for Hiller's line and hope for NC is 1, 8, 5, 5, 5, 8, 7, 3, 4, 6, 30.

We also are are accepting questions.

I want to make sure that if somebody has a question about the impact of COVID-19 on behavioral health and IDD services using that link on the screen to be able to submit those questions that we can help help people navigate the system we're going through this.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis first absolutely com 911 ask for a C I T officer.

We also have our local management entities or managed care organizations that have crisis lines and you can find your COLUMN EMC by going to the only CEO directory on the ncdhhs website.

Next slide.

Our customer service and community rights team.

It's also available to help you if you need it, they help assist families.

Access Publix and individuals access public services.

They respond to complaints or concerns and they help protect the rights of individuals served in our communities.

It's not a 24 7 line but definitely if you call and you need some assistance they're there to help.

Next slide.

>> Our speaker information this evening, Larry Coker if you'd like to reach out to Lori and get more information from her about what she does as a peer support service.

Specialists.

>> You can reach Lori at L see Coker and see at G mail .com.

Pamela could that could I'm so sorry Pamela canine unfortunately she had to step away if you'd like to reach out to Pam.

Please email her at Pamela good I 35 at the mail .com.

In our next slide.

I think that's it that's it all right.

And we don't have any other questions unfortunately, but I was good talking to you tonight Lori.

>> Well thank you thank you for inviting me to share and I wanted to add one thing that occurred to me that there has been the development of the pier operated war Milan.

That is serving its kind of by default started serving statewide it is to have that is in Mecklenburg County but the pier responders are from across the state.

And it it's it's again it's from you excuse me promise resource network.

If you want to get older website, you'll you'll see about that the weather warm line is this simply a social connection on yeah and it's not a and crises, but the research shows that in communities where there are warm once they do see a decrease in crosses level need.

So this is staffed with folks who know how to connect and listen.

And that a lot of my friends.

When they they want someone they can call who will just listen.

I don't want to advise you don't want somebody that thinks it's been a real estate and I don't think someone's phone call right.

But.

This warm line as we can especially valuable during this pandemic so that's another resource North Carolina has had developed specially related to the pandemic so I want to close to know about that promise resource networks were in line.

>> Thank you so much and if anybody would like a copy of the slides.

You can contact us at the Division, the division mental health developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.

We can put that in the chat if that's helpful and we're happy to help distribute this information or connect people to resources.

Suzanne do you want to add anything so on.

>> That the slide deck.

We could share with anybody.

The recording will be available on the governor's Institute after tonight.

So people can rewatch it you can share the link.

Anybody he wants the slide deck or has questions comments wants to know about resources.

They can contact us.

>> At C E and E staff at dhhs dot NC dot ca.

And we'll be happy to send you any information that you need direct you to resources get you connected with something in your local area.

And we just appreciate Lori and Pam giving us their time tonight to.

Make this presentation to you and and for all of you that have tuned in and watched and hopefully.

Well get your participation at future events yeah absolutely thank you so much, thank you can thank you Suzanne.

>> Thank you governors Institute and PBS has since we have no more questions we hope everybody has a good night.

And we'll see you on the 16th.