March 2025: E-Newsletter
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Mental Health Awareness Month is approaching, so we wanted to highlight what we have planned so far:
May 3, 2025 @ The Foothills Farmers Market (126 W Marion St.) 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. Find us sharing information about our organization and leading the Kids POP Club activity as we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.
May 6, 2025 @ Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library (104 Howie Dr.) 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Join us at our usual art activity time to create buttons and other items in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
May 20, 2025 @ Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library - Brownie Plaster Meeting Room (104 Howie Dr.) 10:00 am - 11:30 pm. We will be hosting our first CRM Training of the year with the Cleveland County Health Department. This training is open to the public.
The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® is evidence-based and trains community members to not only help themselves but to help others. The primary focus of this skills-based, stabilization program is to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system. CRM’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach.
Regsiter for our May CRM Training here.
Stress Awareness Month
April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress affects everyone and can have lasting impacts on the body and mental health (source).
Throughout April, we will be sharing information and resources regarding stress and stress management. Keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram or by checking our website for updates. If you know of other services being offered in the community, please let us know and we will be happy to share them on social media or on our website. Send additional resources our way by emailing egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org.
About Stress Awareness Month
Since 1992, Stress Awareness Month has aimed to increase public awareness about the causes and solutions to stress. This year, the Stress Management Society is encouraging people to #LeadwithLove. According to the organization, "This theme encourages us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face." They talk about how stress tends to thrive in environments with "conflict, tension, and division." By leading with love, for ourselves and others, it can lead to "embrac[ing] empathy, prioritiz[ing] understanding, and creat[ing] positive change in every interaction.
To help further this mission, The Stress Management Society created this calendar (right) for the public to follow throughout the month of April.
What is Stress?
Most people associate the word stress with distress that can cause harm. However, this is not the only type of stress a person can experience. Stress is also more than the emotional response, it is also biological (how your body responds to stress), psychological (how your mind processes stress), and social (how your relationships and environment influence your response to stress) (source).
To understand how you are impacted by stress, its important to know the differences between good and bad stress and learn how to reduce the harmful impacts of stress. Doing so can also help you use stress as a tool instead of feeling trapped or burnt out by it.
Distress is the bad stress in your life. This includes your response to difficult working or living conditions, negative feelings, or other life experiences with negative connotations.
Eustress is the good stress in your life. This is stress from a life experience that has positive connotation and can help improve performance and encourage effort and focus. Life events that can involve eustress can include a job interview, graduating, getting married, etc.
Acute stress is your fight or flight response. Acute stress can be triggered by your nervous system response, which causes your body to enter a state where it will defend itself. Acute stress affects your digestive system and emotional/behavioral health. Trauma and prolonged exposure to acute stress can cause long lasting impacts such as chronic health issues.
Chronic stress can be caused by unchecked acute stress as well as the cost of daily life (juggling bills, jobs, relationships, and other life stressors). Chronic toxic stress (as mentioned in the last paragraph) can lead to problems with your physical health.
You are most vulnerable to negative stress when you:
Don't get enough sleep
Don't have a network of support
Experience a major life change such as moving, death of a loved one, starting a new job or school, having a child, getting married, etc.
Experiencing poor physical health
Not eating well
(Source).
Managing Stress
There are a lot of ways to help manage stress. Throughout April, we will be sharing ways to manage stress through our blog. If stress is impacting your daily life in a way that make it difficult to function, consider connecting with a mental health professional. This guide can help you figure where to start looking for help. For Cleveland County specific resources, click here.
Online Resources
The Stress Test (not created by MHACC)
Click here for a test regarding lifestyle choices with results that include recommendations for managing stress.
Daily Destressing Planner/Tracker
PDF with guided journal or planner prompts to help you process and understand your stress.
Free Stress Relief Coloring Book
For those who enjoy coloring as a coping mechanism to stress.
How to Have an Open Conversation About Stress
A guide for how to have conversations around mental health, which is closely linked to stress.
Support Groups
Depression and Anxiety Support Group
MHACC peer-led support group
Every Thursday, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
205 S Washington St., Shelby, NC
Contact: Jodi Albinger at 704-484-8998 (text only) or Lizz Grimsley at egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org
Webinars and Trainings
Grief and Stress - The Path to Healing | Webinar
April 30, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 pm | register here
Upcoming Events Hosted by MHA
This list contains all events that are led by or in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County. You can also find these listed on our calendar.
Happening Locally
Here are some things you can do locally to help get you connected to activities that can support your mental health. All activities are free (F) or low-cost (LC). If you know of any things to do in Cleveland County and think we should include it in our monthly newsletter, send an to egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org
Events in Shelby
Broad River Market - Jefferson Park (801 Jefferson St.)
Every Monday, 4:30 pm - until out of food
100% FREE food - fresh produce and groceries
Cleveland County Mutual Aid Pop Ups
Next Pop Ups:
April 13, 1 - 4 PM at 212 W Warren St., Shelby, NC
May 3, 1 - 4 PM at Got Books! 814 S Washington St., Shelby, NC
100% FREE items - toiletries, books, clothes, OTC medications, etc.
Facebook group open to helping people connect with resources and help
Cleveland County Libraries (various locations) (F)
Manga Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, April 15, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Brick Builders | Middle School & High School Age (Eugenia H. Young)
Thursday, April 17, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Drop-In Plant Exchange - Learn & Grow (Adult) (Spangler Branch)
Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Chess Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, April 28, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Makers Meetup - Sublimation Printed Pet Bandanas (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Thursday, April 3, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Yoga (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, April 7, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Teen Tuesday (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Monday Night Book Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, April 14, 5:30 - 6:00 pm
Open Makerspace Hours
Tuesday, April 14, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, April 30, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
There are many more activities to do for all ages at the Cleveland County Libraries. To see more, check their website here.
Neal Senior Center (100 TR Harris Dr. Shelby, NC).
The Neal Senior Center releases a calendar of activities each month. Visit their website for the most up to date events.
Farmers Markets
The Foothills Farmers Market (multiple locations).
The Foothills Farmers Market has multiple locations (in Shelby & Kings Mountain) and other programs. There is no cost to get into the market, however, the items at the market are sold by individual vendors.
Expanding Your Toolkit: Support Groups and Trainings
Trainings by Partners
At the time of writing this newsletter, Partners has not updated their training calendar for April. To check back later, click here.
Support Groups
MHA’s Depression and Anxiety Support Group
Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
205 S Washington St. (Upstairs Conference Room), Shelby, NC - please note: building does not have an elevator.
Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland Brain Injury Support Group
Third Tuesday of each month, 6-7 pm
ComServe, 1541 Delta Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052;
Contact: Patricia Haithcox at phaithcox@comserve.org, 704-736-5307 or Shanda Daniels at 704-772-4291
Online: Reoccurring biweekly, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
Access here.
Hickory Brain Injury Support Group
Last Tuesday of the month, 6-7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church, 311 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC
Contact: travis@crossroadscounseling.org, 828-781-0778
12-step style program for emotional health struggles
Visit site to find virtual meetings
Know of an existing support group or want assistance starting one? Contact us by emailing egrimsey@clevelandcountymha.org to get added to this list or develop one.
