A Mental Health Moment
By Bernadette Joy Graham, MA, LPCC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist
As August arrives, many families in Toledo are preparing for a new school year while squeezing in the last days of summer. It is also an ideal time to focus on something that often gets pushed aside—our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
The Black community has long shown resilience, drawing strength from faith, family, churches, neighborhoods and traditions during difficult times. Yet true strength also means knowing when to slow down, rest and care for ourselves.
As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist, I believe wellness looks different for everyone. Therapy is one valuable option, but it is not the only path to improving your mental health. Self-care and emotional wellness can begin with small, intentional choices that help reduce stress, build resilience, and strengthen our connections with others.
For adults, wellness may include taking a morning walk, attending a community fitness class, spending quiet time in prayer or meditation, journaling, listening to uplifting music, reading, gardening or simply saying “no” to commitments that create unnecessary stress. Reconnecting with trusted friends, family members, mentors or your faith community can also provide encouragement during life’s challenges.
For children, wellness begins with creating safe spaces where they feel heard and valued. As the school year approaches, establish healthy sleep routines, encourage outdoor play, read together and check in with your children about how they are feeling—not just how they are performing. Helping children identify and express their emotions teaches them that asking for support is a sign of wisdom and courage.
August offers many opportunities throughout Toledo to practice wellness together as a family. Enjoy a walk through one of our beautiful Metroparks, attend a neighborhood back-to-school event, visit the Toledo Museum of Art, spend a day at the Toledo Zoo or support local cultural festivals and community gatherings happening before the school year begins. These shared experiences strengthen relationships, reduce stress and remind us that healing often happens in community.
Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health starts with honest conversations. For generations, many of us heard phrases like “just pray about it,” “be strong,” or “keep family business in the family.” Prayer and faith remain powerful sources of hope and healing. Still, they can coexist with other healthy practices, such as self-care, mentoring, support groups, exercise, meaningful conversations, coaching or professional counseling when needed. We do not have to choose one or the other. Wellness is about using the resources that help us become healthier in mind, body and spirit.
This month, I encourage every family to take a mental health moment to make wellness a priority. Schedule time to unplug from technology, eat meals together, laugh more, move your body, spend time outdoors and check on your loved ones. Sometimes the most meaningful question we can ask is, “How are you really doing?”
Our community has always been rich in faith, culture, perseverance and love. By embracing self-care, encouraging open conversations about emotional health and supporting one another without judgment, we can continue building stronger families and a healthier Toledo—one conversation, one act of kindness and one day of wellness at a time.
If you would like more information on finding mental health providers, look up www.psychologytoday.com as well as ask your primary care physician or pediatrician for children.
Appointments with Bernadette Joy Graham: please call 419 866 8232
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis/thoughts of suicide, please call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.