Above: Over Mental Health Awareness Month, SYFS and other Town departments are offering special programs to help build connections and “resilience”. (images cropped from flyers)
Get ready to Go Green for Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM).
The annual community initiative kicks off this Friday. Once again, Southborough Youth & Family Services is using outreach and special programs over the month of May to encourage the community to focus on mental wellness.
Theme: “Grow Where You’re Planted: Building Resilience Through Community Roots”
A flyer explains this year’s theme:
Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and keep going in the face of stress, change, or adversity.
- Built within ourselves through skills and mindset
- Strengthened through connection to people, places, and supports. . .
Access to local resources such as schools, libraries, green spaces, and
community services helps us cope with stress and navigate challenges.
Community Participation
Working with other departments including the Southborough Library and Southborough Recreation, SYFS is offering workshops, creative outlets, and other programs. (Most are free with no registration required.)
You can take a look at the list of dates right. But SYFS is encouraging the public to use an interactive flyer that will potentially be updated as events are added. You can open that here.
Below I’ve listed the events chronologically with details. (If you have trouble with any of the registration links through SYFS’s flyers, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with working links below.)
Southborough Goes Green
Kicks off Friday, May 1st
Town Wide
Southborough (and Northborough) are asking the community members to Go Green by wearing green clothes this Friday and looking for their green ribbons to wear throughout the month. They’re encouraging the public to post “Going Green” photos on social media throughout the month with #NSboroGoesGreen.
Family Yoga in the Park
Sunday, May 3rd (12:00 pm)
Neary Stage/Field (Near Tennis Courts), 53 Parkerville Road
Registration is required
Southborough Recreation is putting on this free, family yoga session for all ages and skill levels. “This relaxing and rejuvenating yoga session is designed for all ages and skill levels, promoting mindfulness, wellness, and connection. . . Bring your yoga mats and loved ones for a fun and peaceful experience. Together, let’s prioritize our mental and physical well-being.” Register here.
Preschool Story Times
Monday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 5th (10:30 – 11:15 am)
Southborough Library Children’s Room
The library will incorporate the theme into the library’s regular drop-in story times for kids ages 2-5 with stories and crafts (and sometimes a couple of songs). “This week’s readings highlight connection, empathy, and the many ways relationships shape our lives. Together, we’ll explore how these connections help build resilience and give children a strong foundation of support to grow, adapt, and thrive.”
QPR Suicide Prevention Training
Tuesday, May 5th (6:00 – 8:00 pm)
SYFS’ offices, 21 Highland Street
Registration is required
Learn the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention method. The workshop equips participants with :the skills to recognize warning signs, respond to someone in distress, and connect them to appropriate support. Participants will leave with practical tools to take meaningful action when it matters most.” Register here.
Baby/Toddler Storytime
Thursday, May 8th (11:00 – 11:30 am)
Southborough Library Children’s Room
SYFS will take part in the library’s regular drop-in story time for tots ages 0-2 with stories, puppets and songs. “This week’s readings highlight connection, empathy, and the many ways relationships shape our lives. Together, we’ll explore how these connections help build resilience and give children a strong foundation of support to grow, adapt, and thrive.”
Youth Volunteer Fair
Tuesday, May 12th (6:00 – 8:00 pm)
Algonquin Regional High School Cafeteria
As I’ve previously posted, The Towns of Northborough and Southborough are organizing a fair for tweens/teens in grades 6-12 to learn about volunteer opportunities. (Organizers are happy to sign up more organizations to have a free table at the fair.) For more details, see dedicated post.
Youth Nature Club
Thursday, May 14th (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
Southborough Library
As I’ve previously posted, the library runs a drop-in club for tweens/teens interested in nature. Activities during the meetings for ages 11+ include a range of nature related activities. As part of the MHAM theme, the library touts this meeting as one of three activities for teens that are “centered on well-being and building resilience through connection.” For more details, see related post.
Teen Seed Pod Making
Saturday, May 16th (11:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Southborough Library, Eaton Room
Registration is required
(Rescheduled from March.) The event is part of the library’s regular Teen Library Team (TLT) volunteer program for teens & tweens to make projects for a good cause (and earn volunteer credit). This session is just for 6th-8th graders. MA DCR Division of Water Supply Protection will lead volunteers in making clay encased seed pods to help grow native plants. Learn more and register here.
Family Mindful Art
Monday May 18th (4:00 – 5:00 pm)
Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Rd
Registration is required
This program is for ages 5 to 17 with an adult. “Participants will take part in a tree art activity exploring personal roots and supports and contribute to a collaborative nature mandala. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small piece of nature to include in the shared artwork. . . This is a guided, low-pressure activity focused on creativity, reflection, and connection.” Register here.
Adult Mindful Art
Friday, May 22nd (6:00 – 8:00 pm)
Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Rd
Registration is required
This program is for ages 18+. “Participants will take part in a tree art activity exploring personal roots and supports and contribute to a collaborative nature mandala. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small piece of nature to include in the shared artwork. . . This is a guided, low-pressure activity focused on creativity, reflection, and connection.” Register here.
Embracing Adversity
Tuesday, May 26th (7:00 – 8:00 pm)
SYFS’ offices, 21 Highland Street
Registration is required
This workshop for adults ages 18+ is focused on building resilience and navigating life’s challenges. This session will explore how we respond to difficult experiences and offer practical strategies for adapting and shifting perspective, helping participants feel more prepared to support themselves and others. Register here.
Decompress with a Dog
Wednesday, May 27th (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
Southborough Library, main floor
This drop-in program for students in grade 6-12 is timed to help them “decompress from the stress of final exams”. Enjoy time with Glory the therapy dog, plus “relaxing activities like puzzles and crafts.” It’s the last of three activities the library promotes for teens as “centered on well-being and building resilience through connection.”
Celebrate Wellness
Wednesday May 27th (6:30 – 7:30 pm)
Community House, 28 Main St
Wrap up the month with a “a community gathering focused on connection, reflection, and emotional well-being. connection, reflection, and emotional well-being. This special event offers a chance to come together, celebrate our progress, and strengthen the bonds that support mental health.”
They will present the 8th Annual Laurie Sugarman-Whittier Wellness Award, “which honors lasting impacts on the well-being of our community through work in mental health and human services in Southborough.” Read more about that here.
