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MHA Programs Can Help Reduce Stress

Under the direction of Jen Raines, pictured left, Recoveryoga is one several groups and classes presented by the Mental Health Association in Jamestown's Gateway Center that focus on reducing stress.

The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County has several programs that can help area residents decrease stress during the holiday season.

Some of these groups aim directly at reducing stress and teaching means of relaxation. They include:

¯ Recoveryoga, that explores recovery in mind, body, and soul: Mondays, 7:30 to 9 p.m.

¯ Knitting for Wellbeing, which requires no experience for this avocation that has been demonstrated to reduce depression, anxiety and chronic pain: Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m.

¯ Mindfulness, that teaches meditation skills: Thursdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. There is also a Mindfulness class at the MHA’s Dunkirk office on Mondays, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Other groups and classes are more indirect in their approach, like Recovery Cooking (Mondays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.) and Recovery Crafts (Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m.).

The Mental Health Association offers several PTSD groups that focus on developing skills to heal trauma for people in recovery. The PTSD Poetry group that meets on Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m. is distinctive in that the leader suggests a subject, e.g., “holiday traditions,” around which participants can write a poem or even draw a picture, then share what they have expressed.

The Jamestown program opens at 9 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Closing time on Mondays is 7 p.m., Thursdays is 8 p.m., Saturdays is 2 p.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays is 4 p.m.

A complete listing and description of all MHA groups and classes in Jamestown and Dunkirk can be found at www.MHAChautauqua.org/groups.

The MHA in Jamestown will also close at noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The only group meeting Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will be the Chautauqua County Alternatives to Suicide, a support group for people who have struggled with suicide attempts or thoughts from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

For any kind of help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call or text 2-1-1 for a free and confidential link to health and human services. Resources can also be found on the MHA’s website at MHAChautauqua.org/resources.

The Mental Health Association is a peer recovery support center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives in recovery.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in at the Jamestown facility at Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street. On non-holidays, the program opens at 9 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Closing time on Mondays is 7 p.m., Thursdays is 8 p.m., Saturdays is 2 p.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays is 4 p.m.

To learn more about the MHA, call 661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or facebook.com/MHAChautauqua. To learn more about OPEN (Occupational Peer Empowerment Network) that focuses on workforce development by helping participants overcome barriers to gaining, maintaining, and thriving as employees, call 490-4438, email OPEN@MHAChautauqua.org or visit MHAChautauqua.org/OPEN.

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