A Behavioral Wellness team sending hope through positive messaging sidewalk chalk art is making its way around Santa Barbara.
With May designated as Mental Health Awareness Month and this year’s theme being Express Yourself, the team is all about how expressing yourself in creative ways can help with self-care and support mental wellness.
Especially now, as the local community is enduring life with COVID-19, positive expressions are important. The effects of self-expression and creativity on people’s mental health and well-being have been widely documented. Everyone can benefit from incorporating creative self-expression into their wellness routine.
Activities as simple as doodling have been shown to activate the reward pathways in our brain, elevating mood and making us feel better. In addition, creative self-expression can be a powerful tool to help heal and maintain mental wellness.
The chalk art team is aiming to not only place sidewalk art around town outside residences for older adults, outside homes of people who are isolated, and outside businesses, but to encourage the community to do the same on their own sidewalks, bringing color and positivity.
If you know of an older or ill community member, a retirement living facility, church parking lot or business, or anyone who would appreciate having a positive chalk art message in front of their residence or business (in English or Spanish), contact Vanessa Ramos at vramos@sbcbwell.org.
The entire Santa Barbara community is experiencing the challenges connected to the impact of COVID-19 and it is important to reject the stigma around mental health. The Behavioral Wellness Access Line is available 24/7 at 1-888-868-1649.