June 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 74

N R PA U P DAT E

Parks and Recreation's Secret Superpower

s we continue to position our agencies as an essential service in our
communities, a newer concept is gaining in popularity and intrigue
the idea of parks and recreation as a tonic for mental health challenges. Exercise has long been credited with helping physical and mental
health, and its benefits are well-documented. But, what about " forest bathing, " the idea of spending time in nature to improve our mental health? This
concept may not be as widely known but is an important addition to the list
of benefits our profession provides - a " secret superpower, " if you will.

Attend the 2019 NRPA Annual
Conference to learn more about this
benefit to our communities' health and
wellness, which will feature the following related sessions, among others:
Building Resilient Youth: Responding to Trauma, Substance Use and
Mental Health Challenges in Outof-School Time Programs - Local
park and recreation agencies are
one of the largest providers of outof-school time (OST) programming across the country. With new
public health threats and concerns
emerging each day, including youth
exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma, as well
as rising rates of depression and
substance misuse, what is the role
of the OST field in responding to
these challenges? How can park and
recreation agencies build additional
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protective factors into their programs
that foster positive physical, social
and mental health outcomes? Join
NRPA, the Afterschool Alliance and
the Alliance for a Healthier Generation in a workshop to explore how
OST providers can better identify
risk factors, apply a trauma-informed
care lens to their work and build social and emotional supports into
their existing programs that improve
health outcomes.
Parks and Recreation Supporting
Mental Health Challenges - Mental illness in the United States has
become pervasive, with individuals
suffering from many disorders. There
are opportunities for practitioners
in our field to support mental health
challenges that many individuals face
every day. The session will provide an
overview of mental health issues fac-

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ing us as a society, increase awareness
of the myriad disorders that exist, and
show how the park and recreation
industry can play a role in providing
support to mental health agencies,
mental health professionals and individuals who suffer from mental
illness, as well as those who want to
maintain good mental health. New
research reveals a clear link between
well-being and immersion in nature.
The session will explore examples
of agencies from around the country that are doing their part to create
better mental health in their communities. Speakers: Barbara Heller and
April Chambers.
A Breath of Fresh Air: A Dose of
Being Outside to Improve Mental Health - In this interactive,
outdoor session, participants will
experience, firsthand, the positive
impact being outside has on mental health. Participants will learn
about current research regarding
nature's effect on mental health
while taking part in various outdoor activities that support mental
health, including walking meditation, sit spot meditation, mindfulness and more. They will discuss
and identify ways to enhance
their programs to better address
the mental health needs of their
patrons and will leave the session
with tools and experience to facilitate nature-based mental health
programs at their own organizations. Speaker: Stacey Hammond
To learn more about the in-depth
health and wellness content being
featured and to register for the
NRPA Annual Conference, visit
www.nrpa.org/conference.

June 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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