Holly Matson | LEAD

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Holly Matson

Holly Matson

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Role
Director

@golead.co

golead.co

LEAD is thrilled to join Lake County School Distri

LEAD is thrilled to join Lake County School Districts 65, 67 and 115 in announcing the launch of the Facing School 2020 initiative - a digital exhibit featuring content created by Lake Forest / Lake Bluff students, parents, teachers, administrators and other members of our communities, reflecting experiences and feelings related to the first months of a very unique school year. We encourage all of LEAD’s District 65, 67 and 115 friends and partners to support the exhibit by sharing their back-to-school stories on the exhibit’s website (find by Google searching “Facing School - Pass It Down). We look forward to hearing how you and your family have been “facing” school in 2020! A special shout out to the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff for hosting the exhibit. #facingschool #shareyourstory

Let’s make some lemonade! We are thrilled to an

Today, LEAD joins the World Health Organization in

Today, LEAD joins the World Health Organization in observing World Mental Health Day! Since 1994, the WMHD initiative has been dedicated to “raising awareness about mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.” This year’s theme is: Move for mental health: let’s invest In the comments below, please share how you are investing in a better mental health future. Be sure to catch the WHO’s “Big Event for Mental Health” which will start streaming at 9AM CT on WHO’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WHO #moveformentalhealth #investinmentalhealth @who

We’re participating in the Target Circle program

We’re participating in the Target Circle program! You can vote for us and help direct Target’s giving to benefit LEAD. To cast your vote, see link in bio.

Self Care Hobbies New and fresh can shake up you

Self Care
Hobbies
New and fresh can shake up your mental health and your life for the better. Along with a new routine you can pick up a new hobby or refine your hobbies. What are your hobbies?

Fresh Air Create a new routine. Being a creature

Fresh Air
Create a new routine.
Being a creature to habits can be a great way to stay focused and complete goals. Every once in a while, the daily task can turn to feelings of mundane and we lose our motivation. You may have a goal you want to crush and feel stuck getting there. Take some time to re-evaluate your routine. Finding a new routine can help you shatter that goal! Spend some time thinking of ways to achieve your goal by changing up a routine. Keep your eye on the finish line but find a new way to get there!

Q & A Friday Ask us some mental health questions.

Q & A Friday
Ask us some mental health questions. We would be happy to give you some tips to a healthier you! Comment below or send a DM!
What have you tried this week to promote mental health. Have you tried any new self care or coping skills?

Helping Others Listening to someone When we get

Helping Others
Listening to someone
When we get stuck in a rut and our mind is too noisy with our thoughts, sometimes, reaching out to others can be the intervention we need to find our inner calm. Helping others, when we are also in need, helps us feel emotionally connected and less isolated. Being a helper can cultivate a sense of purpose for ourselves. If you are emotionally stable enough, reach out to someone who you know is in need, and ask them how they are coping. Be a listening ear for someone. You don’t have to have a solution for them or know the right words to say. Sometimes, being a friendly ear for someone is all that they need and all that you never knew you needed!

Last week's Ask Us Anything event went so well And

Last week's Ask Us Anything event went so well Andy and Audrey decided to make it a WEEKLY occurrence. Starting tomorrow, 5/28 they will be on Zoom every Thursday from 11am-12pm to answer all of your questions. Nothing is off limits! Raising a teen can be hard, so let’s talk! Visit: www.golead.co/zoom or click the #linkinbio to register for tomorrow. It’s FREE!

Healthy Friendships Throughout middle school and

Healthy Friendships
Throughout middle school and high school friendships change often throughout the year. Friends drift apart or grow closer together. Friends impact our mental health for the better or worse. They can shape our self worth, our decision making, and how we treat others. Here are some healthy friend qualities you should look for in a friend.
Honest- not only with you but with others friends and adults
Accepting- of other's differences
Low Maintenance- they shouldn't need your attention all the time and when you come together after time apart it should be easy too be with them
Non-judgmental- friends should be able to see your side of a situation
Loyal- they can and should have different friends but they wont talk negatively about you
Respect- friends should value your time and keep your secrets unless you are in danger
Trustworthy- they should stick to a set of moral principles developed through respect and honesty.

Emotions Self Harm Many adults do not understand

Emotions
Self Harm
Many adults do not understand the mindset behind self harm. It is hard to think of why someone might deliberately hurt themselves. When someone intentionally harms ones self it is due to emotional distress. These emotions often grow when someone continues to use self harm as a coping skill. Self harm often brings feelings of shame trying to hide the scars or skipping class or family activities to continue to harm self. It is often developed when someone does not learn to deal with negative emotions or learns as a child to hide their emotions. Self harm often feels like a release and can produce endorphins. For teens and young adults it often develops into other self destructive behavior in adulthood like excessive drinking or drug use.
How to treat self harm. It is really important to talk to a trusted adult, specifically a professional who knows the subject. A treatment plan is essential to overcoming self harm. Developing healthy coping skills, understanding the reason behind the self harm and working through those difficult emotions with a safe person. Reach out to a professional today if you or you teens are using self harm as an unhealthy coping skill for emotional distress.

C O P I N G S K I L L Talk it out Do you feel

C O P I N G S K I L L
Talk it out
Do you feel overwhelmed? Pent up? On edge? Talking it out is a necessity in life. Having a trusted friend to help you debrief is good. Having someone who is outside of the situation and offers no judgement can be even better! Reach out to a therapist or trusted friend and talk through your stress and anxious feelings.

S e l f C A R E Relaxing Have you organized a

S e l f C A R E Relaxing
Have you organized all of your drawers? Caught up on chores? Meal prepped for the week? Completed all of your To-Do List? If you answered Yes to all of those questions, or even just one of those questions, then kick up your feet and relax! Relaxing doesn’t have to be a bubble bath with soft music (even though that does sound great). Relaxing can be any activity that helps you feel calm and lowers your stress. One person’s hammock on a secluded island is another person’s off-roading adventure.

F R E S H A I R Learn Something New There is

F R E S H A I R Learn Something New
There is a saying that goes, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Good thing we aren’t dogs! No matter your age or your skill level, you can always learn something new! Learning something new creates a renewed sense of purpose and curiosity. The possibilities are endless. And, if you think that you have learned all there is to know, try teaching your mastered skill to someone else. There is joy to be found in watching someone else learn something new.

Q & A Friday Ask us some mental health questions.

Q & A Friday
Ask us some mental health questions. We would be happy to give you some tips to a healthier you! Comment below or send a DM!
What have you tried this week to promote mental health. Have you tried any new self care or coping skills?

H E L P I N G O T H E R S Volunteering your tim

H E L P I N G O T H E R S
Volunteering your time is a great way to give back to your community. As we have discussed before, giving back is a good way to improve your mental health and moods. Many teens have a heart for helping their friends. You can help a friend do their chores, offer free tutoring, mow lawns in your neighborhood, help at an animal shelter, or offer free baby sitting.
After you volunteer notice the emotions not only in yourself but those around you. Has anything changed for the better?

Toxic Relationships and how to be a good friend I

Toxic Relationships and how to be a good friend
It is easy to find yourself in a toxic friendship in high school. Here are some simple ways to tell if you are in a toxic relationship. If your friend...
•Reaching out only when they want something
•The conversation is always one sided
•They put others down. Make fun of someone in front of people
•You feel bad about yourself when you are around them
•They are aggressively competitive and cannot celebrate your successes
•They are not happy for you when good things happen to you
•They bring drama into your life
•They talk negatively about you behind your back
•They constantly don't follow through with plans they make with you
•They use your secrets against you and share them with others
•They encourage you to do bad things that will get you in trouble
•They talk negatively behind their friend's back
•They exclude you from things with mutual friends
Do these sound like one of your friends? Or maybe it sounds like you? Be a better friend by not engaging in these bad friend traits, encourage your friends to be better too. Make friends who lift others up and encourage you.

A N G E R Anger is a secondary emotion, this mean

A N G E R
Anger is a secondary emotion, this means that there is some emotion lying beneath the surface when you see anger in yourself or your teen. Some emotions that come before anger include: pain, sadness, depression, frustration, embarrassment, anxiety, disappointment or hurt.
A few ways to tell what is lying beneath the surface is to respond not react to others. Take a deep breath, count to 10 and reflect on what is happening in your body before you say something that will hurt someone else or something you will regret. It's okay to be angry but how we express that anger can be harmful to others or ourselves.

C O P I N G S K I L L S Get Creative Being cre

C O P I N G S K I L L S
Get Creative
Being creative is a great way to release some emotions and to process through them. Writing a poem, short story, or song can give you some outside perspective to your current circumstance. Drawing and painting can release pent up energy and blocked up emotions. It provides a constructive outlet to your emotions. Learning how to do wood working, sowing, cooking, or baking can give your mind a rest while you work with your hands. This is a great time to learn something new, to become a crafter or learn how to play an instrument or even a new language.

S E L F C A R E Getting Ready for the day. Ge

S E L F C A R E Getting Ready for the day.
Getting ready for each day may start earlier than the morning. Prepping your day may start the previous day or at the beginning of the week. If putting your feet on the ground each day is a struggle, try planning out your outfits during the weekend for the upcoming week. Set your coffee to brew the night before and wake up to fresh smelling coffee. A perfect “go-to” or signature style look to your grooming which can help your daily morning routine. Having a simple start to your morning can help you feel fresh and confident to tackle the day!

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270 E. Westminster Avenue, Suite 200
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 295-9075
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