LatinX/Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15th to October 15th. As LatinX/Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, Balanced You would like to remind the LatinX community about resources available to support their emotional well-being, including spaces for celebration, joy, and connection; tips for self- and collective-care; and traditional mental health resources.
Celebration and connection
Celebration and connection are an integral part of emotional well-being. We would like to recognize the following employee resource groups: King County Latinx Affinity Group, King County Metro, Sound Transit Latinx in Transportation, and Seattle Department of Transportation, who have taken this time to make space for celebration and connection amongst the LatinX community for LatinX/Hipsanic Heritage Month.
For more information on the remaining virtual celebrations, see below. For information on King County’s Affinity Groups, visit www.kingcounty.gov/affinitygroups
- Latinx Panel – Wednesday, October 14, noon to 1 p.m.
Join SDOT for a conversation of various Latinx employees share their experiences and broad discussion around the topic of Latinx Heritage Month. Hosted by Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Contact: Belen Hererra, Belen.herrera@seattle.gov.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting – Register for this event here on Eventbrite.
- IdeaFest – Wednesday, October 21, noon to 1 p.m.
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, join Sound Transit Latinx in Transportation (LiT) Employee Resource Group (ERG) and the Women Empowering Sound Transit (WEST) ERG for a special edition of IdeaFest. Meet three outstanding Latina women, all successful in their fields of public service, media, and entertainment, who have experienced unique highs and lows in pursuit of their dreams, and then have a group discussion on the topic and how we apply creative and revolutionary ideas to our work at Sound Transit. Hosted by Sound Transit.
Contact: Valerie Valero, valerie.valero@soundtransit.org or Sharon Chinchilla, sharon.chinchilla@soundtransit.org.
Self-care and collective-care tips and resources
Self-care is the act of attending to one’s own needs. Collective-care, or community-care, is the act of supporting others in meeting their needs and asking others to support you in meeting yours, building upon the notion that together we are stronger than we are apart. Both are important aspects of reducing stress and increasing resiliency.
Examples of self- and collective-care include:
- Reaching out to friends and/or family
- Ensuring you are nourished, hydrated, and rested
- Attending virtual church, mosque, or temple
- Practicing spirituality
- Meditating alone or with an online group
- Speaking with your current mental health providers
- Engaging in physical activity
- Dancing or singing
- Setting boundaries and taking alone time
- Making space for any act that relieves your stress and improves your resiliency
Traditional mental health resources
Traditional mental health resources benefit all employees of King County. The following list of mental health resources allow you to filter through providers based on identity, background, and experience:
- Making Life Easier offers a comprehensive range of resources, expert content, and tools designed to support and enhance emotional well-being for all King County employees and their households. From confidential counseling to online tools, you can access resources and support 24/7 in a secure, confidential, and user-friendly format at no charge to you. Access the program here or call 1-888-874-7290.
- Washington Counselors of Color Network lists therapists of color in Washington state. Visit the Washington Counselors of Color Network website for more information. Contact your insurance company to confirm eligibility of providers.
- National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – Washington provides resources and free support groups for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Local NAMI chapters, including NAMI-Seattle, provide groups specifically designed for Black and Indigenous participants. Visit the NAMI-WA website to find your local chapter.
A comprehensive guide to employee and community resources for mental health can be found in the King County Mental Health Resource Guide.
If you have other resources you’d like us to promote, or programs you’d like us to consider, please contact us at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-9626.