LIVE ORLANDO
Coffee Hour with BEAT Psychology and is my closest advisor, we believe in MENS SANO IN CORPORE SANO, and understand the importance of mental health.
We believe that the composition of a healthy community has a direct impact May is Mental on both the physical Health Awareness and mental health Month and as I beof its stakeholders. gan writing this Cof- Building communifee with Beat, I was ties that are holistireminded of the find- cally strong includes ings AdventHealth made several years ago through a community health survey. AdventHealth and Avalon Park Group were trying to determine what medical specialists Avalon Park needs in its goal to become a focus on establishthe healthiest coming a place where munity in central the residents have Florida and the con- a strong sense of clusion was that we belonging and safeneed more psychol- ty. When you know ogists, psychiatrists, your neighbors, they and counselors. The often become friends resounding cry was that you can relax that above all other with and check in needs mental health on you in good and was one of the most challenging times. critical and where any community, in- That sense of belongcluding ours could ing and safety is also improve. complemented with outlets for mind, While we are not body and spirit. And counselors at Avaunderstanding not lon Park Group, all people respond although my wife to the same outlets, Jill holds a Ph.D. in having a diverse of-
fering is important for the health of the entire community. We are building Avalon Park to be programmed to provide outlets for all. For the body there will be activities like yoga in the park and youth sports. For the mind there are counselors, music and dance performances, art classes, and more. For the spirit, there are several churches of all faith bases
I BELIEVE GIVING BACK THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE HELPS WITH POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH.
programming that will create positive outlets for all needs. A couple of weeks ago I attended the inaugural church service started by our long-time friend Pastor Dale Brooks in Bithlo. In his sermon, he reminded the congregation that first and foremost the community needs God. And while there are many needs, such as clean water, enough food, and shelter, the foundation should remain routed in faith.
I also truly believe giving back through community service helps with positive mental health. There located near Avalon are countless opporPark, as well as plans tunities to give back for additional spiriand help in the comtual center inside of munity. I encourage the community. In you to look around Avalon Park, every- to the local schools, thing for your daily non-profits and serlife will be at your vice organizations to fingertips, you do see where you can not have to leave help the most. the community, and that the sense of be- With the focus on longing and safety mental health in the becomes real. We month of May, I encontinue to look for courage you to exways to improve the plore the different mental health oppor- ways we can contintunities for our com- ue to build a healthy munity from bringcommunity together. ing mental health doctors to the community to adding
