Description

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Aisha Khan interviews Liz Hawkins, a long time volunteer at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). She is one of the few volunteers in the country in a pediatric mental health inpatient unit. In addition to volunteering in the Cherese Mari Laulhere Mental Health Impatient Center at CHOC, she also volunteers as a NICU cuddler and as a mental health advocate in the community. 

For Mental Health Awareness Month in May, CHOC is challenging the community to “check in” with themselves and each other. Each week in May, CHOC will be highlighting a different community group and will present thoughtful ways to check in with purpose on our social media pages and on our blog. We will have tips, stories and more from our experts. You can learn more at choc.org/checkin. 

What We Will Discuss

• Liz will describe what “checking in” means
• Highlight the importance of “checking in” with yourself and others
• Describe how “checking in” looks 
• Share the purpose of May’s Check In Challenge.

Check-In Challenge:

•  Week 1: Caregiver (May 3 – 9) - Those who are always looking after others often put themselves last. Make them first on your list to check in with this week. 
• Week 2: Strong Friends (May 10 – 16)- Those in your life who you look up to for strength are often pillars for many others. Who is checking on them? Make it a point to check-in on your “strong friends” this week.   
•  Week 3: Yourself (May 17 – 23) - Who me? Yes, you. How are you really doing? What does it look like to check in with yourself? What are you doing to take care of yourself this week?
• Week 4: Neighbor (May 24 – 30) - Maybe it’s time to do more than look away or wave when you see your neighbor. Introduce yourself and ask how they have been getting along during this time. 
• Week 5: Essential Workers (May 31 – June 6) - These are the people in our lives who are sometimes under-appreciated, who keep our world going. Think to check in on the grocery store clerk, your waiter, mail carrier and delivery person. Make them feel seen by asking how they are doing.  

Resources

• CHOC Check In Challenge
• Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
• NAMI Orange County
• NAMI-OC Warmline Call or text: (714) 991-6412
• Crisis Line, Warmline, and Crisis Groups
• NAMI-OC's Instagram

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.