Staff from CHD’s Lotus Home in Hartford, CT, which provides long-term housing and services for up to five women who have severe mental illness, recognize the importance of group excursions, events, and other get-togethers—to engage with residents, break away from routines, provide enrichment, and promote better mental health. Indeed, some of their more memorable outings last summer and fall were field trips to the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven, CT (pictured right) and Miami Beach in Old Lyme, CT (pictured below).

Derek Williams, Lotus Home direct care staff (pictured on the museum steps), believes that recreational activities provide many opportunities to improve mental wellbeing. “Social interaction fosters a sense of community, and a sense of belonging and support, which are vital in combating feelings of isolation and loneliness that often comes with mental health challenges,” he said. “Participation can also lead to a sense of achievement, confidence, and self-esteem.”

Lotus Home Program Manager Tayna Howard said she has “some amazing staff” who spearhead many of the activities, noting that Williams, as well as other direct care staff, including Neeco Gamble, Jelani Baldwin, and Bernadette Halliburton, made the clients’ experiences unforgettable.

Miami Beach, according to one of the Lotus residents, “was a nice change of scenery because sometimes the same thing over and over again causes stress and anxiety.”

Howard agrees. “The beach can engage your senses to new sights, smells, tastes, and sounds, which can improve your mental state,” she said. “Having exposure to the sun and sea air is great for your mental health, especially when you get in the water, because it can increase mindfulness and physical activity. Spending time on the beach promotes relaxation as it makes you feel less isolated and a lot happier.”