Just on the outskirts of Toledo’s Uptown district and the Old West End lies the Thomas M. Wernert Center, a community mental health center for those living with mental illness, substance abuse disorder, and other conditions.
But what makes the Wernert Center special is its emphasis on peer support, which is defined as mental health assistance by people with lived experience. The Wernert Center reaches more than 800 Lucas County residents annually and offers a series of classes and support groups that help members with everything from living with diabetes to schizophrenia.
The staff members at the Wernert Center offered their advice on combating loneliness this holiday season, which is a problem many people face this time of year.
If you’re feeling lonely or down during the holidays, nothing beats self-care. Try some coffee, tea, or cocoa from your favorite local hangout. Take a walk, relaxing bath, or journal. The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library offers lots of fun activities: a variety of book clubs; Gamers Guild; making handmade greeting cards; and visits to the Toledo Museum of Art! Look into local art studios like Copper Moon, or paint some pottery. I encourage everyone to get creative and discover their previously unknown artistic talents. There’s nothing like a handmade gift to show someone how much you care! Making a customized cd as a gift for a music lover can be a fun, wonderful (and inexpensive) way of showing how well you know someone! Or share new musical experiences with others to broaden their horizons. Why not include your own CD cover art? Poured acrylic paintings are a great way of creating abstract art – and you can get step-by-step instructions online, by searching “DIY [insert item you want to make] videos”. Crocheting and knitting can be used to make bookmarks, blankets, clothing, ornaments, stuffed animals – any number of items! My favorite ways of being creative AND connecting with others is to hold annual holiday cookie decorating gatherings, or a “Gourmet Pretzel Party”. I supply candy melts, sprinkles, and a variety of gift wrapping materials, then invite family & friends to bring their own pretzels for decorating/gift-giving in a festive atmosphere. The party allows everyone invited to catch up, make new friends and get festive together, eliminating any excuses for people to feel alone over the holidays.
— Mary Milhaupt, Expressive Arts Coordinator/Art Therapist
The winter/holiday season brings with it a lot of emotions. They can be happiness, sadness, loneliness, nostalgia. And everything you feel can be amplified by seeing and hearing how others spend their time this season. When my mind tends to wander and my feelings get more difficult, I like to stay busy. I find winter to be a great time to lean into my hobbies, or start something new that I have been wanting to try. Making time to take care of your mind and do something you enjoy is very important. Whether it’s picking up a new book, or finishing that project that you haven’t had the time to complete, keeping your mind and body on something positive (especially creating) can bring your mood way up. Always remember that loneliness is a valid and very common feeling. You do not have to pretend that you are not sad or lonely, but you can do things to remind yourself of what makes you feel happy and loved.
— Maddie Cummins, Activities Specialist
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So we actually had a really good meeting about loneliness in the Wernert Center’s men’s group. It came up with the topic of how to set schedule reminders. One of the members talked about grieving his dad who always thought more of him then he thought of himself. And that lead to a next discussion of how being connected to others and dealing in community groups lets us grieve and move forward with our daily tasks with enthusiasm! If you feel like your burden is too heavy to carry, share it with someone. You’re not alone.
— Michael Meisner, Peer Support Specialist
Movement is medicine! Any little bit helps…from turning on a good song and busting out some dance moves alone in your room—to taking a winter walk. Bundle up and get outside for a little bit; the cool, fresh air and change of scenery can truly do wonders. Meditation is another incredibly useful tool that can set the tone for your day. Start small and work your way up; even five minutes can help. YouTube has a variety of videos to choose from! Search for guided meditations, light workouts, gentle stretch/seated yoga flow videos, etc., and just see how you feel afterwards. Your body and mind will thank you later
— Mary Anderson, Fitness Coordinator
The Thomas M. Wernert Center is located at 208 W. Woodruff Ave. For more information, visit wernertcenter.org.
