{"id":1842,"date":"2025-07-22T14:08:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T14:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/?post_type=news&p=1842"},"modified":"2025-07-22T19:01:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:01:55","slug":"celebrating-international-self-care-day-how-we-practice-well-being-together","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/news\/celebrating-international-self-care-day-how-we-practice-well-being-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating International Self-Care Day: How We Practice Well-Being Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

July 24 is International Self-Care Day<\/strong>\u2014a day to remind ourselves that taking care of our physical, emotional, and mental well-being isn\u2019t selfish. It\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n

At North York Community House, we believe that self-care is community care. When we support individuals in caring for themselves, we help build stronger, more connected communities. For newcomers, refugees, youth, and families navigating complex life transitions, practicing self-care can be a powerful act of healing and resilience.<\/p>\n

Here are four ways we support self-care across our programs and within our organization:<\/p>\n

We Express Ourselves Through Art<\/h4>\n

Creative expression is more than just fun\u2014it\u2019s healing. In our programs, art is a powerful tool for processing emotions, telling stories, and connecting with others. Whether it\u2019s through painting, writing, photography, or crafts, our youth, women, seniors and families use creativity to explore identity, build confidence, and find joy in self-expression.<\/p>\n

Art-based workshops in programs like The Village Bloggurls<\/em>, our women\u2019s wellness circles, and newcomer youth spaces give participants the chance to reflect, imagine, and share in safe, supportive environments.<\/p>\n

\"A
March Break Camp, 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Honour Where We Come From<\/h4>\n

For many newcomers, maintaining a connection to culture and heritage is a vital part of self-care. Across our programs, we create space to share cultural traditions, stories, and celebrations. From cooking classes and language-based programming to cultural holidays, we affirm the importance of identity and belonging.<\/p>\n

When participants are invited to share who they are and where they come from, it fosters pride, connection, and healing.<\/p>\n

\"A
Tamil SOS Group at the Tamil Heritage Month and Harvest Festival, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Talk About Mental Health<\/h4>\n

Through peer support groups, one-on-one mental health check-ins, and educational workshops, we encourage open conversations about self-care and emotional well-being. Whether someone is navigating trauma, stress, or just having a hard day, we\u2019re here to listen and support.<\/p>\n

Many of our programs for women, youth, seniors and families integrate trauma-informed approaches, helping individuals build coping tools and find community support in their healing journey.<\/p>\n

\"A
Conference for Arabian and Syrian Speaking Youth, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Move Our Bodies and Get Outside<\/h4>\n

Movement is a simple yet powerful form of self-care. In many of our programs, we encourage participants to connect with their bodies through walking groups, gentle stretching, or outdoor play. Nature walks, community garden visits, and gentle yoga helps participants feel grounded and energized.<\/p>\n

We know that caring for our physical health can improve mood, reduce stress, and bring a sense of renewal, especially when it\u2019s shared with others.<\/p>\n

\"Four
Newcomer Youth Creative Summer Camp, 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we recognize International Self-Care Day, we invite you to reflect on what self-care looks like in your life. Maybe it\u2019s a quiet moment alone, a conversation with someone you trust, or trying something new that brings you joy.<\/p>\n

However you choose to care for yourself, know that it matters, and that your well-being is deeply connected to the health of your community.<\/p>\n

Read more about mental health, and explore resources and supports here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn more about how we support self-care here at North York Community House!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1844,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[74,24],"class_list":["post-1842","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health-and-wellness","category-resources"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nych.ca\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}