Below is a curated plan that weaves together group topics and structured activities, drawing inspiration from the ideas in my Cherishing Behaviors presentation to support a dynamic PTSD awareness campaign and mental health advocacy. Each group session may be built around a clear theme, interactive discussion, and a purposeful activity, all designed to empower participants and foster meaningful conversation.
1. Mindful Greeting & Storytelling Circle
Group Topic:
Starting with Respectful Greetings and Personal Narratives
Structured Activity:
Opening Ritual: Begin the session with a round of warm, respectful greetings where each participant shares one mindful moment they experienced recently.
Story Sharing: Invite each person to share a personal story about a time when a small act of care (or “cherishing behavior”) made a big difference in their mental or emotional well-being.
Evaluation & Discussion: Facilitate a guided discussion with prompt questions such as “How did that experience shape your view of self-care?” or “What was one takeaway from that moment?”
Take-Away: Conclude with a collective affirmation, reinforcing the idea that every respectful greeting and shared story builds stronger community bonds.
This exercise not only lays the foundation for empathetic communication but also models the respectful, supportive language seen in the slide deck.
2. Self-Care Check-In & Health Journey Mapping Session
Group Topic:
Evaluating and Sharing Our Personal Health Practices
Structured Activity:
Self-Assessment Activity: Provide each participant with a simple checklist or template (digital or paper-based) to record aspects of their daily routine, such as sleep quality, hydration habits, nutrition, and physical activity (like paced walking).
Group Discussion: In small groups or pairs, have participants discuss how these practices impact their mental health, specifically relating to managing PTSD symptoms.
Data Sharing: If comfortable, participants may share insights (e.g., “After 30 minutes of mindful walking, I felt a noticeable calm”) and note any trends or challenges they encounter.
Evaluation: Thankful exercise, encouraging everyone to recognize one or more positive self-care practice they wish to commit to for the coming week.
This session builds routine monitoring with structured evaluation, closely aligning with health tracking and mindful practices noted in my presentation.
3. Technology & Mental Health Workshop
Group Topic:
Embracing AI and Mobile Tools for Mental Health Support
Structured Activity:
Introductory Presentation: Begin with a brief overview of how tools like the PTSD Family Coach app, STAIR techniques, and Microsoft AI support may offer personalized insights and structured support in managing PTSD.
Guided Interactive Demo: Use screenshots or live demonstrations to show how one (or a few) of these tools work. For example, simulate a check-in using one of the mental health apps to track mood or set health goals. https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/fQ5RiPj6QBhwb9PQZxdea
Breakout Discussion: Divide into small groups to brainstorm how technology can facilitate deeper self-care and community support. Let each group outline one strategy, for instance, creating a “digital thankful board” or planning a virtual group mindfulness exercise.
Sharing & Q&A: Reconvene as a whole group to share ideas and answer any questions, reinforcing that modern tools may make self-care both accessible and innovative.
This workshop leverages the idea of structured, tech-supported activities to achieve work and health goals, as highlighted in your presentation’s section on Microsoft AI support.
4. Nature, Movement & Mindfulness Group Walk
Group Topic:
Integrating Physical Activity and Mindfulness in the Outdoors
Structured Activity:
Pre-Walk Check-In: Start with a group discussion on the benefits of nature and exercise for mental health. Ask participants to share their favorite natural spots or walking routes.
Paced Walking Exercise: Organize a group walk at a local park or safe outdoor space. Encourage participants to walk mindfully, focusing on their breath, the rhythm of their steps, and the calmness of nature.
Below is an announcement you might share, with details and a warm invitation that emphasizes mindfulness and community care:
Mindful Nature Walk & Mental Health Community Event
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Schedule & Details:
Morning Gathering & Nature Walk
Meet at the Indian River County Main Library to begin our group nature walk. As we stroll together, we encourage you to walk mindfully tuning into the rhythm of your steps, focusing on your breath, and immersing yourself in the calmness of nature. This is an opportunity to find peace, recharge, and connect with others who value mental well-being through a shared outdoor experience.
Veterans Crisis Line Resource at the Main Library
While at the library, you may wish to access the chat computer capabilities for our Veterans Crisis Line support. Veterans and their loved ones may access chat with Veterans Crisis Line. This confidential support service is available 24/7 for those in need of immediate, caring assistance.
Mental Health Court Event for Court Case 2022 CF 001383 A
At 2:00 PM, 6/17/2025, join us at the Indian River County Courthouse for the Mental Health Court event provided by the 19th Florida Circuit Court. This session is designed to highlight how our judicial system is integrating mental health support services, and it offers valuable insights for community members, legal professionals, and those interested in the intersection of mental wellness and justice.
Meeting Locations & Contacts: location for Indian River County Main Library - Search, location for Indian River County Court House - Search Contact Desha Baker for details: (772) 643-6170 or email lovethoughtful@gmail.com. I invite everyone, community members, families, and especially our veterans to join in this day of mindful movement, supportive resources, and community dialogue. The balanced combination of a nature walk and a focused event on mental health provides a space for healing, evaluation, and education.
Feel free to share this announcement with friends or colleagues who might benefit from a mindful pause in nature or need to connect with critical support resources.
If you are curious about techniques to deepen your mindful walking practice or want to learn more about the exciting initiatives around mental health support in our community, we may explore additional resources on mindfulness, local community engagement projects, or even creative ways to incorporate evaluative practices into everyday routines.
Evaluation: Upon returning, gather for a meeting where everyone may share how the activity affected their mood and stress levels. Optionally, use simple heart rate monitors as suggested in my materials to track physical responses.
Commitment to Ongoing Action: Encourage the group to schedule regular walks as a collective self-care challenge, using social media to share experiences with hashtags #MindfulSteps or #ThriveTogether.
This activity is inspired by the emphasis on paced walking and nature’s healing effects for managing PTSD symptoms, as described in my presentation.
5. Creative Campaign & Social Media Collaboration Session
Group Topic:
Brainstorming Captivating Captions, Hashtags, and Visuals for PTSD Awareness
Structured Activity:
Icebreaker: Ask participants to share a single word that captures what PTSD awareness means to them.
Brainstorming Workshop: Facilitate a creative session where the group develops engaging captions and creative content ideas for social media posts. Example prompts might include “How can we tell our story in 10 words?” or “What image best represents community healing?”
Hashtag and Campaign Planning: Work together to generate relevant hashtags (such as #SpeakYourStory, #CherishingBehaviors, #ThriveTogether) and outline a sample campaign calendar, noting key date, PTSD Screening Day.
Role Play and Feedback: Let groups role-play a brief online post or video snippet. Follow with constructive feedback round to develop the messaging and tone.
Documentation: Compile the ideas into a shared document for further development and to serve as a launchpad for your broader digital campaign.
This collaborative session is meant to harness social media’s expansive reach while focusing on authentic, personal storytelling and structured, creative output, echoing the ideas in my Cherishing Behaviors presentation.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these group topics and corresponding activities is designed to spark engaging conversation and to provide a clear structure that participants may follow. With integrating personal storytelling, self-care check-ins, technology, nature-based mindfulness, and creative content development, you may build a multifaceted program to support mental health, foster community, and amplify PTSD awareness.
Which of these group activities resonates with your vision? Would you like to explore further ways to integrate technology or perhaps expand the creative brainstorming component for your social media campaign? There is always room to evolve the framework to better match the needs of your community and your campaign goals.
