Wellness Resources

May is Mental Health Month at CGCC!

Green Means GrOw! Moving Forward Together

Throughout May, CGCC will host a variety of events and feature resources focused on mental health awareness and support. From fun and engaging activities like button making and BinGO!, to informative trainings, nature walks, connection groups and more, there's something for everyone to participate in and learn from. Our goal is to promote mental wellness, provide valuable resources, and foster open discussions within our college community.

Read more about the theme for the month in a special Campus Currents article (link coming soon), watch your emails and social media for reminders, and view the CGCC calendar to keep up to date on all that is happening!

If you need assistance or to speak with someone about your mental health, please visit the Student Support Services and Community Resources pages for ways to connect with staff and both on campus and community care options.

Join us in celebrating Mental Health Month as we prioritize health, well-being and GrOwing forward together!

Grow Through Fun!, Community Building, Awareness and Action

Let’s GrOw through this together. When the world feels heavy, small actions and shared moments of joy in community can help lighten the load. Whether you're creating something uplifting, showing your support in green, or joining in a wellness challenge, each act nurtures belonging, resilience, and personal growth.

CGCC Button Making Parties

Create. Share. Grow encouragement.
Just like seeds, kind words can spark growth. A button may seem small, but the message it carries can take root in someone’s heart and help them keep going.

Drop in and design your own button pin—featuring words of encouragement, mental health affirmations, or messages of hope. You can keep one and wear it proudly, and make some to pass along to brighten someone else’s day. These small tokens become conversation starters and symbols of support across campus. Yummy green-themed snacks will be provided (while supplies last).

Be Seen in Green! - Wednesdays, May 7th, 14th, & 21st

Wear green. Show support. Grow awareness.
Green is the color of renewal, healing, and mental health awareness. By wearing green, we become part of something bigger—helping reduce stigma and cultivate a more compassionate campus culture. Each green shirt, ribbon, or accessory is a sign that growth is possible, support is real, and no one has to face challenges alone.

Whether it’s a bold shirt or a small accessory, your green sends a message: we care about each other’s well-being. On one of these Wednesdays, May 14th, Student Life will hold a Resource Fair, offering access to mental health tools, community services, and wellness strategies. We hope you come decked out in your green to celebrate together and grab some green swag!

BinGO! Wellness Cards and Raffle (Prize for Students Only)

GO! GROW! and WIN!
Wellness is like tending a garden—it takes steady care, small actions, and attention over time. Each activity you complete helps plant new habits, strengthen roots of resilience, and nurture your overall well-being. This challenge is your chance to build momentum and watch your wellness grow—one intentional step at a time.

Pick up or download your BinGO! card (more info coming soon) to complete a series of self-care, connection, and kindness challenges throughout the month. Each activity is a small step toward supporting your mental health—whether it's going for a walk, sharing a compliment, or spending time offline in nature. These everyday actions can spark lasting habits that help you thrive.

Turn in or submit your completed card by the end of May to be entered into a raffle for a self-care basket packed with wellness goodies—including two generously donated gift certificates to The Society Hotel soaking pool in Bingen.

Bonus!!! Share a short reflection (form link coming soon) about how the activities supported your wellbeing or that of others, and receive a small gift of appreciation and an extra raffle entry! Reflections will be shared out anonymously so the community can celebrate the accomplishment and impact.

Zoom Background and Email Signature

Show You’re Growing With Us
Sometimes support is as simple as being seen. Add a Mental Health Month Zoom background or email signature image to show your commitment to wellness, connection, and reducing stigma. These small digital touches help grow a culture of compassion, remind others they’re not alone, and spark meaningful conversations—one screen at a time.

Download your “Green Means Grow” graphics and plant a little encouragement in your daily digital spaces. (coming soon)

Thank you to staff and administration members, Jessica Griffin-Connor, Tom Penberthy, Karly Aparacio, Dezi Remington, and Emilie Sanchez-Lopez for their help with writing, editing, designing, financial and other supports in making events listed in this section possible, as well as The Society Hotel and Spa for their donation to the prize basket. Thank you also to faculty members Jessie, Leigh, Tina and Emilie for supporting the button making event on the HR campus.

Grow Through Nature, Creativity and Presence

Root yourself to grow from within.
In a world filled with constant notifications, screen time, and information overload, it's easy to lose touch with the present moment - and with ourselves. These activities invite you to take a step back, slow down, and grow your awareness, resilience and sense of calm by tuning into your body, your breath, and the natural world around you.

NOTE: Each one of these events will be considered a "digital detox" opportunity - encouraging participants to take intentional time away from phones and screens - helping reduce anxiety, improve attention, and support more meaningful experiences.

Mindful Mondays - May 5th, 12th, & 19th

Start your week grounded.
Just like a plant needs stillness time to root before it can bloom, you grow when you slow down and find your center.

Join us each Monday for a brief guided mindfulness practice focused on breathing, to help reset your mindset, calm your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself—an essential part of emotional wellness and personal growth.

Monday, May 5th | 12:00 pm (Rm. TBD and zoom option)- Take some time to de-stress and start mid-term week right! Join us for a very brief guided meditation led by staff member and previous yoga instructor, Ashley Beardmore.

Monday, May 12th | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | TD/CGCC Ampitheater - Join us for a longer meditation with Monk Kozen, utilizing the Meta Method of mindfulness.

Monday, May 19th | 12:00 pm | (Rm. TBD and zoom option) - Week 8 of the term can bring its own unique set of challenges. Join us for a very brief guided meditation led by staff member and yoga instructor, Andrea Chrisman.

Thank you to the staff members listed above, as well as Marco Beitl and community member Monk Kozen for their help and leading of these mindfulness activities!

Nature Walks - Wednesday, May 7th (HR), Thursday, May 8th (TD)

Step outside and into well-being.
Nature is a living example of growth and renewal. Spending time in green spaces can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more alive.

Take a break from your screen and join a group nature walk through nearby trails or green spaces. These guided walks may include reflection prompts or simply quiet, tech-free time in nature—a powerful way to reduce stress, improve mood, and foster a sense of connection to the world around you.

Wednesday, May 7th | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | Hood River Campus: Meet in the front entrance near the fireplace.
Thursday, May 8th | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | The Dalles Campus: Meet in the foyer of Building 3, in front of Student Services.

Thank you to Ryan Brusco and Leigh Hancock for their help and co-leadership of the nature walk activities!

Art and Display Board Activities

Creating Calm: Guided Art for Wellness and Reflection
Tuesday, May 13th & 20th | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | The Dalles Campus, Rm TBD

These guided art sessions offer students a creative and reflective space to explore their personal wellness, needs, and sources of joy. Using thoughtful prompts, participants will be encouraged to visually express their needs and the
environments, experiences, or spaces—real or imagined—that make them feel happy, rejuvenated, or at peace.

No prior artistic experience is necessary; the emphasis is on the process, not the product. This session supports holistic well-being by encouraging students to slow down, reflect inward, and envision the spaces that nurture their sense of balance and calm.

Calm Space with Reflective Activity (more information coming soon)

Thank you to staff member Fen Kacin for their leadership and planning of these events!

Grow Through Connection and Appreciation

"Leaves of Love" Post-It Project (All Month)

Let your gratitude show and grow. Words have the power to uplift, heal, and connect us. Throughout the month, students, faculty, and staff are invited to "plant" green Post-It notes across campus, sharing appreciation or notes of encouragement for those who have inspired, supported, or contributed to their wellness and success. (locations to pick up post its will be announced soon)

When you receive a green Post-It, help continue the growth by placing your note on the collaborative display in Building 3. Together, we’ll form the canopy of a tree, symbolizing how our connections not only help us grow, but also offer shelter during life’s stormy seasons and nurture deeper roots within our community.

Thank you to student helpers and those manning post-it locations, and to Ashley Beardmore for help in brainstorming, designing and constructing the tree.

Green Light Connection Circle (students only, days/times TBD by participants)

Give yourself the green light to connect.
Like a green light at an intersection, this circle is an invitation to move forward—toward vulnerability, empathy, and shared growth. This weekly small group invites students into a space of encouragement, trust, and intentional friendship-building. Each session includes gentle prompts around growth and wellness—fostering connection and reducing feelings of loneliness. The last week will include a simple service project, either created by the group, or one designed to support at-risk youth in our community.

This group will be limited to 6-8 interested students. If you are interested in joining the connection circle, please complete the interest form(link coming soon). If you have questions about participation, please contact Shayna Dahl.

Wellness Club Creation and Recruitment

Grow something that lasts.
Plant the seeds for future student wellness activities and support! Your involvement now can create lasting impact. Help shape the beginnings of a new student-led Wellness Club focused on promoting mental health, connection, and community care on campus. Students can get involved as leaders or members to help guide future events, peer support opportunities, and resource sharing.

Complete the interest form(coming soon) if you would like to contribute to the formation of this club or become a founding officer/member. The club would likely start in Fall of 2025. If you have questions about participation, please contact Shayna Dahl.

Grow Through Trainings

Learn, prepare and grow stronger. Faculty, Staff and Students are welcome to attend all presentations unless marked. Even if you have taken these before, come for a refresh of these important skills! Please note that the two trainings in The Dalles are back to back, with a short break in between, and you can attend just one or both. Additional trainings are available for staff only through the EAP events and resources listed below.

QPR Training

Friday, May 9th | 9:30 - 11 am | The Dalles, Room TBD

This QPR Suicide Prevention Training is a 90 minute educational program designed to teach the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. We regret we are unable to provide a QPR training in Hood River at this time.

Opioid Rescue (Naloxone) Trainings

Friday, May 9th | 11:15 am-11:45 am | The Dalles, Room TBD
Wednesday, May 14th | 12 pm - 1 pm | Hood River, Room TBD

This training reviews the symptoms of opioid overdose and explains the importance of anti-narcotic medications in saving lives. Participants will learn how to administer a dose of NARCAN (naloxone) nasal spray to assist an individual experiencing a suspected overdose until emergency services can arrive. Supply kits will be provided.

Thank you to our community partners, Debbie Jones at Youth Think and Daron Ryan from the Hood River County Health Department for presenting these trainings.

Canopy EAP Staff Webinars: More information coming soon!

Grow Through Reading: Library Book Displays and Wellness Resources

Feed your mind to nurture your growth.
Discover books and resources on mental wellness, personal growth, and resilience with our special Mental Health Month collection and display. Browse the books, borrow titles that inspire your growth, and check out campus and community resources available to support your well-being!

Thank you to staff member Danny Jacobson for leading this project and designing the library display!