The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan - be nice.

08/25/2026

Rounding out the National Wellness Month highlight on the Mental Health Monday segment, Christy emphasizes the importance of practicing positive coping skills!

🌱 The work of engaging in protective factors to protect your mental health goes beyond the month of August. It is something that you can return to every day to create a strong foundation for a self care routine. As different challenges in life arise, such as transitioning back into the school routine or bracing the change of season, you have a plan in place to empower yourself to remain resilient.

🍎 On the note of challenges and connection in the midst of change, we encourage the practice of wellness check-ins with your child(ren) as the school year unfolds. This can help parents and guardians notice the good and right about the child to be able to identify when there is a change in their demeanor, one that could indicate a mental health struggle. As mentioned on the segment, here is where you can view our wellness tips to engage in with your child(ren): https://bit.ly/4gsOpqV

When we have an understanding of our state of well being, we can find ease in connection to other things that are greater than ourselves, engaging in activities and communities one may belong to. In the same way you should treat others with respect and dignity, don't forget to practice it towards yourself too. And most importantly, remember to be nice.- it can not just impact a life, but may even save one. 💚🩷

Christy Buck from the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan dis...

08/24/2026

As the new school year begins, it is an opportunity to establish wellness check-ins with the children and teens in your life! 🏫

We came up with some open ended questions that you can practice at home! Rather than focusing on general feelings, these specific questions may be a way to invite your child to process emotions or sensations they experienced throughout their school day in a safe way. More importantly, we hope that it may create meaningful conversations to deepen the relationship you share with your child(ren).

🌱 A tip to consider when inviting these conversations is to try side-by-side timing, meaning that you may ask the questions when they are engaged in an activity at home where eye contact does not have to be forced and can produce natural dialogue without any pressure (think: when you are driving them somewhere, when you are cooking dinner, or when coloring, crafting, or on a walk together).

✏️ Remember: validate the child or teen's feelings. If they share something difficult, acknowledge how that could have made them feel (ex: "That sounds really difficult. Thank you for sharing that with me.") before jumping into problem-solving mode. Even if you do not have the ability to offer an immediate solution, never underestimate the power of showing them that you are listening, as making them feel heard and seen matters to their sense of self.

🍎 And always watch for the signs and symptoms of potential mental health challenges. If you notice that your child shows prolonged sadness, behavioral changes that are unlike their usual self, withdraws or disengages from activities that they enjoy, or mentions self-harm, seek support from a professional: school counselor, therapist, or physician, as examples.

Wishing parents, teachers, school staff and faculty, along with the students a wonderful year ahead! And remember..... be nice! 💚🎒🩷

08/21/2026

Join us for our FREE Mental Health First Aid Training! Wednesday, September 30, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. through a blended/virtual delivery. 💻

Topics covered include:
✔ Anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions
✔ Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges
✔ How to interact with a person in crisis
✔ Expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care

Participants will complete self-paced pre work and then complete the second part virtually via Zoom. Registered participants will receive instructions for pre-work and a link to log on for the virtual component.

Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. With support from the City of Grand Rapids through participatory funding, be nice. is providing training, with the goal of helping the community look out for one another and prioritize mental well-being.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4qaApoX

08/21/2026

Next up for our staff wellness highlights is Hannah! 💚

A woman of many trades and hobbies, Hannah inspires the team with her ability to create. Who else thinks her yard is the epitome of garden goals?!? 🌸 And dont get us started on the adorable Halloween quilt project! 🎃

As Hannah demonstrated in her highlight, the process of tending to or producing something that taps into
creativity can lower stress, build self esteem, and provide space to process whatever may be on one’s
mind. 💭 And above all else, it helps us build resilience!

08/19/2026

Another day of lights, camera, and action!!! 🎞️

Ingalls Pictures had us in their studio today to film our next media and mental health educational movie in our series. We continue to feel so grateful for their team’s vision, production, professionalism, accommodations, and talented storytelling to make our ideas come to life! We cannot say enough great things about them!

As we begin to wrap up this round, we want to again emphasize how grateful we are to each individual who showed interest in auditioning, the commitment and passion that the actors demonstrated in the process, along with the time and patience their parents/guardians exemplified with supporting them throughout the long filming days. We literally couldn’t have done it without you. 🙏

Here’s to continuing spreading the be nice. action plan and educating individuals on mental health and su***de prevention— especially in ways they can relate to. 🙌 Or, so we hope, when the viewers get to see the final product. We cannot wait to share!!!! 💚

08/19/2026

What does your gut have to do with your mental health? 🧠🦠

In this episode, we’re joined by Cam Forton, a Ph.D. candidate at Van Andel Institute, to explore the gut microbiome, human behavior and the growing research around the gut-brain connection.

Listen to the latest episode to learn more!

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08/18/2026

Behind the scenes at our next filming with the Ingalls Pictures team! 🎬 New topics, actors, and educational content for our schools to be empowered with! Particularly when it comes to social media and one’s mental health. 💻

We are incredibly impressed with the local talent that auditioned for these last two movies we have been working on. The actors’ dedication to bringing the script to life and committing their personal time to get it filmed is something we don’t take for granted. We couldn’t do it without them! ✨

We cannot wait to see the final outcome! 😆

08/18/2026

This week's Mental Health Monday segment continues to have a wellness focus to highlight National Wellness Month- this time, featuring Camilla Voelker!

As a clinical herbalist, wellness coach, and community educator, Camilla, founder of A Season of Wellness, brings awareness to how herbs can support our mind and body as well as the empowerment that can come from understanding messages from one's nervous system.

Camilla specializes in supporting women struggling with stress and experiencing hyperarousal symptoms. With the understanding that herbalism and coaching are not a one-size-fits-all models of support, Camilla offers personalized care for each woman's unique circumstances. Her approach is to educate each client about their nervous system cues as well as identifying herbs that can become allies to support one's physiology.

​Along with one on one coaching, Camilla offers community events and workshops, often partnering with Gathered Botanicals and Blandford Nature Center, to educate community members about the benefits of herbs and the connection we share with them.

🌱 Connect with Camilla here: https://bit.ly/4g67Rt9
🌼 Upcoming community events: https://learn.benice.org/4g3Yrym

This month, WOOD is highlighting ways to create healthy daily habit...

08/17/2026

Consumers Credit Union has included be nice. as a featured nonprofit in their Round Up for Impact, a feature within Online Banking that allows you to round up your debit card purchases to the next dollar and choose from a range of trusted nonprofits, like us! 🌱

Enroll through their Online Banking and help us grow and make difference—one purchase at a time. 🌟

Learn more: https://www.consumerscu.org/round-up

08/17/2026

The annual Shannon E. Benton Memorial Golf Outing cannot take place without the individuals who choose to participate. Between their donations of funds and personal time, this commitment to supporting be nice. programming is something that makes a bigger impact than each golfer realizes. We feel so fortunate to also have Shannon’s family and friends who are committed to raising awareness around her love for be nice. along with being mental health advocates. 💚

We are so grateful for Shannon’s devotion to our organization during her lifetime and now in the name of her legacy. 💐

Thank you golfers! We hope to see you next year! ⛳️