Be Kind to Yourself
Mental Health Resources
The information in this exhibit may evoke strong emotional reactions for all viewers, including survivors or descendants of residential schools. It is important to be kind to yourself when these emotions are triggered.
Thinking about how residential school affected you can lead to positive or negative thoughts or memories. Revisiting painful memories can be an important step in the healing process. It can also lead to difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
For some people, strong emotional reactions are normal. This can happen immediately, within hours, days or weeks after. Your reactions may even surprise you. It is helpful to have a vision of how to take care of yourself as a way to honor what you have been through.
Self-care Strategies
- Nurture yourself
- Take walks and exercise
- Get out on the land
- Smudge, pray, sing
- Sew, drum, dance
- Get plenty of rest
- Laugh, cry, talk
- Seek spiritual guidance
- Eat healthy foods
- Ask for help
- Seek counseling
Information provided in part by Indigenous Services Canada
Tribal Resources
Bay Mills
(906) 248-5527
Monday-Friday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.
baymillshealthcenter.com/behavioral-health
Hannahville
(906) 466-2878
Monday-Friday 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
hannahvillehealthcenter.com/behavioral-health
Keweenaw Bay
(906) 353-4532
Monday-Friday 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
kbichealth.org/behavioral-services
Lac Vieux Desert
(906) 358-0252
Monday-Friday 7:30 A.M. to 4 P.M.
lvdhealthcenter.com/content/behavioral-health.Cfm
Sault Tribe
(906) 635-6075
Monday-Friday 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
saulttribehealth.com
National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
NABS has many compiled self-care resources available on their website:
boardingschoolhealing.org/self-care-resources
Crisis Hotline
If you need to speak with someone now:
Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Or text HOME to 741741