To start out 2019 in a positive way, Dallas SWE’s first professional development meeting focused on the importance of mental health and wellness with Dr. Samaiya Mushtaq and the importance of mentorship with Shannon Page from Big Brothers Big Sister. The meeting on January 24, 2019, at La Madeleine in Dallas, started as most meetings do, with members and guests gathering with tasty food, new conversations, and countless opportunities to network or make new friends!
In honor of National Mentoring Month (January), Shannon shared the great work Big Brothers Big Sisters provides to the local community and explained the different ways anyone can get involved. There are three main programs to volunteer through: Community Based, Mentor 2.0, and School/Site Based. Please visit https://www.bbbstx.org/our-work/programs/ for more details on each program and learn about the amazing work of Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Dallas. Volunteers are always needed, so spread to word to others you think would be great mentors, as well!
Dr. Samaiya Mushtaq then led wonderful and much needed discussions that covered mindfulness, recognizing and dealing with stress, and breaking stigmas of mental illness. Since many of us face challenges at both work and home that may cause stress, depression, and feelings of being overwhelmed, the topic was both relatable and beneficial. Small group breakouts included discussing signs of stress and management strategies to avoid overloading ourselves. Dr. Mushtaq also lead a mindfulness meditation activity to bring us back to the moment and help us focus on the here and now. Most importantly, she also covered a range of mental illness issues that are commonly seen in women, including the signs of each and some ways to get help. Since the stigma around stress and mental illness is ongoing, Dr. Mustaq helped us open up about these issues as professional women and encouraged us to continue the discussion in the future.