YMCA Launches RISE Mental Health Program

FAIRLESS HILLS - River Crossing YMCA is launching a new mental health and stress management program in the lower Bucks community this fall. The free 12-week RISE Pathway program is designed to help individuals learn to manage and embrace stress, as well as enhance overall well-being through self-care, self-compassion and social interaction.

For its first session, RISE will take place once a week in person at the Fairless Hills branch of River Crossing YMCA at 601 S Oxford Valley Rd. beginning Sept. 22. Participants will also meet once a week virtually for additional resources and support. The RISE Pathway program is free and open to the community. Participants need not be a member of the YMCA to participate.

“We continue to learn and understand that supporting community health and wellness means addressing what holds us back as individuals,” explained Trish Feinthel, chief operations officer for River Crossing YMCA. “Stress, self-doubt and the anxiety these issues fuel is common, yet often unaddressed barriers to wellness. Our goal is to provide people with tools, resources and practices to overcome these challenges on their way to achieving their best selves.”

Over the 12 weeks, with guidance from trained YMCA wellness coaches employing evidence-based practices, participants will learn about the five pillars of health: sleep, stress management, nutrition, movement and community. Participants receive a free, 12-week family membership to the Y for the duration of the program, as well as free membership to Y Wellness 24/7, the Y’s online health and wellness platform. Anyone interested in learning more and signing up is invited to visit the RISE webpage. RISE is one of four free, donor-supported community health and wellness Pathway programs for adults offered by River Crossing YMCA in Bucks County this fall. Along with RISE, the Fairless Hills branch is running the Healthy Lifestyles, THRIVE Cancer Wellness and Veterans Wellness Pathway programs. Healthy Lifestyles, a 12-week program to help prevent chronic disease, THRIVE for adults surviving cancer, and the Veterans Wellness Pathway program for active or retired military Veterans and a partner are also being offered at the Doylestown and Quakertown branches, with the Veterans program running at the Warminster branch as well. More information and an inquiry form can be found on the Y’s free Pathway programs webpage. These programs are open and free to the community, and enrollment is open through Sept. 15.