Women from across the region gathered Nov. 17 for a candid and uplifting conversation about mental health, identity and the power of community during the Farmville Parks and Recreation Department’s “Mind Your BUSINESS” panel discussion.
Organizers said the goal of the event was to “help women differentiate between self-identity and societal pressures, provide helpful resources and forge community relationships, and promote self-reflection, allowing women to focus on their overall physical and mental health.”
The evening featured a panel of mental health professionals including Dr. Maria Almond, MD, MPH, health director at the Piedmont Health District; Elizabeth Chassey, LPC, mental health therapist with Crossroads Community Services Board; Kandy Hayes, LPC-R, LMHCA, resident in counseling and owner of Higher Moments PLLC; and Alexis Hurt, certified mental health peer support specialist at Crossroads Community Services Board. They guided discussion around the challenges women face today and the resources that can support their well-being.
To spark conversation, panelists were asked questions about societal pressures, how those struggles affect mental health, how to recognize when help is needed, and what issues stand out in their professional and personal experiences.
Chassey helped frame the night’s conversation by acknowledging both the burden and beauty of womanhood.
“The phrase I used as the scaffolding for my presentation points was ‘The cards are stacked against us. Women have challenges in spades; it affects our minds and our hearts, but we are multifaceted and resilient like diamonds, and if we come together as a club, we thrive!’” she said.
She pointed to the stress of emotional labor, noting that “the often uneven distribution of emotional labor puts a strain on women’s mental health,” and reminded participants that “trauma impacts our brains, bodies, relationships, and functioning long after the actual incident.”
Hayes and Hurt added that women’s experiences are also shaped by broader societal issues including sexual abuse, domestic violence and limited access to care. Their discussion segment — titled “Let’s really get into it!” — highlighted transportation and financial barriers that continue to stand between many women and the services they need.
The presenters explained that mental wellness is influenced by the Eight Dimensions of Wellness — environmental, intellectual, physical, occupational, spiritual, social, financial and emotional — which together create a holistic foundation for health.
Hurt noted that these dimensions of wellness play a huge rule in mental health by creating a holistic framework for overall wellbeing.
The panelists also guided attendees in recognizing the difference between poor mental health and mental illness, and when professional help should be sought.
Hurt noted that factors such as domestic violence, sexual abuse and lack of accessible health care lead to conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. Emotional distress, along with chronic pain and reproductive and sexual changes can lead to behavioral and social impacts, such as substance abuse.
Burnout — whether at work or at home — was a recurring theme. Chassey described it as “mental and physical fatigue, that lingering sense of dread, depression, anxiety and a limited ability to cope and to find joy.”
She encouraged women to set boundaries in a world that often expects them to shrink themselves.
“Everyone deserves to have boundaries! Women are socialized to be demure, so sometimes it can be hard to remember that you are allowed to be assertive, and it is not the same thing as being aggressive,” Chassey said.
Self-care, she emphasized, should never feel selfish.
“Self-care and rest are not things you earn, they’re things you need, just like sleep and food,” she said. “They’re also things you deserve.”
Throughout the night, panelists reinforced that no single definition of womanhood exists.
“There are unlimited numbers of ways to be a woman; womanhood includes vast diversity, so we really cannot be put in a box by outdated expectations,” Chassey said.
She also gave attendees practical tools, saying, “I taught the group about diaphragmatic breathing and provided breathing exercises.”
As women shared their own experiences — often validating and encouraging one another — Chassey said the strength in the room was palpable.
“Some key issues brought up by attendees that stood out to me were boundaries and reframing your thoughts to help with empowerment and motivation,” she said. “The women in attendance made some very interesting and important points, and it was so empowering and heartwarming to watch the attendees advise and support each other based on their own experiences.”
Together, the presenters underscored the importance of community. “Being a woman can be hard, but it is also so beautiful, especially when we support each other,” Chassey said. “Community and connection are essential to mental health healing and prevention. We need each other, and we thrive when we lift each other up.”
Officials with Farmville Parks and Recreation Department said the event’s success signals a strong desire for more opportunities where women can speak openly about mental health and walk away feeling seen, supported and strengthened.
“Our female and male mental health community forums were powerful and impactful,” Recreation Specialist Krystle Watkins said on a Facebook post after the programs. “Our panelists delivered great insight and direction to help us all handle the issues we face every day. Our community ambassadors and sponsors shared resources and services in our community for mental health and wellness. We shared testimonies, food and fellowship.”
Watkins added that once the connections were made, the question of the night was, “What’s next?”
Plans are underway to continue offering wellness-focused programs — ensuring that the empowerment and connection fostered during the first two panel discussions focused on the mental health of men and women will continue to grow throughout the community.
Anyone wanting more information on this event, or future events, is asked to contact Parks and Recreation at 434-391-1125 or email kwatkins@farmvilleva.com.