WELL, THE BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS PARTICIPATING IN A NEW WELLNESS INITIATIVE TO HELP RIDERS COPE WITH HOLIDAY STRESS. THE INITIATIVE IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEAL ON WHEELS, WHICH BRINGS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY. WVTM 13 MYA CALEB JOINS US LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM THIS MORNING. AND MAYA, HOW CAN RIDERS GET ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TODAY? GOOD MORNING, SARA CARLA. WELL, IF YOU PLAN ON TAKING THE CENTRAL STATION TO THE WOODLAWN BIRMINGHAM EXPRESS ROUTE, THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET ON THE BUS. TODAY IS THE SECOND MONTHLY MINDFUL MONDAY SESSION, AND HERE’S WHAT’S BEING OFFERED ON THE ROUTE. RIDERS WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH BREATHING AND GROUNDING EXERCISES, RECEIVE TIPS ON MANAGING HOLIDAY STRESS, AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT MAY HELP THEM EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND START THEIR WEEK IN A BALANCED WAY. THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND BRING RESOURCES TO THOSE IN NEED. SEE THE NEED YOU HEAR ABOUT THE NEED. SO I HAVE JUST DECIDED TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE IT TO THEM, AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE OFFICE OR BRING THEM TO EVENTS. WE’LL JUST COME DIRECTLY TO THE BUS STOP. SO WE’RE CALLING IT SESSION STOPS. WHEN THE BUS STOPS, WE GET OFF, WE HAVE A SESSION OR THEY GET ON, WE HAVE A SESSION AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM GRIEF TO SELF-CARE. RIDERS CAN JUMP ON RIGHT HERE AT CENTRAL STATION STARTING AT 8 A.M., AND THOSE BUS SESSIONS WILL LAST UNTIL 11 A.M. LI
Birmingham transit offers mental health support for holiday stress
Updated: 11:12 AM CST Dec 8, 2025
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority is participating in a wellness initiative with Heal on Wheelz to help riders cope with holiday stress through mental health resources available on the Central Station to Woodlawn Birmingham Express route.Riders on this route will be guided through breathing and grounding exercises, receive tips on managing holiday stress, and engage in conversations to help them express themselves and start their week in a balanced way. The goal is to encourage mental health awareness and bring resources to those in need.”You see the need, you hear about the need, so I have just decided to get out in the community and take it to them as opposed to trying to bring people to the office or bring them to events, we’ll just come directly to the bus stop,” said Dana “Lady Woo” Woodruff from Heal on Wheelz. “So, we’re calling it session stops. When the bus stops, we get off, we have a session or they can get on, we have a session, and we’re talking about everything from grief to self-care.”
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority is participating in a wellness initiative with Heal on Wheelz to help riders cope with holiday stress through mental health resources available on the Central Station to Woodlawn Birmingham Express route.
Riders on this route will be guided through breathing and grounding exercises, receive tips on managing holiday stress, and engage in conversations to help them express themselves and start their week in a balanced way. The goal is to encourage mental health awareness and bring resources to those in need.
“You see the need, you hear about the need, so I have just decided to get out in the community and take it to them as opposed to trying to bring people to the office or bring them to events, we’ll just come directly to the bus stop,” said Dana “Lady Woo” Woodruff from Heal on Wheelz. “So, we’re calling it session stops. When the bus stops, we get off, we have a session or they can get on, we have a session, and we’re talking about everything from grief to self-care.”