b"MENTAL HEALTHWinter Blues or SAD? By Debbie Stafford, MA, CAS carbohydrates pastor,shehasservedonthepas-toralstaffsoftwolargechurchesin Weight GainH ave you or a loved one experiencedSocial Isolation Denver,CO.Debbiehasbeenwith a change in mood as we enter intotheAuroraMentalHealthCenterfor daylight savings time and the WinterFeeling hopeless, self-injury andover 18 years.She is currently their Season?The Winter Blues are associ- thinking of suicide Legislative Director.atedwithlesssunlight.DuringtheWinterBluesmayimpactpeopleDebbie is a nationally trained Mental wintermonthsindividualswithlim- wholivewithlesssunlight(alsodif- Health First Aid Instructor.She is cer-ited access to sunlight fail to produceferentregionssuchasAlaska,etc).tified to train Adults, First Responders enoughVitaminDintheirbodies.People whose family has a history ofincluding Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, Vitamin D assists in producing sero- memberswhostrugglewithdepres- Military and Youth Leaders in Mental tonin,aneurotransmitterthathelpssion,includingmajordepressionorHealth First Aid.She was awarded to regulate moods, appetite, sleep andbipolar disorder.Females and thoseMental Health First Aid Instructor of ourenergylevels.Withoutenoughworkingindarkenvironmentslikethe Year in Colorado, four years ago VitaminD,ourbodiesproducelessoffices without windows or those whoafter she came along side an Aurora serotonin.This impacts negative moodwork night shifts.Poor gut health alsoFirstResponderandCCAinstructor, shifts, feeling extremely tired and eat- impacts our mental well-being. who lost memory after a stroke.She ing an unhealthy diet. taughtwithhimattheCommunity Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD,Ways to improve the Winter Blues: CollegeofAurorafornearlyayear impacts individuals more severely andGet more sunlight exposure anduntilheregainedenoughmemoryto canbesupportedbyincreasedself- exercise Debbie Stafford teach on his own.As an Auctioneer, care and often times adding therapeu- Add a sun lamp in your environ- Debbie has raised millions of dollars tic support in your life.Symptoms ofment for increased indoor light for many of Colorados Charities.the Winter Blues could include: Change your dietadd probioticsYou are not alone! Call the AuroraSheco-authoredthemanual, and yogurt to your dietas well asMental Health Center if you need helpShattered Dreams, a Biblical OutlookConstantlyfeelingoverwhelmedfruits and vegetables @ 303-617-2300. on Domestic Violence.She also assist-or sad ed in the writing of The Welfare of My Feeling tired physically and men- Add Vitamin D and a daily health- Neighbor through the Rocky Mountain tally ier diet (learn about gut health andAbout Debbie Stafford ResearchCouncilinWashington, choose a healthier diet) D.C.andhasrecentlyco-authored, Sleeping more Get healthier sleep (go to bed andDebbie Stafford completed her fourthA Journey Through Emotional Abuse,Havingahardtimeconcentrat- getupatthesametimeavoidand final term (due to term limits) asFrom Bondage to Freedom.ing napsavoid caffeine) a Colorado State Representative serv- DebbiecontinuesherPastoralcare ingHouseDistrict40in2009.Rep.by officiating funerals for a local funer- Losinginterestinpersonalhob- Engage with social activities Stafford has worked as a domestic vio- al home.She is also a political com-bies and activities See a therapist to help how youlence counselor part time for the pastmentator for KPOF Radio and a moti- Increasedcravingsofsugarandthink about your situation twentynineyears.Asanordainedvational speaker.PROFILEMary Mcleod Bethune Education Award: Rochelle T. DickeyRochelleT.DickeyisthedeanofstudentsandBoard of Directors for several years. Her involvementdean Victor Nelson-Cisneros qualities in supporting vice president for Student Life at Colorado College.incommunityprojectshasfocusedonenhancingdiversity and inclusion on campus.She has previously served as senior associate deaneducation and access for youth so that they mightThe Urban League Service Award for her commit-of students, associate dean, and director of minorityhavethekindofsupportshereceivedasafirst- ment to the welfare of minority students on campus. studentlife,anddirectorofminorityandinterna- generation college student. Additionally,Dickeyreceived tional students, also at Colorado College. Rochelle isTheRochelleT.Dickeythe CC Student Mentor Award honored and excited to lead the Student Life DivisionAwardforanOutstandingforfiveyearsandAdvising in bringing the College's values and mission to lifeEventContributingtotheAwardsfromtheColorado through our ability to connect, integrate, and engageEmpowerment of CommunitiesCollegeStudentGovernment students. ofColorispresentedbytheAssociation, as well as the Blue Since 1990, she has worked to improve the lives ofButlerCenteratColoradoKey and Mortar Board National students by creating constructive conversation andCollege.Shewasafirst-gen- Honor Societies.buildingbridges.ShereceivedtheVictorNelson- erationstudentatColorado Cisneros Award for her commitment to diversity andCollegeandearnedherBAin inclusion for all members of the CC community andDrama from CC and a Master'sDickeyreceivedthe an Urban League Service Award for commitment toinEducationwithafocusonCommunityEducationAward thewelfareofminoritystudents.DickeyreceivedInterculturalCounselingfromand the Freedom Fund Award threeawardsfromtheNAACP;theCommunitytheUniversityofColoradoatfrom the NAACP, as well as rec-EducationAward,FreedomFundAward,andwasColoradoSprings.Shehasognitionforenduringsupport recognized for enduring support of civil rights anddirectedandco-producedof civil rights and social justice. socialjustice.ShealsoreceivedtheCCStudentnumeroustheatricalperfor- TheGreshamRileyAwardin MentorAwardforfiveyears,aswellasAdvisingmancesatColoradoCollege2017, which recognizes faculty Awards from CCSGA Student Government, Blue Key,over the years, performed pro- andstaffwhohavemadea and Mortar Board National Honor Societies. fessionally, served as assistantsignificant difference to the CC Rochellehasservedonandchairednumerousdirector of Mariachi Tigre, andcommunitythroughoutstand-campusandnationalcommittees,includingtheis a member of the CC Choir.Rochelle T. Dickey ingservice,commitment,and AssociatedCollegesoftheMidwestCommitteeonShe is also a proud CC parent,accomplishment.Minority Concerns. She is very excited and honoredas her son recently graduatedIn addition to her work sup-to be a recent recipient of the Gresham Riley Awardfrom Colorado College. portingtheCCcommunity,Dickeywasdeeply for making a difference in the Colorado College com- Dean Dickey, will retire in Spring 2023, followinginvolved in outreach and partnership efforts to con-munitythroughoutstandingservice,commitment,the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year. nectthecollegetothebroaderColoradoSprings and accomplishment. Dickey earned several awards for her dedicationcommunity, including through the community-wide She also has been instrumental in outreach andto students. She received the Victor Nelson-CisnerosMartin Luther King, Jr. celebration, and serving on partnership efforts that connect CC to the greaterAward as a result of her commitment to diversity andthe African American Youth Leadership Conference ColoradoSpringscommunityandhasservedoninclusion. The Victor Nelson-Cisneros Award is givenBoard of Directors.the African-American Youth Leadership Conferenceto faculty and staff who exemplify former associate 10 JANUARY 2023 BOCNEWS.com"