One New Year’s resolution that is surprisingly hard to keep? Practicing self-care. Sure, it may sound easy enough, but a true path to self-care requires intentionality—and the right partners. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some essential local wellness companies.

Medspa: K Stewart Beauty and Wellness
Start the year fresh and revitalized with a visit to K Stewart Beauty amd Wellness. This Fells Point medspa offers non-invasive beauty-boosting treatments from the inside out, ranging from go-to facials and laser hair removal to hydrating IV therapy. 1310 Fleet St., 443-963-1695

Soaps & Scrubs: Harp Vision
More than skin-deep, Harp Vision body care products were developed with relaxation in mind. Each soap, scrub, and bath tea is formulated with therapeutic natural ingredients, such as eucalyptus, cedarwood, and rosemary, targeted to soothe muscle and joint pain as much as to cleanse the skin.

BEARD CARE: Five O’Clock Co.
There are washes and scrubs, oils and conditioners—a whole routine’s worth of products to keep facial hair soft and skin nourished. Five O’Clock Co.’s artisanal, organic beard care line ensures utmost health and growth for those who want to take their at-home grooming to the next level.

HERBAL APOTHECARY: Stone Row Apothecary
Hand-crafted right here in Charm City, this apothecary’s collection of essential oil roller bottles are designed for on-the-go aroma- therapy, with blends to ease digestion, energize, and more. Be sure to check out their cleaning concentrates—an environmentally friendly solution for maintaining a spotless home.

For almost 40 years, National Alliance on Mental Illness Metropolitan Baltimore (NAMI Metro) has been dedicated to advocacy, education, support and eradicating stigma so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Never before has our work been more relevant. The coronavirus pandemic wrought unemployment, isolation and disruption. It increased conditions such as anxiety and depression. The need for effective resources for those living with these conditions has never been greater and with that need comes an incredible opportunity.

Until recently, those living with mental health conditions often struggled in private. Today we have a greater awareness that our mental health is nothing to hide. Now is the time to make the most of this groundswell of compassionate understanding. Let’s break down stigma. Let’s talk about our mental health. We have the tools to provide those in need with the resources required to live fulfilled, productive lives.

A hallmark of NAMI Metro is our peer-led support network. Our volunteers bravely share their stories to help others. As the area leader for mental health awareness and education we’ve provided 9,000 touch points of service to people in the Baltimore Metropolitan area in the last year alone. While we work with individuals and their families, our mission includes outreach and training with some of the most influential people in businesses, colleges and universities, and emergency services.

Whether our work brings us to a classroom or a corporate boardroom, NAMI Metro and our many community partners are committed to removing the stigma of mental illness. We are proud to share in these pages just a few stories of how our work is building healthy lives for those living with a mental health condition and our community as a whole.

Let’s raise our voices,

Kerry Graves
Executive Director, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore

I WILL LISTEN

David K. Wilson

PRESIDENT OF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

➜ College is a time of critical development for young adults. It’s a time of important milestones that can also be deeply stressful. Studies show anxiety and depression are on the rise among college students and suicide remains the leading cause of death on campuses. Seventy-five percent of mental health conditions develop by age 24.

Understanding the importance of student mental health, Morgan State University allied with NAMI Metro four years ago to create campus-wide programs to destigmatize mental illness and promote wellness. As part of that commitment, Morgan participates in NAMI Metro’s “I Will Listen” program, a weeklong campaign to engage college students in conversation about mental health.The 2021 initiative included a chapel service, an open mic night, and a final “day without headphones” where everyone on campus was encouraged to wear “I Will Listen” t-shirts.

“We’re making a statement to our students that we’re here to listen and share your concerns,” says Danny Molock, PhD, interim coordinator for student life and development.

The pandemic makes this work more relevant than ever, explains David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University.

“Covid has exacerbated the normal mental and psychological challenges that we see on our campus, as it has on college campuses across the nation,” he says. “But it is further exacerbated here at Morgan because so many of our students come from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by Covid.”

Wilson created a mental health task force to engage every aspect of the university in support of mental health. The university is proactive in its programs, bringing therapeutic pets to campus at exam time, sponsoring outdoor “Yoga on the Yard,” to promote relaxation, physical wellness and a sense of community, and offering depression screening.

Importantly, Wilson led by example, asking the counseling center to give a presentation on self-care and stress management to the university’s leadership team during the worst of the pandemic shutdown.

“It’s important for us in leadership to model this and we realize that we, too, need self-care,” says Wilson.

Morgan’s “I Will Listen” week attracted record attendance in 2021. Molock says they’re expanding into more collaborations with NAMI Metro, including a walk for mental health in the spring.

“This generation of students is more willing to share and more willing to listen,” he continues. “They want to be advocates in support of one another.”

Michael Harrison | Derek Loeffler | Joann Wallace

BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

➜ Officers of the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) interact with people experiencing mental health crises every day. From those who experience homelessness and substance use disorders to typical 911 calls, an officer may never know when a situation might be exacerbated by mental illness.

Through training organized by Behavioral Health System Baltimore and community partners, the BPD is training cadets and seasoned officers on how to better identify individuals in crisis so interactions can end in compassion, not handcuffs.

“Crisis intervention trains officers to deal with a person in crisis in a very different way that now uses de-escalation techniques, time, spatial distance and the tools available to them other than force to get people the care they need, rather than taking them into physical custody and making arrests,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison.

NAMI Metro facilitates multiple training sessions as part of the mandatory three-day behavioral health training given to all cadets and helped create new curriculum and experiential learning for the specialized Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) provided to officers on a voluntary basis. NAMI Metro expanded its training to 911 operators in 2021 and has trained nearly 2,000 emergency service personnel since 2016. The program includes partnerships between police officers, social workers and community services.

“An officer might be driving down the street and witness someone in crisis, or they may get a call to a home where there’s a potential family disturbance where the family is having trouble with a loved one,” explains Major Derek Loeffler. “The more training we can give [officers] to understand and respond to those situations, the better equipped they are to serve the residents of Baltimore.”

Not only does CIT provide vital information and tools to officers, Captain Joann Wallace explains that officers enjoy the coursework, especially the role-play that concludes the 40-hour training. Officers like Wallace act out scenarios so trainees can test their skills in a controlled environment before taking it to the street. “It’s a lot of fun and interesting and we’re able to give real-time feedback and the officers can ask questions so that when they take this training out on the street it’s become real for them,” she states.

Much of the training gets to the heart of strong community policing, where communication and relationships play an important role in public safety.

“Understanding crisis and responding to it appropriately without force reduces injury to both community and officers,” says Commissioner Harrison. “It also reduces emotional harm and litigation, which in turn builds trust.”

The greatest take away for officers is that regardless of the situation, don’t rush to a judgement or action.

BREAKING the silence

Patrick Sutton

INTERIOR DESIGNER

➜ It’s impossible to miss the artistry of interior designer Patrick Sutton, whose work graces public spaces, restaurants and private homes in Baltimore and around the globe. He recently released his first book, Storied Interiors, about the stories our spaces tell about our lives and our dreams.

Sutton has his own story to tell, one that influenced the person and designer he is now. In her early 20s, Sutton’s mother began acting erratically. This was the early 1970s, a time when mental illness was simply not discussed. His mother was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and her condition became a family secret.

“As a little boy, you don’t know what’s going on you just know something is wrong. It was awful for a child such as myself because there was no support network,” says Sutton. “My mom’s illness was swept under the rug when what she needed was care. It was like living with a ticking time bomb.”

It wasn’t until later in life that Sutton understood the family secret was nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it defined him as an individual. Lacking an adult role model for “normal” life given his mother’s condition and his father’s absence due to his career as a travel journalist, Sutton grew up being a student of other people, an observer. That skill, and his desire to create beautiful healing environments, informs his work today as a preeminent designer.

“Since I couldn’t heal my mother I’m constantly trying to create environments where I can heal others through design,” says Sutton.

When Sutton took his story public he shared his experience in a speech at a Design Leadership Network conference, an international gathering of designers. At that event he offered a candid view of how his mother’s illness shaped his life and design. “Over the next two days people came up to me individually —not just one or two people, but like 25—and shared their stories from their lives,” he recalls. “Sharing what happened to me gave them license to share what happened to them. That’s what awareness does. It gives people the freedom to know they are not alone.”

When Sutton shared his story publicly, an alliance with NAMI Metro came naturally. He explains that NAMI Metro’s mission to remove the stigma from mental illness is dear to him. His hope is that through his outreach others will learn that not only is mental illness nothing to be ashamed of, sharing one’s experience candidly can be empowering.

“It’s okay to seek help, it’s okay to seek therapy, which is a powerful tool,” Sutton concludes. “What NAMI is doing is shining a light on this, making people realize this isn’t something to be hidden, it is a part of life.”

TOGETHER we support each other

Tchernavia Rocker

Chief People and Administrative Officer Under Armour

➜ As Chief People and Administrative Officer at Under Armour (UA), Tchernavia Rocker ensures that everyone from retail salespeople to executive leaders have a healthy, positive work life. To support that, UA has all the programmatic pieces in place—an employee assistance program, global mindfulness sessions, and No Meeting Friday afternoons in corporate offices, for example. While tools and programs are necessary, Rocker says creating an environment where conversations about mental health are supported has been an important shift.

“We’re creating an environment where it’s okay to engage and we talk openly about taking away stigma,” she says.

UA’s commitment to mental health is closely tied to its Teammate Resource Groups, small groups created within UA’s larger Diversity Equity and Inclusion strategy. These include Black and Latina employees and parents. UA partnered with NAMI Metro in 2019 to learn how to better support employees. Rocker can still recall the first listening session.

“It was the first safe space conversation we had,” she recalls. “We brought teammates together who, maybe for the first time, were talking about mental health. It was one of the most impactful moments of my professional career because I understood, deeply, what it meant for teammates to have a space where they didn’t need to hide anymore about the challenges they might be having…NAMI helped us facilitate those conversations, creating the runway for us to talk about how we can support psychological safety in the workplace.”

Rocker explains that storytelling and the willingness of leadership to guide from a place of their own vulnerability is critical. Rocker experienced this intimately when her husband died unexpectedly in 2021, understandably sending her life into a tailspin. When she told her boss, rather than just ask what she needed, he reached out to UA’s mental health providers to educate himself on how he could best support her.

“A month later when I returned to work he and I told that story to the workforce, of how I could go to my boss and tell him I was struggling,” she recalls. “By telling our story collectively, it opened up the door for other leaders to tell their stories and it was like freedom just ran through the door after that. It just takes one moment of vulnerability by leaders to create a safe space.”

UA advocates storytelling across its entire brand, supporting not only its employees but also its athletes, from the professional to those in youth sports, to be open about their experiences. The partnership with NAMI Metro helps the organization bring evidence-based expertise to help UA navigate this landscape in a meaningful way.

“Mental health is a broad spectrum including acute traumas and diagnoses that require a level of care,” says Rocker. “It comes down to storytelling and making sure that when people tell their story they feel supported and have the resources available to move forward. The focus has to be on creating the space and place to have these conversations.”

In the age of self-care, baths are a must. But the bathing we’re talking about here isn’t so much about a tub overflowing with bubbles, a glass of wine, and candles—although that does sound lovely. Instead, this is a bath with real therapeutic value. Shannon Vaughn, founder and CEO of Easton-based Pursoma, created a brand that focuses on healing the body through relaxation and organic ingredients. We talked to her about how bath time can be the end of the day detox your body absolutely needs.

What are the benefits of a bath time wellness routine?
I believe that bathing is exercise without movement. In the sanctuary of your own home, you can sweat and release stress without much physical effort and reap the rich mind-body benefit of deep relaxation.

What steps can we take to create a purifying, rejuvenating bath?
I love to think of this process as my mise en place—like the French-style of cooking. Grab a bathrobe, water bottle, face cloth, and bath soak treatment. Put your phone on airplane mode, turn on a soothing playlist, and run a hot bath as hot as you can withstand. Allow yourself to soak and sweat in the bath. I recommend 20-30 minutes, taking sips from your water bottle throughout the process. When you get out of the tub, wrap yourself in a robe or towel, and get under some blankets. This will continue the detoxification process for about 10 minutes. I like to follow up with one of the Pursoma body oils.

Is there a best time of day to do this?
On regular workdays, I take a bath every night unless I come home too late. I will especially take a bath if I have had anything to drink, because it detoxes the alcohol from the body through sweat. On the weekend, I do the same routine in the late afternoon as a way to relax and unwind.

Are there side effects of using bath salts regularly?
High-quality sleep! I feel more rested and productive when I bathe regularly. The side effects of bathing, sweating, and drinking water in the tub each night are clear, hydrated skin and a calmer nervous system.

How is Pursoma different from Epsom bath salts?
Most people don’t realize that Epsom soaks are not made with actual salt. Epsom is a manufactured product. By contrast, Pursoma soaks are made with all-natural, hand-harvested French gray sea salt loaded with beneficial minerals. Not only does this feel better on your skin because it’s hydrating instead of drying, but the body is also able to absorb some of the trace minerals. It’s an all-natural alternative and incredibly good for you.

WHAT YOU NEED: 

DISCONNECT: These intense baths require some peace and quiet; putting your phone on airplane mode will help keep you in the zone.

HOT WATER: Unlike your typical bubble bath, the goal here is to sweat out the stress.

WATER BOTTLE: Make sure you stay hydrated with fresh water.

MellyMani owner Melody Logan likes to bring the nail salon to you. While she once had a permanent station at Remington’s Studio L, her real passion is one-on-one experiences, whether at a pop up or private location. Her latest venture? Creating and selling her own line of vegan and gluten-free polishes.

On her start: The idea of MellyMani came up when my grandmother, who always had hot pink polish on her nails, mentioned she hadn’t been in a nail salon since the ’80s. I had an at-home gel polish kit and did her manicure. Every time I [visited her], I would do her nails again. It became a great way to connect with her and allowed her to experience nailcare and beauty from her home. I wanted to be able to do this for others as well.

On being a female entrepreneur: Manicures have been the passion for me, but the purpose was to empower women. In everything I do, I question first how it will help others. If it aligns with my mission and vision, I go for it. If it doesn’t, I’ve learned to be okay with turning opportunities down.

On gel, acrylic, and basic polish: My preference is gel because it is durable, long lasting, and gets you out the door without the worry of ruining your fresh mani. My opinion is honestly this: Nail enhancements aren’t “bad” for you. It’s the application and the removal that causes the damage. Ensure you have a well-trained technician who will dedicate the time to do the work, and be sure to go back to have them professionally removed.

On at-home manicures: Cuticle oil is an absolute must for everyone. Be sure to apply this daily to keep your skin hydrated. When the skin around your nails becomes dry, it is prone to infection, as the skin can break easily. Moisturize, too! Using a hand lotion and cuticle oil will help keep your nails looking healthy, and there is less chance you’ll pick at them for the nail biters out there. We are washing our hands more than ever and applying hand sanitizer non-stop; we need to show our hands and nails love through hydration.

On MellyMani nail polishes: MellyMani has partnered with Polish Change to formulate a nontoxic line of polishes that are also vegan and gluten-free. I wanted to create something that would complement every skin tone. My family is obsessed with coffee, and I’m obsessed with nail polish. Put that together and boom! The polishes were named after coffee, such as “Con Leche” and “Over Iced.” You can expect collaborations on more polish lines and products [soon]. I am hopeful that we will see the days where we can gather together again, and when we are able to, I’ll be popping up all over to do manicures.

THE LOWDOWN:

CUTICLE OIL: Use cuticle oil daily—yes, daily. It’s good for hydration, and there’s less chance you’ll bite your nails!

HYDRATE: All that hand washing we’re doing? Not great for our nails. Remember to moisturize.

POLISH: Look for MellyMani’s coffee-themed, nontoxic nail polish line with names like “Con Leche” and “Over Iced.”

We’re spending all this time at home, so why are some of us more stressed than ever? Mental health experts say it’s important to periodically unplug, unwind, and check in with ourselves. So, no matter what the stresses—kids, boss, spouse, you name it—schedule some “me time.” Here are a few locally made items to get you started.

A few weekends ago, I was having a bad morning. Edie hadn’t slept well and Lou was whining for canned whipped cream for breakfast. I was trying to cook unwanted scrambled eggs while Edie simultaneously demanded to be held while wiggling to get down. The house was a mess, the cats kept jumping on the counter, Lou was standing on the tops of my feet to get my attention, and I could feel myself coming undone. Intuiting my subtle behavior (I was a borderline monster), Rob neutralized the situation with an episode of Paw Patrol and suggested I take two hours to go do something for myself.

It turns out his acknowledgement was enough. Suddenly, having the choice to leave or stay opened me up to readjust my mood, and that slight adjustment was enough to buoy me back to homeostasis. I felt grateful to have a partner who recognized the need to take a beat, and that made me want to hang back and finish making eggs for him while our children picked Cheerios from between the sofa cushions. In the end, I stayed and enjoyed a slow morning with my family. But it got me thinking about all the amazing things we parents can do for ourselves in two hours. It’s the perfect amount of time to get out of the house and do something alone without carrying the guilt of leaving your spouse a man down.

Here are a few places where you can spend an hour of your time (with travel time and a stop for coffee built in) and restore your peace or body or sanity or whatever else those barnacles have taken from you.

Intuitive Wellness: I seriously almost didn’t include this one because its such a special, perfect place and I’m selfish and didn’t want to share. But who am I to deny the achy, stressed people of Baltimore their 60 minutes of holistic, healing, heavenly massage? Book an appointment at this Roland Park sanctuary and win the battle Legos have waged on your feet.

Movement Lab: Have you ever taken a sound bath? Or hung upside down like a beautiful bat? Or jumped so hard on a trampoline that not peeing yourself a little feels like a miracle of physiology? Movement Lab offers really diverse classes in an incredibly inclusive, accessible environment. I walked into my first anti-gravity (!) class thinking I’d be carried out by paramedics, and by the end I was trying to catch glimpses of myself in the mirror because I needed to see how cool I looked hanging upside down. (I actually looked pretty terrible but I was still wildly impressed.)

The Ivy Bookshop: Get a coffee, take yourself to The Ivy, and strike up a conversation with their staff. Let someone who knows and loves books guide you around until you find the perfect one. Remember that the internet is convenient but the algorithms telling you what to buy haven’t actually read the book. Use the remainder of the hour to read in your car with the heat on.

Lake Montebello: Do a lap or two. Parking is easy, the path is flat, and the lake is pretty. Get out and move your body while listening to a podcast (might I suggest Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend?). I’m also really interested in getting into roller blading, so maybe you could buy a pair and do that, and I can decide if you look cool enough for me to invest in the sport as well.

B.Willow: This is one of Lou’s favorite places so I feel a little bad going without him, but whatever. It’s a very calming space (they just opened a new Canton location, which I’m assuming is equally tranquil) and it’s so nice to wander around, choose a plant, dig in soil, and bring something beautiful into your home.

A bar: I have the great fortune of living within walking distance of several lovely food and beverage establishments, and have no shame in taking myself to a bar stool and enjoying a drink like a damn adult. Order something pretentious like a craft beer in a special glass or a cocktail featuring a mostly irrelevant garnishes. Pull out the book you picked up from The Ivy during your last jaunt, and pretend to read while spying on all the 23-year-olds complaining about how tired they are. Refrain from commenting because getting into bar fights is not what this restorative two hours is all about.

Adaptogens: Botanical extracts that, when ingested or applied to skin, claim to help regulate and get the body back to its baseline, as well as protect the body from the toxic effects of stress, fatigue, and anxiety.

Collagen: A naturally occurring structural protein that is already in your skin, bones, and teeth. It provides elasticity to the skin, helping it appear more vibrant and youthful. Your natural production of collagen starts to dwindle in your late 20s and early 30s.

Microblading: A tattooing technique where pigment is implanted into the top layer of skin with a handheld tool. Hair-like strokes are drawn to mimic natural hairs in your brows to help with filling and shading.

Jade Roller: A handheld mini face massager made of green jade. It is said to reduce inflammation while stimulating the lymphatic system and improving blood circulation, which helps to brighten your complexion, tighten pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Microdermabrasion: A minimally invasive procedure where a special applicator with an abrasive surface is gently sands away the outer layer of skin to rejuvenate it, resulting in skin tone and texture improvement.

Dermaplaning: A method of exfoliation that uses a 10-gauge scalpel to gently scrape away the top layer of dead skin cells and vellus hair to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion.

Botox: A drug prepared from the bacterial botulin toxin that is used cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. It is most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.

Hyaluronic Acid: A naturally occurring substance in our skin that works to draw in water. It decreases as we age, so using products with hyaluronic acid will prevent the skin’s tendency towards dryness.

Glycolic Acid: An alpha hydroxy acid derived from plant sugars that serves as a chemical exfoliator. It gently resurfaces the skin by removing dead layers to reveal the more luminous skin beneath.

Retinol: A derivative of vitamin A, it is most commonly used in anti-aging products. It has been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne.

Kybella: An FDA-approved injectable treatment made from deoxycholic acid that aids in destroying fat cells in the area under your chin.Salicylic Acid: A beta hydroxy acid that works well with oily skin to unclog pores and combat acne.

Microneedling: A process that uses a tool called a dermapen with tiny needles at the end of it to make little holes in the top layer of the skin. This can generate new collagen and skin tissue for smoother and firmer skin. It also allows for products to absorb into skin more easily.

In today’s world, wellness can be a very broad term. On its most basic level, it’s about making a conscious effort to attain health in both body and mind. But with so many diets, exercise options, and self-care alternatives, we can often feel overwhelmed with information.

That’s why Jess Waller—formerly of the creative community MakeTribe—developed WellTribe, a hub for women’s holistic health with the goal of creating a community dedicated to self-discovery and better living through nutrition and self-care.

Starting this month, Waller, a certified nutrition specialist with training in Western and herbal medicine, will be sending out a bimonthly WellTribe newsletter called “Tell Me Everything” in which she’ll address three subjects that people are always striving to improve: sleep, sex, and skin.

“All three of those areas I think can be treated through lifestyle change in food and behavior modifications,” says Waller. “Everybody has so much on their plates, but paying attention to your mental and physical health comes from self-discovery, and I think that also stems from being connected to a larger community outside of yourself.”

The newsletter will also contain a roundup of evidence-based research, as well as a curated selection of healing products and deep dives into hot topic ingredients. “There are no blanket treatment options,” says Waller, who also does nutrition consultations in Woodberry. “We all have bio-individuality. We are all different, and you sometimes have to dig down deeper to find the root cause of what could be causing us certain ailments.”

WellTribe also hopes to host mini-workshops and pop-up information sessions around the city with health specialists to bring together like-minded people who are looking to share their stories and connect.

“I just want it to be a space where people can support each other and support themselves,” explains Waller. “My goal is to inspire everybody to show up for themselves at the beginning, middle, and end of each day.”