Being happy is a big part of being healthy. 

 

That’s why healthcare professionals are looking for ways to keep people happy.

 

One of the ways to promote resilience and happiness is the Bounce Back Project.

 

Bounce Back was started last year by a group of area physicians after two of their colleagues died. One was killed in an motorcycle accident. Three months later, one took his own life. 

 

Melissa Pribyl, Community Health and Wellness Specialist with CentraCare Health - Monticello, says those physicians at first wondered why they didn’t know one of their colleagues was struggling.

 

“They were looking for ways to go forward and help each other,” she says. “And in looking into that, they realized not only their group needed something, but our communities needed it as well.”

 

Pribyl says people are having trouble with stress and anxiety. Their coping levels are at a low point. “How do we bring tools back to our communities to help us all when life doesn’t go as planned? So we formed the Bounce Back Project,” she says. 

 

It’s a partnership between CentraCare Health - Monticello, Allina Health - Buffalo Hospital, Stellis health and Allina Health - Buffalo Clinic.

 

“It’s two competing hospitals working together for the good of our community,” says Pribyl.

 

The project focuses on everyday things everyone can do to promote happiness. The program has four basic tools:

 

• Random acts of kindness -  makes the receiver feel better for the entire day and increases the happiness of the giver for two weeks.

 

• Three good things - listing three good things about your day each night at bedtime for three weeks can increase your happiness for six months.

 

• Letters of gratitude - writing a letter of thanks to someone who has made a difference in your life is proven to increase your happiness for six month and decrease symptoms of depression for one month.

 

• Social connections - people who are more socially connected to family, friends and their community are happier, physically healthier and live longer.

 

“Those are the tools of resilience. We go out and give presentations to schools, health classes and businesses,” says Pribyl. “And we’ve asked people in local businesses to be a Bounce Back partner. In doing so, they make a commitment to their employees to practice these things.”

 

Pribyl says at first, they weren’t sure how the community would receive the project. But last October, Dr. Bryan Sexton from Duke University came to the area to give presentations about resiliency and the Bounce Back Project.

 

“He did six presentations in one day. It was promoted as “Get Happy.” In the course of that day, 3,500 people took part in those presentations.” says Pribyl.

 

“I think that response was a great boost to the whole project. We knew people were looking for something to help themselves.”

 

Joni Pawelk Director of Marketing for CentraCare Health - Monticello, says the resiliency tools have been scientifically proven to work. They help people look at things in a different way.

 

“We all know positive things happen in our lives, but it’s the negative situations that seem to take up the space in our brains,” she says. “This re-focuses our energy on finding those positives. And it doesn’t  take a big investment of time, energy or money to write down three good things for the day. But that has been proven to have a positive outcome on your life.”

 

Pribyl says some physicians have already seen whata difference the Bounce Back tools have made with their patients.

 

“Our physicians are using this for people who they used to prescribe Prozac or Zoloft, because it’s been found to be as effective as those mediations they use for depression,” she says.

 

In addition to the resiliency tools, Bounce Back has three community-wide events each year. In April, they held a program about resiliency at the Friendly Buffalo in Big lake.

 

 

Next Friday (Nov. 18) is the next event called, Wanna Come Out and Play, a comedic performance from the Peabody Players.

 

The event takes place at River City Extreme in 

 

Monticello. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

 

In addition to the performance, guests will receive a Get Happy tool kit to support happiness at home. Guests are also encouraged to bring a food shelf donation to feel happy by sharing kindness with others.

 

For more information about the event, or to register to attend, visit centracare.com and search for Bounce Back in classes and events.