fodada's 'Mental Fitness Five for Fathers' Makes Mental Health a Positive and Proactive Pursuit - Like Going to the Gym
Ahead and in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, clothing social enterprise helps remove stigmas with five simple mental-fitness tips for fathers and families
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- To promote May's Mental Health Awareness Month, fodada™, a casual-wear social enterprise that supports wellness and empowerment for fathers and families, is introducing the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers, an initiative that makes being emotionally healthy as important and approachable as being physically fit through exercise. The Mental Fitness Five for Fathers is designed to change the dialogue around mental health to focus on its positive impact, beginning with simple, approachable perspective change and steps which connect parents and their children while promoting mental fitness. Learn more at: https://www.fodada.com/mental-fitness-1
Founded in 2012, fodada celebrates, promotes and supports dads through social awareness campaigns and programs. Through sales of its clothing line, fodada is able to brand the idea of great dads while funding free programs for dads and families, reaching fathers in 22 different countries worldwide through programs like Dad & Me, the Red Beanie Campaign, and by working with dads who are incarcerated to remain in contact with their children.
The Mental Fitness Five for Fathers, in line with fodada's mission, offers clear, practical and actionable tips for dads, with the aim of helping them, their kids, spouses or partners. To support the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers, fodada designed a special "noggin" T-shirt that has five tips printed inside the shirt, reminding the wearers about the importance and accessibility of mental fitness. Developed in partnership with licensed mental health experts at Advekit, the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers provides five simple tips:
1. Talk with your kids – about anything, anytime, anywhere.
2. Let them in – share with them who you are and what you go through, good and bad.
3. Take care of yourself, first – so you can take better care of those you love.
4. Be part of their world – encourage and engage in their likes and interests.
5. Give yourself, and them, grace – sometimes it's OK not to be OK.
"The purpose of the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers campaign is to position mental health in a better light – one that is socially acceptable and approachable," said Bobby Barzi, founder and "chief dada" at fodada. "By promoting the positive and accessible side of mental fitness, fodada provides opportunities for incremental progress, connecting fathers and their families to the deep value of mental health and strengthening family cores."
fodada is pursuing mental health awareness in two ways: first, by introducing and promoting the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers and, second, by using parents as a conduit to reach their children and, in the process, moving all parts of the family forward – what Barzi calls the "sneaky spinach for parents." As noted in a June 2018 article on psychologytoday.com, "having a genuine connection with an actively involved father may help protect children from negative life outcomes such as not completing high school or developing behavioral problems. ... From better emotional regulation to social skills and even emotional intelligence, more and more research suggests that when fathers are able to model and handle emotions well, their children benefit immensely."
All fodada programs are reflected in a creative design that is featured on its casual wear and gear, allowing the wearer to both be reminded of and show engagement in the campaign. The "noggin" design featured at http://www.fodada.com/mental-fitness was developed in support of mental fitness initiative.
"Importantly, the Mental Fitness Five for Fathers isn't about providing quick fixes – there aren't any," said Barzi, whose experiences as a father of two boys, ages 7 and 10, led him to establish fodada in 2012. "Together, we want to create an inviting context around mental health so dads and families are not only comfortable with mental fitness, but interested in taking proactive steps to achieve and maintain it."
About fodada
Newport Beach, Calif.-based fodada is a casual-wear clothing line with a social purpose of celebrating, promoting and supporting dads to strengthen future generations. Every piece of fodada clothing or gear elevates fatherhood and helps bring about free programs for dads, kids and families – from dad and kid interactivity and empowerment to disease awareness and prevention education. For more information about fodada, its products and programs, visit http://www.fodada.com, email contact(at)fodadawear.com or call (888) 363-2321.
SOURCE fodada
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