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Make an Effort to Cultivate Self-care This Valentine’s Day

By Contributor
Healthcare News

Love Starts with You

By Karen Rossacci

 

When Valentine’s Day arrives each February, chocolates, dinner reservations, and flowers naturally come to mind — especially flowers, as Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for floral sales in the U.S., with Americans spending nearly $3 billion on blooms alone. These gestures are often how we show love to others. But what if, this year, Valentine’s Day became just as much about showing care and compassion for yourself as it is about celebrating someone else?

Self-love is not a trendy buzzword — it’s a foundational element of mental and emotional wellness. This February, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is using the holiday to remind people that loving yourself deeply and intentionally is as important as any romantic relationship. Rather than seeing Valentine’s Day only as an outward-facing celebration of partners, MiraVista encourages the community to pause, reflect, and honor the relationship we have with ourselves.

At its core, self-love means giving yourself the same compassion, patience, and care that you freely give others. It means acknowledging your worth not because someone else validated it, but because you recognize it. Mental wellness experts agree that this inner kindness fuels resilience, supports emotional balance, and strengthens our ability to connect with others. For example, practices like mindful self-compassion are shown to diminish harsh self-judgment and support emotional well-being.

For many, this Valentine’s Day is an invitation to shift perspective. Instead of focusing solely on outward expressions of love, we can look inward and intentionally choose to nurture our own mental and emotional needs. After all, how we treat ourselves sets the tone for all other relationships in our lives.

Karen Rossacci

Karen Rossacci

“At its core, self-love means giving yourself the same compassion, patience, and care that you freely give others. It means acknowledging your worth not because someone else validated it, but because you recognize it.”

As chief Nursing officer at MiraVista and TaraVista Behavioral Health Centers, I know well the connection between self-care and overall wellness — and I have seen firsthand how self-attunement can be transformative.

Self-love isn’t selfish. It’s a vital part of staying mentally well. When we honor our own needs — our thoughts, emotions, boundaries, and health — we cultivate strength and clarity that radiate outward into every part of our lives.

It’s important to note that self-love doesn’t mean perfection or constant happiness. Rather, it’s about acceptance — recognizing that you are worthy of care even on your hardest days. True self-love begins with listening. Listen to your body when it needs rest, your mind when it needs calm, and your heart when it needs reassurance. Those are not signs of weakness — those are signs that you are human and deserving of care.

So just how does one practice self-love this Valentine’s Day? Here are a few tips grounded in mental wellness principles.

 

1. Start with Kind Self-talk

Instead of focusing on flaws or failures, rehearse affirmations that acknowledge your strengths. For example: “I am worthy of peace and joy.” This shifts internal dialogue from criticism to compassion. Reinforce all those characteristics that make you you — and what it is you love about yourself.

 

2. Prioritize Your Well-being

Schedule time for activities that restore and nurture you — whether that’s a walk outside, journaling, meditating, or simply sitting quietly with a warm cup of tea or cocoa. Making time for these things isn’t indulgence — it’s self-respect.

 

3. Set Healthy Boundaries

Self-love means protecting your energy. Saying ‘no’ to extra obligations when you’re overwhelmed is not rude — it’s necessary. Respecting your limits helps prevent burnout and preserves your emotional reserves.

 

4. Connect Authentically

Reach out to friends, family, or a community that supports you — but do so in ways that feel nourishing. Genuine connection matters, but it should uplift, not drain, your spirit.

 

5. Celebrate Small Wins

Maybe today you woke up on time. Maybe you reached out for help. These small actions are worthy of acknowledgment. Self-love happens in the everyday as much as in the big moments.

 

Bottom Line

Caring for yourself is not a one-day event, but an ongoing practice. Loving yourself is like tending a garden — it needs steady attention, patience, and trust that what you’re doing feeds growth. Some days will bloom beautifully — and some days will not. And that’s OK. Love remains.

So, as this Valentine’s Day approaches, encourage yourself to see the holiday as an opportunity not just to give love, but to receive it from within. Whether you celebrate with others or spend a quiet evening on your own, the most enduring love you can nurture is the one you give yourself. Sometimes, the best person to spend time with is you.

 

Karyn Rossacci is chief Nursing officer at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke and TaraVista Behavioral Health Center in Devens.

Rice Fruit Farm Donates Pumpkins to Outpatient Program at MiraVista

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — In a show of support for the local community and those on the journey to recovery, Rice Fruit Farm donated dozens of pumpkins to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) on Oct. 30. These pumpkins will be used in therapeutic group activities, where participants will engage in painting and creative expression, further fostering a sense of community that is critical for individuals navigating their path to sobriety.

“At MiraVista, we believe in the importance of community and creating spaces where individuals can engage in meaningful, supportive activities,” said Kimberley Lee, MiraVista’s chief of Creative Strategy and Development. “This generous donation from Rice’s Fruit Farm not only adds a seasonal touch, but also provides our clients with an opportunity to connect, engage, and express themselves creatively through activities like pumpkin painting. It’s these types of contributions that strengthen the sense of belonging that is so vital for recovery.”

The pumpkins will be central to group activities within MiraVista’s IOP, where clients will paint and decorate them, using art as a tool for self-expression and teamwork — both essential components for long-term sobriety.

Anthony Maloni, owner of Wilbraham-based Rice Fruit Farm, emphasized the commitment of the family-owned business to giving back to the community. “We’ve always believed in supporting our neighbors, and this donation is a small way to show that we’re rooting for everyone in recovery. We hope these pumpkins bring a bit of joy and help people see that, like the seasons, there’s always opportunity for growth and renewal.”

MiraVista’s IOP provides clients with a safe and structured environment as they work toward recovery from substance use. This donation underscores the collaborative spirit between local businesses and the mental-health and substance-use recovery community.

MiraVista Launches New Website Resource for HR Professionals

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, which provides inpatient psychiatric care and outpatient substance-use recovery programs, has dedicated a section of its website to assist human-resources professionals in staying current on related services available across the state, as well as having easy access to recently published information on mental health, substance-use treatment, and wellness in the workplace. Click here to visit the page.

The page includes links to government-issued reports such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s “Impact of Not Addressing Mental Health,” the American Psychiatric Assoc. Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health, and Mental Health America’s “2022 Mind the Workplace — Employer Responsibility to Employee Mental Health.”

It lists national, state, and regional crisis helplines and includes access to mental-health-related articles by MiraVista staff members. Links are also provided to local and statewide substance-use treatment resources.

Erica Trudell, MiraVista’s assistant chief Nursing officer, recently spoke to the Human Resources Management Assoc. of Western New England on “Improving Resiliency and Promoting Self-care in the Workplace.” The hour-long presentation covered such points as creating environments in which employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health and are comfortable in providing feedback on workplace mental-health initiatives.

Joel Doolin, executive vice president of MiraVista and its sister, TaraVista Behavioral Health Center in Devens, has addressed how these psychiatric hospitals are important resources in their communities.

In a recent interview, Doolin spoke of MiraVista’s outreach efforts since opening in April 2021 to inform businesses, schools, and parents of resources available at MiraVista and in the community.

“As a leading provider of mental-health and substance-use treatment, MiraVista staff has extensive expertise in these topic areas. We are actively working with partners in our community to make sure those resources are available to anyone who needs them,” he said. “We reach out to workplace professionals through the HR associations in the area or work directly with HR departments. We are a ready and willing partner to support the needs of those who are seeking treatment.”

Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista, said she hopes the new resource page will prove beneficial as workplaces move to adapt their environments to a post-pandemic world in which the importance of mental healthcare has emerged as a top priority.

“HR professionals work hard to educate themselves on best mental-health and wellness programs to help employees in this post-pandemic world stay healthy, manage work-life balance, and address those issues that are starting to interfere with daily life,” Lee said. “We hope our page will prove beneficial for them, and we are ready to assist, whether through these new online resources or workplace-based presentations.”

Rice Fruit Farm Supports Effort to Raise Awareness of Suicide Prevention

By
Daily News

WILBRAHAM — Rice Fruit Farm is named after original owner, Jesse Rice who established, back in the late 1800s, what is now described as an historic New England farmstand owned by the Maloni family. The operation features an in-house bakery, homemade ice cream, and fresh breakfast items year-round, in addition to seasonal local and organic vegetables.

It also supports events promoting mental health, including during last week’s National Suicide Prevention Week. In partnership with Holyoke-based MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, beverages sold throughout that week at Rice’s carried the sticker: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support 24/7 to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress who dial or text 988.

“Doing this with MiraVista is a no brainer,” Anthony Maloni said. “You hear stories around mental health, whether they involve people you know or who are known, and yet, mental illness is not as widely understood as other illness. Treatment for it is half the battle. If we can help with that in any way — even just with one person — that would be an incredible outcome of this effort.

“Simply raising awareness of the 988 number and the services of MiraVista is an undertaking we are more than eager to be a part of,” he added. “We have many young people from area colleges frequenting our location, a population we will target with this messaging.

Maloni said Rice’s sells about 12,000 beverages monthly with cider from native apples particularly popular this time of year.

Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista, called the 988 labels on Rice’s cups “mini-billboards.”

“Suicide prevention, as well as recovery from mental illness and substance use, are all about the importance of intervention, the earlier the better, and public support for intervention,” Lee said. “We are extremely thankful for the Maloni family partnership and their willingness to use Rice’s as a platform for a conversation about suicide prevention.”

For more information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which routes calls to the center nearest the individual’s area code, visit 988lifeline.org.

MiraVista Behavioral Health Center to Host Virtual Job Fair on Nov. 7

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — MiraVista Behavioral Health Center will hold a virtual hiring event on Monday, Nov. 7 for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), full- and part-time as well as per diem, who are interested in contributing their talent and expertise to supporting individuals with a mental-health and/or substance-use diagnosis.

Competitive compensation based on education and years of experience is being offered, as well as a comprehensive benefits package and a variety of hiring bonuses up to $15,000. Details to reserve an interview time can be found on a number of social-media platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s website, www.miravistabhc.care.

According to Alicia Morel, MiraVista’s Talent Acquisition specialist, “candidates continue to appreciate organizations that work hard to improve the recruiting process and deliver a convenient, well-informed experience they expect. Virtual events are an easy way to reach that goal as they eliminate the obstacle of geography. Candidates can join from anywhere and everywhere they are with a click of a button. It is all about making the process easier for those who are interviewing MiraVista as much as we are interviewing them. It’s a convenient platform for candidates. We know how busy our lives can be. Meeting candidates where they are is an incredibly important element of our recruitment efforts.”

MiraVista’s 101-bed facility, which offers inpatient psychiatric and substance-use treatment for adults and adolescents, as well as outpatient recovery services for adults, opened in April 2021 and currently has a workforce of more than 340 employees.

“Nurses in behavioral health work at making patients feel good about receiving care for their mental illness and normalize what they are going through in receiving such care,” said Erica Trudell, MiraVista’s director of Nursing for Inpatient Behavioral Health Services and Education. “It is no different from inpatient care for any other serious medical condition that will not improve on its own, and it is routinely multi-faceted care involving education about lifestyle, medication, and therapy.”

Successful candidates sought for direct care to patients and also support to families, as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, will have among their qualifications: a valid RN or LPN license in Massachusetts; a valid CPR certification; and knowledge of behavioral-health and substance-use treatment modalities.

Interviews with on-the-spot offer details will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. for the Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, and 2 to 4 p.m. for Acute Treatment Services/Clinical Stabilization Services (detox experiences preferred).