Published: 4/9/2021 2:41:18 PM
BERNARDSTON — Inspired in part by topics in this year’s National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, Cushman Library will host local health experts for a virtual panel discussion about coping with stress, anxiety and depression on April 13, at 7 p.m.
The Big Read, made possible locally by a grant awarded to the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA), involves a series of programs (mostly virtual) that explore the themes of the 2014 novel “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. PVMA is partnering with more than 40 libraries and businesses in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties for the Big Read.
“Station Eleven” takes place 20 years after a fictional pandemic, known as the “Georgia Flu,” has devastated the world, killing most of the population. Cushman Library Director Karen Stinchfield said she and other participating libraries recognized this could be a sensitive topic for readers after the last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and were inspired to organize a discussion on mental health.
“We felt we wanted to acknowledge that the story might trigger some of the emotions that we all have been experiencing during this past year,” Stinchfield said. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to discuss how to cope with these feelings with mental health practitioners.”
Participating in the April 13 panel discussion will be two clinical social workers, Sara Schieffelin and Heidi Haas, and Dr. John Brelsford, a mental health counselor.
To register for the event, called “Coping with Stress, Anxiety and Depression During Difficult Times,” email cushmanlibrary@gmail.com and include “Register Me” in the subject line. A link and password will be sent back.
Interested adults and teens do not have to have read “Station Eleven” to participate in the discussion, which will touch on broader topics of stress, anxiety and depression, and ways to cope with the emotions that come with difficult times.
“It’s really about coping skills and finding ways to get through this,” Stinchfield said. “I would imagine that for many people this is the worst thing that they have ever lived through.”
In addition to the panel discussion, those who read “Station Eleven” can participate in a virtual book discussion on May 3, at 6:30 p.m. To register, email cushmanlibrary@gmail.com and put “Station Eleven” in the subject line.
Stinchfield said she read “Station Eleven” a few years ago and liked it, but realized reading it now could “trigger” new emotions or memories for her. One of the positive themes the book discussion will focus on, she said, is that arts and theater can be a way to keep aspects of culture alive. The book follows a traveling theater group that tells stories of events before “Year Zero,” when the “Georgia Flu” outbreak began.
Cushman Library at 28 Church St. has eight copies of “Station Eleven” available for patrons to check out. The library offers curbside pick-up on Mondays from 2 to 5:40 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bernardston residents can call 413-648-5402 during these hours or email cushmanrequests@gmail.com to make arrangements to pick up a copy, or inquire about other books. Those outside of Bernardston who are interested in reading “Station Eleven” are encouraged to contact their respective town libraries.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.