Medeiros Solano on Mental Health Awareness

As candidate for mayor, my goal is to create a healthier Melrose for all residents. May is Mental Health Awareness month. I want to share how I envision using my role as mayor to improve mental health in Melrose.

Doing the best for our residents means thinking outside the box. The mayor and her team need to foster an environment that supports our residents not only when they are in crisis, but also helps them become more healthy and resilient.

We can proactively support the mental health of our residents by valuing our open space and providing clean and safe areas for outdoor recreation. Spending time outdoors reduces stress and improves both physical and mental health.

As a City Councilor for twelve years, I supported improvements to nearly every park and playground in Melrose. I voted to build the new football field, a new track at Pine Banks, and was the driving force to create our first dog park at Ell Pond. I supported sidewalk improvements across the city for the safety and enjoyment of all residents. As Mayor, I will continue this commitment, protect our green space, and move toward maintaining our public spaces without the use of pesticides.

As mayor, I will work to combat loneliness, isolation and depression by expanding our offerings of community events for all ages. This means expanding upon some of our existing events, adding some new ones (Tai chi in the park anyone?) and bringing back events like our Neighborhood Night Outs and Four Corners Music Festival.

Supporting our community’s mental health also means frequently evaluating the food offerings we serve our residents when they are in our care. Primarily I am thinking of our senior citizens and our students. Foods that are highly processed, contain refined sugars, genetically modified and non-organic ingredients may increase inflammation and reduce the body’s ability to produce serotonin, which helps regulate mood and emotion. Low serotonin is associated with anxiety, depression and other psychological issues including obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and even suicidal behavior.

I hope to continue to expand upon the Wellness Policy Administrative Guidelines in schools to include requirements that our kids be served food that is Non-GMO and organic whenever possible. Since this is likely to be more costly, we can start by requiring a percentage of our offerings meet these standards over time until we reach 100%. We must also recognize the improvements to student mental health (a meaningful benefit in itself) will provide cost savings in other areas. As Mayor, I would use the school committee seat to bring these ideas forward.

We must treat our neighbors with compassion. In our community, I will nurture an inclusive environment which allows people to freely express themselves. In our schools, I welcome parental involvement to foster open communication, understanding and healthier family relationships.

Inevitably times of crisis will occur. Our Health and Human Services Department, the Melrose Health and Wellness Coalition, our schools, public safety and Council on Aging are all on the front line. I am grateful for the caring and empathetic work they already do. I am hopeful that our proactive efforts will provide them more freedom to continue their community outreach. As mayor, I will use my office to communicate with and connect our residents to these needed programs and services.

Because it is up to us all, together we can improve our sense of community and our city’s mental health.

To learn more about my campaign or to get involved, please visit my website at www.VoteMonica.com or follow me on Facebook at "Monica Medeiros Solano for Melrose" and Twitter @VoteMonica.

Monica Medeiros Solano is a candidate for Mayor of Melrose in the September 19, 2023 Preliminary Election. She is also a former Melrose City Councilor and School Committee member, and past President of the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association.