Rather than stand by and watch women suffer In silence, Lyss Stern is giving moms what they really need this Mother’s Day! They don’t want another bracelet or flowers! What they really want and NEED is a BREAK! The remedy (RX) they need Camp Moms Time Out.
2020…the year from hell. Every mom on the planet was ready to throw in the towel. Amidst the tears and tirades of quarantine emerged a brilliant idea: take a summer sleepaway camp struggling to stay afloat thanks to the pandemic and give fellow females a place to bond and blow off steam. The Moms Time Out Getaway was born in Sept. 2020 and has its latest weekend escape set for May 20-22. The campers (more than 50 women from assorted walks of life and menopausal stages) will let loose, explore their passions and possibilities, unplug and find themselves—with both funny and surprising results.
The brainchild of Lyss Stern, 48, and Wendy Siegel, 53, the camp is situated at Camp Tyler Hill, a 220-acre campus two hours from New York City in the Poconos. Siegel and her husband Andy own the camp which hosts children throughout the summer months. The mom’s weekend, however, is entirely family-free. “It’s moms, just moms, getting three solid days off for good behavior,” Stern explains. “Mothers’ mental health is in crisis—we’re all on the verge of nervous breakdowns. This is what happens when frazzled, fed-up women are let loose in the wild for a long weekend.”
The goal is to provide mothers a chance to kick back and just be—sans kids, spouses, work, and life obligations. The adventure is eye-opening: new friends, new experiences, and new attitudes emerge in a setting that allows these women to meditate, vent, and of course, party. “We sit around a campfire at night roasting smores,” Stern explains. “There are energy healing sessions, yoga, wine, and tie-dying classes. I’m constantly amazed at how cathartic it is, and how much women need this. Last camp, a group of us was literally howling at the moon, channeling our inner she-wolves!”
Aside from the fun and games, the camp takes its mission very seriously. The media has continued to sound the alarm that moms are not okay; The New York Times even created an online series, “The Primal Scream,” for women to vent their fears and frustrations. The statistics are sobering: a recent study in The Journal of Women’s Health found that women had “alarmingly high rates” of depression and anxiety post-pandemic (cite: https://apcoworldwide.com/blog/covid-19s-unending-impact-on-the-maternal-mental-health-crisis/) A new national survey reveals that four in ten women are reaching their breaking point with regard to mental health and 72 percent say they “just need to take a break”.
“How many times do we need to hear it to do something?” Stern asks. “The sad reality is that moms are so busy caring for everyone else, they neglect themselves. We are expected to be caregivers and nurturers, but it’s taking a toll on our mental and physical health.”
Stern believes that the camp not only provides that much-needed time-out but sets moms on a new track. “When they leave, they’re not the same people who checked into their bunks on Friday. They’re empowered and recharged, and they feel heard and validated. The idea is to give women the tools to continue down this path. One weekend of peace can change their lives and literally save them.”
The startling results of a new national survey revealed that 4 in 10 women report that they have or are reaching their breaking point with regard to their mental health. Numbers are more shocking for the women diagnosed with depression and anxiety, with two-thirds agreeing with this statement.
The survey also found that when feeling overwhelmed, 72% of women say they “just need to take a break.” Other findings include:
— 51% of women diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression waited at least one year before seeking treatment – or never sought treatment at all.
— While 44% of women say they talk to friends or family as a way to relieve stress and anxiety, 6 in 10 say they have been ignored or dismissed by loved ones about their mental health concerns.
Despite available treatment options, women are collectively doubtful that they will find relief. Fewer than two in 10 women believe they will be completely free from anxiety or depression symptoms.
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