San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Health Department | Alcohol & Substance Abuse Program
June is Men's Health Month, and the Health Department wants to put something practical in the hands of the men in our community. Not a lecture. Just a wealth of real tips and honest advice to help you take the next step in your own wellness journey.
Health is not one thing. It is the body, the mind, and the spirit, kept in balance over a lifetime. Here are five places to start.
1. A Regular Exercise Routine
Movement is medicine. It does not have to be a gym. A daily walk, time on the land, working with your hands, playing with your kids or grandkids. The point is to move your body most days and keep doing it. Consistency beats intensity. Start small and let it become a habit you keep.
2. Balanced Nutrition
What we put on our plate shapes how we feel and how long we stay well. Aim for whole foods, lean protein, and a return to traditional foods where you can. Small, steady changes hold up better than any crash diet. Feed your body like it has work left to do, because it does.
3. Hydration
The simplest one, and the easiest to forget. Water keeps your energy up, your mind clear, and your body working the way it should, especially through an Arizona summer. Carry a bottle. Drink before you are thirsty. Cut back on the sugary and energy drinks where you can.
4. The Mind-Body Connection
Physical health and mental health are not separate. Stress, grief, and what we carry silently all show up in the body. Our ancestors knew this. They gathered in circle, prayed, and leaned on one another. Make room for prayer, for quiet, for talking honestly with someone you trust. Caring for your mind is part of being a healthy man.
5. Adequate Rest
Rest is not laziness. It is repair. Good sleep is when the body heals and the mind resets. Protect your sleep the way you would protect anything else that keeps you strong. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and your family needs you full.
A Note for the Men in Our Community
Strength is not pretending you are fine when you are not. The strongest thing a man can do is ask for help when he needs it. If you are carrying something heavy — stress, grief, addiction, or something you have never said out loud — the Alcohol & Substance Abuse Program is here, and the door is open. No judgment. Just a place to start.
If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours) or 911.
Virginia Arizona-Fat, LIAC
Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor
Authorized Clinical Supervisor | Behavioral Health Coordinator
Alcohol & Substance Abuse Program
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
Email: v.arizona-fat@sanjuanpaiute-nsn.gov
Office: (928) 846-4870 | Cell: (928) 660-2559
67 NW Maple Street, Tuba City, AZ 86045
www.sanjuanpaiute-nsn.gov
