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Northborough social worker urges ‘reset’ and SMART goals to protect mental health
Summary
Caitlin Mitchell of Northborough Health and Human Services told a Town webinar to reframe New Year’s resolutions as realistic ‘resets,’ use SMART goals, build social supports, and use local crisis resources when needed.
Caitlin Mitchell, a social worker with Town of Northborough Health and Human Services, told a January Lunch and Learn audience that reframing New Year’s resolutions as a “reset” can reduce pressure and protect mental health.
“Reset is basically the evaluation of one’s habits, lifestyle, and mindset,” Mitchell said, urging realistic, time‑bound goals instead of broad New Year promises. She recommended using the SMART framework — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time‑bound — and offered a training example: plan to run a marathon in two years by running three times a week and building toward a 5K in three months.
Mitchell emphasized flexibility and self‑compassion: monitor progress, pause and reassess if a goal increases stress or becomes unhealthy, and prioritize long‑term wellness over short‑term results. She also encouraged maintaining social supports and self‑care routines to manage stress and avoid burnout while pursuing goals.
The presentation included immediate and local resources for residents in crisis: the national suicide prevention hotline (available 24/7), the Massachusetts behavioral health line (24/7), and the Advocates Mobile Crisis Team, which the presenter said is available 24/7/365 and can respond in‑person within the Northborough area. Mitchell described the Town’s partnership with Interface, a helpline that helps Northborough residents get personalized matches to therapists and checks insurance coverage, and she mentioned the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline for additional support.
Mitchell closed by offering direct contact options through the Town HHS main line and her email/phone and by listing library drop‑in hours for help: first, third, and fifth Tuesdays 3–5 p.m.; second and fourth Tuesdays 5–7 p.m.
No policy decisions or votes occurred during the talk; the session focused on coping strategies, goal setting, and how to access professional help in emergencies.
