‘Body, mind, and spirit’: Buckeye wellness series tackles diabetes and mental health

A small but engaged crowd gathered at RodTree Behavioral Health and online for a free class exploring the connection between diabetes and mental health today, an event organizers say is just the beginning of a series of wellness initiatives aimed at empowering the local community.

Held both in person at 726 E Monroe Ave. and streamed live over Zoom, the July 17 session featured two local health advocates: Mariah Hawkins, MPH, a rising public health scholar, and Dr. Rodney Pearson, MS, D.Min, LPC, a licensed counselor and pastor at Faith, Hope and Love Community Church, just around the corner on Fourth Avenue.

“I’m a diabetic, and I’m a psychotherapist,” said Dr. Pearson, who founded RodTree Behavioral Health. “We’re building this to be a space where people can learn to manage their health with dignity — no judgment, no cost, just education and connection.”

The event began with an icebreaker asking participants to describe themselves as a fruit, a lighthearted exercise that set the tone for the evening’s message of self-awareness and personal care. From there, Hawkins led a presentation on the physiological aspects of diabetes, walking attendees through symptoms, risk factors, and the underlying science behind Type 2 diabetes.

But her talk quickly turned toward the emotional toll the disease can take.

“A lot of people don’t realize how closely stress and blood sugar are connected,” Hawkins said. “Chronic stress can elevate glucose levels, which in turn increases your risk for diabetes. On the flip side, managing mental health can dramatically improve physical outcomes.”

Hawkins, who is currently enrolled in a naturopathic program, emphasized that conditions like anxiety and depression often coexist with diabetes and too frequently go unaddressed.

Dr. Pearson then guided attendees through the mental health aspect of the equation, incorporating breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, and spiritual encouragement.

The class focused on the whole person, body, mind, and spirit, Pearson said.

The tools give people something they can use right away, even if it’s just breathing through a stressful moment, according to him.

RodTree staff say this was the first of many community education events, and future classes will remain free and open to the public.

“People don’t have to do anything but register,” Dr. Pearson said. “We want to meet them where they are — whether that’s online or here in person.”

To register for upcoming classes or learn more, visit www.rodtreewest.com.