Mind Your Mind News - Issue 6

MIND YOUR MIND

October 2022, Issue 6

Table of Contents

FROM THE DESK OF IRENE BARTON

Dear Readers and Community Leaders:

Thank you for taking time to review our 3Q Mind Your Mind magazine. Feel free to use the infographics and other resources in your own communications so that we work together to raise awareness, promote resiliency and reduce stigma around mental health. Our social media channels are another great source of information. And did you know we have a podcast called Mind Your Mind Speaks? You can find episodes on our website https:// www.cobbcollaborative.org/category/news/podcast

Let us know if you would like more information about any of our trauma-credentialed trainings like Connections Matter, Community Resilience Model and Darkness to Light. We would be pleased to bring those to your organization or agency and will work with your schedule.

Don't forget to "mind your mind”!

Warmly, Irene M. Barton Executive Director

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.

Excerpt from Mental Health America BIPOC Mental Health Month Toolkit: July was formally recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month on June 2, 2008, by a bipartisan and bicameral Congress. As we seek to provide education and tools for the overall betterment of BIPOC mental health, we must not ignore how and where this started: in the hands of a woman wanting a better experience for her child living with mental illness. July would not be dedicated to the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities of color if it were not for the tireless work of Bebe, her loved ones, and other mental health advocates who took on this work after she passed away in 2006. Bebe Moore Campbell was a pioneer and an author, who used storytelling to give insight into the people that deserved more of a voice – Black women, caregivers of those with mental health conditions, Black individuals living with mental health conditions, and all people of color. Over the course of her life, Bebe took on several roles, including mother, activist, writer, daughter, commentator, friend, and teacher. Bebe’s legacy continues to inspire a national movement for mental health equity. The movement continues today as we focus on the creation of a health justice ecosystem grounded in effective care, universal compassion, cultural humility, and the use of appropriate mental health interventions instead of harmful criminal legal interventions.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR YOU

Finding the right way to care for your mental health should not be hard, but it can be. Mental health care can look different for everyone, and you don’t need to choose just one option. Research shows that a combination of methods can be extremely helpful, especially when combined with culturally responsive care. Options include therapists, psychiatrists, primary care providers, healers, faith leaders, community members, loved ones, doulas, self-help practices, and more.

You may fnd it helpful to do some additional reading before flling out this worksheet.

• For more information on the different types of mental health professionals, use MHA’s Types of Mental Health Providers page (mhanational.org/types-mental-healthprofessionals).

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To learn more about the various options for mental health care, go to MHA’s Community Care (mhanational.org/bipoc-mental-health/community-care) and Culturally Based Practices (mhanational.org/bipoc-mental-health/culturally-based-practices) pages.

Use the prompts below to help you fnd the right combination of mental health care for you.

Drop-in article by Mental Health America:

By now, most of us have read or seen stories on the youth mental health crisis plaguing our country. From an ongoing pandemic, lack of inperson social interactions, social upheaval, and more, kids and teens are facing once-in-a-lifetime events that even adults aren’t sure how to handle. Adolescence is already a confusing time without the added fears concerning safety in schools, staying healthy, family financial security, and loss of loved ones – so we shouldn’t be surprised that the rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and other mental health conditions are on the rise. Mental Health America recognizes with their new Back-to-School Toolkit that our youth are having “All the Feels” as they enter the new school year. These resources look at the issues young people face that are having an impact on their mental health and offer tips on how to deal with them and the resulting emotions. The MHA toolkit can also help parents and school personnel better understand the issues, such as the effects of social media on youth mental health and how to be supportive. Many students will exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety as they return to the classroom, and it is important to let kids and teens know that support is available. Familiarize yourself with the school’s education and counseling services, local mental health organizations, and community resources that can make a child feel more secure – like food, clothing, and school supply assistance. Free, confidential, anonymous screening tools are available at MHAScreening.org for youth and parents who are concerned about mental health. After taking the screen, results are provided along with tips for next steps and additional information. Serious signs that someone is in crisis and needs help, such as thoughts or plans of hurting oneself or another person, should be addressed promptly. If you think a child or teen is in immediate danger of taking suicidal action, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Its trained crisis counselors can help you find local resources or suggest next steps.

Suicide does not discriminate. It affects individuals in all stages of life, causing approximately 123 deaths per day in the United States. That means, approximately every 11 minutes, someone loses a loved one, a family member, a friend, a coworker or an employee to suicide. We all play a role in the fight against suicide and there are actions we can take individually and as a community to save lives. To learn more about suicide awareness and prevention, visit the suicide prevention page on our website or download one of our mental health resource toolkits.

As we close out the month of September, the advocacy around suicide prevention and awareness continues. We will go forward in the months to come and continue to Raise Awareness, Reduce Stigma, and Promote Resiliency both individually and community wide and we will all work together to prevent suicide.

“You Are Not Alone,” NAMI’s first ever book, is here to offer help. Written by Dr. Ken Duckworth with the expertise of a leading psychiatrist and the empathy of a family member affected by mental illness, this comprehensive guide includes stories from over 130 people who have been there — including people with mental illness and caregivers — and understand how challenging it can be to find the help you need, when you need it. Their stories are what makes this book different from your typical mental health guide. The book covers how to get help, pathways to recovery, the intersection of culture and mental health, and many more important topics to guide any person’s mental health journey. NAMI’s hope is that this guide can help people find that key help and support sooner and make recovery more accessible to those trying to find it.

Order your copy of the book today or for bulk purchases, visit Porchlight- You Are Not Alone.

Listen to our partner Lady Venessa Abram of SDP3 share her story in hopes to stop the shame and stigma around conversations of mental health.

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R

Resilient Georgia's mission is to lead a state-wide coalition to develop a closelyaligned and traumainformed public and private network working toward a united vision to create a birth through 26 year old integrated behavioral health system. Key components to be implemented by their partners include prevention, early intervention, research, advocacy and policy, and System of Care implementation and coordination.

Click here to learn more

RESOURCES

“Discovering the Basics of Mindful Self-Compassion” is an online course presented in two-modules, plus an introduction. This course explores the basic concepts of Mindful Self-Compassion and the empirical science that supports its effectiveness. You will discover how your own physiology provides the means for you to comfort yourself in times of stress and pain. But this class is not just theoretical. You will also gain experience with the concrete practices of Mindful Self-Compassion that you can make a part of your regular routine. When used over time, these practices have the ability to transform your relationship to yourself in powerful ways. CLICK HERE to learn more and get signed up today!

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 access to trained counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. And there is tremendous need, given:

• In 2020, the U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes.

• For people ages 10–34, suicide is a leading cause of death.

• From April 2020 through April 2021, over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses. Behind each of these data points, there are people, families and communities who have been impacted. Yet, in the face of these urgent realities, there is hope. The 988 Lifeline helps thousands of struggling people overcome suicidal crisis or mental-health related distress every day.

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

The federal government and partners from across many industries in the public and private sectors are working together to provide guidance to make our work a little easier.

Notably:

• The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and its messaging task force developed the 988 Messaging Framework to provide guidance on developing 988-related messaging. We encourage you to closely review these guidelines. The framework provides strategies related to the timing of messaging related to 988. It also discusses the importance of understanding how 988 works locally, following communication best practices, and tailoring 988-related messages for specific audiences.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created a one-stop shop, the 988 Partner Toolkit, at samhsa.gov/988. The toolkit is intended for SAMHSA’s 988 implementation partners— including crisis call centers, state mental health programs, substance use treatment providers, behavioral health systems, and others—and provides key messages, FAQs, logo, brand guidelines, social media shareables, wallet cards, magnets, media end cards, and other resources that educated on the basics of 988. SAMHSA will add resources to this toolkit over time.

• SAMHSA has worked with partners across several critical industries to create a holistic view of readiness for the implementation of 988 for states, territories, tribes, crisis contact centers, public safety answering points (PSAPs) and behavioral health providers. Through these collaborative efforts, SAMHSA created guidance documents (e.g., “playbooks”) for these critical groups to support implementation of 988.

• There are several existing federal resources that can be leveraged to support 988 implementation. Examples from SAMHSA include the crisis set-aside through the Mental Health Block Grant as well as funding through the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program. States are also able to leverage Medicaid dollars and State Opioid Response grants. States can find descriptions of these funding sources in the 988 Convening Playbook for States, Territories, and Tribes

While this is an exciting time to reimagine how we provide crisis services in the U.S., the full vision of a transformed crisis care system with 988 at its core will not be built overnight. Transformation of this scale will take time, and we must all work together to make it happen. It is important that we speak with one voice about 988 to ensure clear understanding about what it is and how it will work. As SAMHSA continues updating its partner toolkit and providing guidance on 988 implementation, we look forward to working with all of you to bring these critical services to our community.

Check out our podcast series where guests can share valuable insights to raise awareness, share mental health resources and inspire action throughout our community. tinyurl.com/mymspeaks

A Crisis Has No Schedule. That is why the MyGCAL App is designed to help young people in the state of Georgia access the Georgia Access and Crisis Line (GCAL) via chat, text, or phone call 24/7/365.