Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification Class
Category: Mental Health First Aid Training
COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS
The following events have been cancelled due to covid-19 restrictions. Please stay safe, practice self-care and mindfulness, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and remain hopeful
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Love & Faith in Action for Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 1 in 5 U.S. adults, and 1 in 6 youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. This implies that a large percentage of the population is either directly or indirectly impacted; either as the one experiencing the disorder, a family member, caregiver, friend, co-worker, or health care professional.
Love & Faith in Action for Mental Health looks at ways to eradicate Stigma.
One of the definitions of stigma is a mark of shame or discredit. In ancient Greece it originally described a mark made through branding to designate a person of undesirable moral character. There is no stigma in the God kind of love.
Love doesn’t discriminate and Faith is a verb (a “doing” word) fueled by it. We must actively engage both in our bid to eradicate stigma against mental illness.
Some of the ways to eradicate stigma are:
- Education: Learn facts about mental illness, get trained in mental health first aid.
- Attitude: be conscious of your attitudes and behavior. Be patient and kind. Be gracious.
- Speech: be intentional with your words, avoid labeling. Engage in people first words, “an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia: NOT “a schizophrenic.” Eliminate tags such as “mental,” “psycho,” etc.
- Awareness: educate others on mental illness and the need to eradicate stigma.
- Support: this cannot be overemphasized! I once heard someone refer to mental illness as the non-casserole disease. When someone either receives a negative medical prognosis or is recovering from surgery, there is generally an outpouring of love and support. People show up with various casseroles and offers of help, this is rarely the case when it comes to mental illness. Support is crucial because mental illness can be isolating and draining, both for the person involved and family.
- Inclusion: don’t exclude others, make accommodations, go beyond inclusion and foster a sense of belonging.
We must become intentional about expressing our love and faith to those experiencing a mental illness. Let’s be there for them, believe with them, and believe in them.
Romans 10:13 states “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” not only those of a certain class, race, gender, educational level, income bracket, mental ability, or socially acceptable behavior.
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October 10 is World Mental Health Day & National Depression Screening Day
October 10 is World Mental Health Day (Theme: Suicide Prevention) and National Depression Screening Day.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide, while depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind.
Suicide occurs throughout life and is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally.
9 out of 10 people that die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, screening can help catch mental health problems early. Learn more: http://[mhanational.org/miaw]
Find a free depression screening location at http://helpyourselfhelpothers.org
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Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder experience extended periods of extreme high energy and mood called mania, and extended periods of extreme low energy and mood called depression.
More than 3.3 million American adults are diagnosed with bipolar disorder in a given year. An estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives. Learn more: [http://mhanational.org/miaw]
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National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery & Understanding
Welcome to Take 5, the 5-minute broadcast with Toyin Fasosin; Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Field Advocate, Speaker, Author, Blogger, Disability Ministry Consultant, Mentor for mothers of children with special needs, and Member of the John Maxwell Team.
Today is the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding. This is Day 2 of Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6-12). Mental Illness Awareness Week was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress in recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to educate and increase awareness about mental illness. It takes place every year during the first full week of October.
We pray for all impacted by mental illness; either as sufferers, as family members/caregivers or as health care providers
- We ask for help for those experiencing a mental illness, we ask for mercy, we ask for grace.
- We pray for strength for the caregivers, give them the resources necessary to take care of their loved one dealing with a mental illness. Help them not lose themselves in the process.
- We pray for wisdom for health care providers, for both clinicians and researchers, give them insight and breakthroughs in research
- We pray for everyone else for patience and understanding. That we do away with stigma and show grace to one another, providing support and help.
Visit https://toyinfasosin.com for daily posts in observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6-12).
#7days7ways #MIAW19 #MoreThanAPhase #NoMoreStigma #NAMI #AFSP #AFSPMaryland #amh_matters #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek
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Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 6-12)
This week is #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek (October 6-12). Since 1990, when Congress officially established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), advocates have worked together to sponsor activities, large or small, to educate the public about mental illness
This year, we’re sharing facts about #mentalhealth conditions and ways you can get involved through Mental Health America’s #7days7ways campaign! Learn more: [http://mhanational.org/miaw] #MIAW19
#MoreThanAPhase #NoMoreStigma #NAMI #AFSP #AFSPMaryland #amh_matters
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How To Help
How to help:
- Get trained in Mental Health First Aid
- Fund research and advocate for policies that will improve intervention and save lives
- Check in on friends and family, especially the “strong” ones.
- Ask a direct question “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
- Dial the suicide prevention line 1-800-273-TALK (8255) in a crisis
- Dial 9-1-1 if they are unconscious.
Learn the warning signs and steps to help yourself or someone else at risk.
#StigmaFree #SuicidePrevention #MoreThanAPhase
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Know When To Seek Help
When to seek help:
- Prolonged feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations)
- Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
- Thoughts of suicide.
Learn the warning signs and steps to help yourself or someone else at risk.
#StigmaFree #SuicidePrevention #MoreThanAPhase
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Learn Suicide Warning Signs
Suicide warning signs include:
- Talking or posting about killing themselves
- Giving away prized possessions
- Talking about being a burden
- Acting happy after prolonged depression
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Loss of interest
Learn the warning signs and steps to help someone at risk.
#StigmaFree #SuicidePrevention #MoreThanAPhase
