Mental Community

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State University has designated September as Wellness Month. The month will be dedicated to promoting awareness and support for mental health in the community.

“We know that historically marginalized populations face a higher risk of health problems and suicidal ideation, so we wanted to raise awareness of these struggles and the resources available to support our students,” said Evan Fossen, deputy director of student life.

The programs that will take place during the month were organized by the University’s Umbrella Coalition. Registration for some of the events can be done at https://fairmontstate.libcal.com.

Events will include:

• Monday, September 20: Members of the campus community are encouraged to participate in a “Social Media Blitz” by sharing various photos, graphics and statistics that will be posted on the University’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels, along with #WellnessforALL and #UmbrellaCoalition hashtags.

• Tuesday, September 21: Students can learn more about self-care by attending Adulting 101: Mental Health, a free event hosted by Counseling Services from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the conference rooms of the Falcon Center.

• Tuesday, September 21: The campus community is invited to cheer on the Falcons volleyball team at the Feaster Center from 7 to 9 p.m. as it takes on Shepherd University. During the match, The Hidden Opponent, an advocacy group that focuses on the well-being of student-athletes and tackles stigma with sports culture, will raise awareness about mental health.

• Wednesday, September 22: Students, faculty and staff will come together from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to “break down the stigma” associated with mental health issues by participating in a mile-long walk around campus. An on-campus mental health resource fair will be held at the Falcon Center Quad after the walk.

• Monday, September 27: A Mindful Eating Discussion, led by Mental Health Advisor Shannon Ackerman, will be held in the private dining room of the Falcon Center from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To attend the event virtually, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/umbrella-program.

“Wellness has always been important, but our experiences during this pandemic have made wellness an even more vital priority,” said Mirta M. Martin, president of Fairmont State University. “Our top priority is the health, safety and well-being of our dear Falcon family. We always stress the importance of wellness, but designating September as Wellness Month at Fairmont State University allows us to draw everyone’s attention to wellness resources and initiatives. I invite everyone to participate in the activities planned for Wellness Month, to learn about these resources, to take care of themselves and to ensure the health of our community.

Through the Falcon Mental Health program, Fairmont State will continue to offer activities throughout the year.

Youngstown, Ohio (WKBN) – The Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Council honored the recipients of this year’s Mental Health and Recovery Award at a special ceremony Friday.

This year’s winners included people and organizations from across the valley who strive to meet the mental health and recovery needs of residents of Mahoning County.

The 2021 winners are:

● CIT Officer of the Year, Lt. Salvatore Pascarella of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office

● Program of the Year, Coordination of Mahoning County Family and Child Counseling Services

● Crisis Incident Stress Management Award, Lieutenant Tom Collins of the Austintown Police Department

● Frontline Staff of the Year (VanGuard Award), Help Network of Northeast Ohio Suicide Crisis Hotline

● Support Staff of the Year (Pillar Award), Lucia Lovell of the Mahoning County Estates Court

● Leadership Award, Pastor Michael H. Harrison, Sr., Union Baptist Church

● Lawyer Award, Ellen Taylor of Compass Family & Community Services

“It is an honor for the board to meet each year and recognize the contributions of these individuals and organizations to the health and well-being of our community. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen a dramatic increase in the need for mental health and recovery services in our community, which makes the work they do even more important, ”said Duane Piccirilli, Executive Director of Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery. Plank.

The YMCA of Long Beach will host virtual forums next week on various equity-related issues, organizers said this week.

This free event, “Equity Week,” is split into three days: Monday will be for mental health, Wednesday will be for digital broadband, and Friday will focus on youth and youth workforces. entrepreneurship. The event is open to the public and will be broadcast on Zoom from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (to participate, click the Zoom link here and enter Meeting ID # 258 996 2618).

During these forums, the organizers plan to identify challenges and obstacles as well as to share resources.

Guests and panelists will include representatives from the city, Asia Pacific Advisory Services, Long Beach LGBTQ Center, Pacific Gateway and more, organizers said.

The forums will have live translations for Spanish and Khmer, and flyers for the event are available in Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Persian / Farsi and Sinhala.

In 2020, Week of Equity was founded by the Community Development YMCA, which is a branch of the YMCA of Grand Long Beach, according to the Y.

For any questions about the event, contact Sokthea Phay (bilingual in English and Khmer) at [email protected] or 562-668-4255.

YMCA Fairness Week flyer in Persian / Farsi. Courtesy of YMCA Community Development.

The YMCA Equity Week flyer in Sinhala. Courtesy of YMCA Community Development.

A boleto para la Semana de Equidad. (YMCA Community Development)

YMCA Fairness Week flyer in Tagalog. Courtesy of YMCA Community Development.

YMCA Equity Week flyer in Vietnamese. Courtesy of YMCA Community Development.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – The Virginia Beach Department of Social Services will be hosting two community virtual listening sessions to collect public feedback on the city’s implementation of the Marcus Alert.

The Marcus Alert, enacted in late 2020, is a state-wide mental health alert system ensuring behavioral health experts are involved in responding to people in crisis. It is named in honor of Marcus-David Peters, a high school biology teacher killed by police in Richmond while going through a behavioral health crisis in 2018.

The Virginia Beach DHS says it seeks feedback from community members, especially those with direct experience with mental health or substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, involvement in community forces. order, temporary detention or emergency custody as an individual or member of the family.

“When we consider our response model, it’s critical that we hear from people who have a vested interest in how we approach someone who is calling for help,” said Angela Hicks, DHS deputy director for behavioral health and developmental services. “We want to hear from those who have been through the process, or from friends and relatives who have been there to help someone recover. We want to hear what is important for our community to take into account. “

Some of the issues DHS is asking for comments on include:

• Who should respond when someone calls for help during a behavioral health crisis (mental health clinicians, peer specialists, law enforcement, combination supports or others)?
• What kind of response would you want for yourself or your loved ones during a behavioral health emergency?
• Where should teams intervene (such as homes, schools or other community places)?
• What would make you more comfortable asking for help early on?
• What type of follow-up or ongoing support would be helpful to people entering our services in a crisis?

Listening sessions will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25 and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 2. Click on the links to register for one of the sessions.

Written responses will also be accepted from those who cannot attend or would prefer not to speak openly. To submit your thoughts in writing, send an email to [email protected]

To learn more about the city’s implementation of the Marcus Alert, click here.

Smith Georges thinks of his native Haiti. The community activist and artist painted a mural of Haiti when the 2010 earthquake struck, and he felt compelled to update it after the latest tragedy.

Georges also said his family could not reach his aunt, who still lives in Haiti.

“I hope nothing bad happens to him, but seeing the devastation in these areas really gives me a lot of reason to be anxious,” he said.

Georges attended a press conference and a prayer vigil on the steps of St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church in Flatbush on Monday.

Elected officials and community leaders gathered, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Reverend Al Sharpton, all vowing to help the Haitian community and encouraging others to do the same.

“We know the strength of the Haitian people. It is legendary. But let’s be there for them and let them know that they are never alone, ”said de Blasio.

“In 2010, everyone said there was an opportunity to reinvest in Haiti,” said Dr Christina Pardo of Life of Hope. “Now is another opportunity for us to take control and make sure people are represented.

Lovely Pierre is originally from Haiti and now lives in Canarsie. Her children joined her at the vigil.

“Even though I left there a long time ago, it’s hard and heavy for me because it’s my hometown, I had the opportunity to come here, to study here, but if I hadn’t had this opportunity, it could easily have been me, ”said Pierre.

The mayor says the city is providing mental health support to the Haitian community at the Haitian-American Council Training Center and the Christian Church of the Evangelical Crusade.

Georges said Haiti can use all the support it can get at a time like this.

“You see that the problems are piling up in addition to the problems in Haiti. I wish not only Haitians or Americans of Haitian origin, that the whole world comes together and reaches out to Haiti, ”he said.

There are many ways to help, but officials are warning people to donate to credible organizations.

The mayor says one way people can learn to help is by visiting NYC.gov/fund.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KERO) – Governor Newsom said when asked the kids if they preferred school online or in person, that they all raised their hands for learning on campus.

“We don’t want our kids coming back to Zoom school. We don’t want our kids coming back online with all the disparities,” Newsom said.

He said one of the reasons they are pushing for children to return to class with teachers is community building skills, which students learn through face-to-face teaching that cannot be replaced by line.

“The Zoom school cannot replace the social and emotional learning of being in person,” Newsom said.

California State Assembly Member Eloise Reyes added that schools are focused on addressing growing mental health issues and seeking to prioritize them.

“When we say we want to go back to normal, the normal was not good. We want to go back to something better,” Reyes said.

Newsom said the state was spending billions of dollars on education, not only in infrastructure, but also in resources for mental health. He said the state invests about $ 2 billion in university savings accounts for children, $ 4.3 billion for the behavioral health needs of people aged zero to 25 and $ 3 billion for community schools.

“$ 123.9 billion in public education budget. This is tens of billions of dollars more than any previous budget. This is a transformational budget, ”Newsom said
Newsom also said $ 650 million is to provide free and nutritious breakfast and lunch for children.

The governor continued to stress the importance of following safety guidelines, including recommendations for wearing masks, and encourages all Californians to get vaccinated.

“It’s a proud moment to see these children back to school. See this scene reproduced throughout the state of California, ”Newsom said

August 6, 2021

Young Muslims spoke out about the impact of blockades on their mental health in an effort to break down social taboos surrounding the problem they believe exists in their community.

Hasnain Shafiq, who started a barber shop where people can talk about their mental health after losing three friends to suicide last year, is one of many young Muslims in Bradford to break the silence on the issue to inspire solutions.

Mr Shafiq said: “It hurts you a lot because it is someone close to you. They [the suicides] had a huge impact on me and my sanity. Within the South Asian community, you cannot talk about suicide.

The Khidmat Community Center is one of many organizations in the Bradford area that say they have seen an increase in the number of referrals for young people with mental health issues. They made a film about what they saw and to “give voice to young people”.

‘I was alone’

Ali Islam, an avid amateur boxer, took part in the film Khidmat after struggling during blockages when his local youth club was closed.

He said, “Every day I was boxing and then… boom, lockdown. Complete silence. No boxing. Nothing. And it had a huge effect on my sanity.

He added: “I was alone. I had no one to talk to. There’s something called social media, but it’s not really social.

“My anxiety levels were skyrocketing.”

In addition to battling his own fears about Covid, Ali says he has had to deal with strangers accusing his community of spreading the disease.

He said: ‘In our community we have a lot of people in a small household, people said you are to blame for Covid because you have a lot of people, you are spreading the virus. But this is not the case.

Bradford is home to England’s largest Pakistani community. Many settled here in the 1950s and 1960s to help run the textile factories.

Historically, these multigenerational households were more likely to experience poverty and deprivation.

Deeply affected

Marium Zameer lives in an eight person house.

A few weeks after the first lockdown, the 18-year-old was hospitalized with Covid.

She was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit and a doctor told her she may need to be in a coma. She told doctors she wanted to see her family “one last time”.

She said: “I don’t know if I will ever come back 100% and I’m not just saying physically, even mentally. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to who I was.

In the end, Marium was fortunate enough to avoid being plunged into a coma, but while in intensive care, her grandfather Mohammed Bashir was also hospitalized with coronavirus.

Marium’s grandfather passed away before she could see him.

The teenager told us he was deeply affected by his death, adding: “A lot of people still don’t believe in Covid until today, which blows my mind.”

Written by Calum Fraser.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indiana legislature is taking action to improve access to mental health care as barriers must be removed, especially for people on Medicare and Medicaid.

Law 988 was recently passed to improve the way the state responds to a mental health crisis.

The national suicide helpline will be 1-800-273-8255 to 988 and mental health crisis calls will be diverted to 911 to 988 next summer.

“This enables us to reform the way we respond to crises in a coordinated, effective and trauma-informed manner,” said Indiana Mental Health America’s vice president of risk reduction and crisis stabilization programs. David Berman.

It’s an easier way to call for help. District 28 Senator Michael Crider is just a legislature to make this a reality.

“The goal is to make calling 988 as easy as possible. They will have access to trained professionals who will know how to work directly with them or refer them to someone who will,” Berman said.

The Mental Health America Wabash Valley region has a system called “The Navigator”. It is made up of peers who advocate for people waiting to receive mental health care.

“Our software will generate a list, and then we’ll go through that list and call each person,” said Mental Health America President and CEO Brandi Christiansen. “We will take waiting lists and we will put ourselves on a no-call and no-show list and we will continue to contact and notify the client until we have secured an appointment. “

Behavioral health experts are fighting for increased reimbursements to providers.

Valley Oaks Health chief strategy officer Zoe Frantz said Medicaid reimbursement rates in some services had not increased since the 1970s and more specialties should be able to bill Medicare and Medicaid for services, such as marriage and family counselors.

“We don’t have a lot of clinicians, whether psychologists, whether it’s a discipline within our state, because reimbursement rates are low and we can’t pay people to do this work,” added Frantz.

Aspire Health Network President and CEO and ICCMHC Board Member Barbara Scott said it will take the community to break the stigma of wanting to receive mental health treatment for policies change. Telehealth is starting to help.

“You are not driving to a mental health center so you can get services in the privacy of your home or in a safe place somewhere,” Scott added.

Frantz said society needs to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. “Until people realize that mental health is a treatable disease. None of this will change, ”said Frantz.

Here are some additional resources for accessing mental health and other services in Indiana:

It’s the fifth story in a series that we call “INside Story”. The rest of Aleah’s stories about accessing mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories will air each morning this week on News 8.

The center also runs a coffee and food bank initiative for people in need.

By partnering with local groups No Duff and Ever-Evolving, Wonderland is now deepening its mission of support – and quickly becoming a community center that helps the people of St Helens in different ways.

No Duff is a support network that provides services to ex-military and emergency service workers, while Ever-Evolving is a social adult child care service for people with learning disabilities.

Stephen Baines, who runs Wonderland, said the idea for the center came after struggling to find local support for his own mental health.

Stephen with Sean Tickle, 20, who works at the Wonderland Cafe and Food Bank

Prescot-based Stephen explained, “I suffered, and still suffer from anxiety and depression, and couldn’t get help out of nowhere.

“I decided then that I wanted to open a center, and everything that comes into the center now helps with mental health. ”

Despite struggling to keep the business afloat during the pandemic, Stephen recognized the damaging mental health effects of the lockdown and saw the centre’s expansion as a necessity to move forward.

Stephen said: “When we went into lockdown it was like you were waiting a minute, there are people struggling. We have to do [the centre] bigger than what it is.

Recognizing the collective impact the pandemic was creating in the community, partnerships with other local groups began to emerge to “tie it all together.” [work] together”.

The Wonderland Community Center is located at Reflection Court, near St Helens town center

No Duff, led by military veteran and ex-prison and police Dean Owen, is a support network for people who have served in the military or emergency services and suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and PTSD.

No Duff – which derives from a military communication term meaning “This is not an exercise” – operates a “multi-organizational approach” from the Wonderland space.

This means the small team can provide a 24-hour helpline to those in need, as well as advice, advice on claims, benefits or housing, and basic support from other former military personnel. who have held similar positions and understand their experience.

Emphasizing the need for a service delivery like this, Dean, of Sutton Heath, explained that a large number of ex-military have shown up at their doors since their inception in 2019 – supporting 126 people since August 2020 alone .

While the pandemic may have created – or accentuated – mental health issues for people across the country, Dean is comforted by the fact that personal issues are now brought up publicly and more frequently, prompting more people to come forward. to ask for help.

He explained: “More [mental health] is made public, the more we talk about it and the more aware we are of what is actually available to help.

Another partnership that has flourished in the Wonderland space is with Ever-Evolving – an open daycare offering for young adults with additional needs.

One of the children’s play areas inside Wonderland

Realizing the lack of local support for this group of people, Marie Cunliffe created the organization as a “living” network where young adults could be with their peers, connect with the community and have the same opportunities as their able-bodied counterparts.

Approaching the full capacity of their Thatto Heath hub, the Wonderland site will be used as “an additional space where we can connect to the community”.

Although it only opened in April, Marie explained, “We are approaching full capacity, but we want to grow, we don’t want to say no to anyone.

“We had incredible feedback from service users and parents, so I was put in touch with Stephen to help me out. ”

The Wonderland Community Space enables Ever-Evolving to increase both the number of service users and their services, which includes advice, employability counseling and activities ranging from sports to the arts of the scene.

Passionate about their region and helping those in the community, Stephen, Dean and Marie are delighted to have a central multipurpose space that provides a vital service to the local population.

By developing and sharing contacts through their collaboration, organizations build the foundations of a vast support network – capable of providing accessible pathways for people to find the right assistance.

Despite their growing network, however, Stephen assures people that they are all family run and take an informal approach as ordinary people who have had similar experiences.

He explains: “There is no waiting list here, which is a good thing because we have all been in this situation where you have to wait six weeks. [to get professional help]. ”

Wonderland is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and their services are open to all members of the community, even “if it’s just a cup of tea and a chat.”

Stephen added: “To anyone who walks through that door, I can turn to say that we have been there and there is now light at the end of the tunnel. ”

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – Today, the Departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Social Services (DHS) joined officials of the Governor’s Office for Advocacy and Reform, the Governor’s Advisory Commissions on Latin American Affairs, Asian and American Affairs and LGBTQ Affairs, the Pennsylvania Black Caucus Legislative Commission and community organizations to strengthen the Wolf Administration’s commitment to promote trauma-informed and culturally sensitive mental health and substance abuse services competent, which meet the distinct needs of historically marginalized populations and highlight available resources.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the systemic impact of racism and bigotry, and how the resulting inequalities can adversely affect the mental and physical health of individuals within historically marginalized groups – including racial minorities and ethnicities and the LGTBQ community, ”DHS said. Acting Secretary Meg Snead. “I encourage anyone with mental health issues to contact the Persevere PA Referral and Support Line at 1-855-284-2494. The helpline is comprised of professional social workers trained in trauma-informed and culturally competent care who can assess needs and provide an appropriate referral to community resources for children, adolescents, adults and special populations, including groups. historically marginalized.

Although studies have shown that the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities, these inequalities existed before COVID-19. DHS identified health equity as a top priority of its ongoing work on racial equity in a report released earlier this year, and that includes a focus on mental health services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preliminary overdose data shows a 16% increase in overdose deaths in Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2020. More than half of those deaths have occurred in Philadelphia, where overdoses among black people have increased by more than 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.

“The collision of the overdose epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted health inequalities for particular racial and ethnic populations across Pennsylvania,” said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith . “In our latest round of grants to community recovery organizations, we have included language specifically related to ensuring that minority populations have access to prevention, treatment and recovery services. As you have heard today, the Wolf administration is committed to ensuring that, regardless of your race, ethnicity or origin, all Pennsylvanians have equal access to vital resources. “

The PA Care Partnership builds and promotes equality and trust by including youth, caregivers, providers and systems that serve children and young adults based on the strengths and culture of each community to change the way youth, families, government and communities interact with each other. This is achieved through a system of care model that integrates mental health promotion, prevention, early detection and early intervention in addition to treatment to meet the needs of all children, adolescents and young adults.

“The past year and a half has challenged many of us in this time of COVID-19. As a result, individuals and families have felt isolated and unsure of what the future holds. However, help is available as Pennsylvania has a wide range of services and supports, with dedicated staff, who continually work to increase their trauma awareness and focus on our children’s cultural needs and needs. various of our families, ”said Mark Durgin, director of PA CARE Partnership. “To find services in your community, consider contacting your county mental health office. “

PA Care Partnership is hosting a series of webinars focused on youth and young adults from birth to 21 years of age and their families, systems and providers aligned with the care system’s values ​​of being youth and family-centered, based on strengths and individualized, trauma-aware, and culturally and linguistically competent. This month, the series includes several webinars on Minority Mental Health Month available online.

“I appreciated the opportunity to speak about mental health issues in communities of color and within marginalized groups to help shed light on the dire situation we find ourselves in, in terms of the need to help and current lack of resources and awareness. said Andrea Fields, executive director of the PA’s Legislative Black Caucus. “We are in crisis proportions and we must do all we can in the legislature to give people the help they need, both through resources and through laws, but also through educating people. on inequalities within the structure of health care and mental health. ”

“We have seen an increase in mental health issues during the pandemic in Hispanic / Latin communities and as a result Latin communities are at higher risk due to the stress of facing discrimination while trying to navigate. services with language barriers. Our goal is to continue to educate and raise awareness of social services to these minority communities and to aggressively address the social determinants of health for our most vulnerable populations, ”said Luz Colon, Executive Director of the Advisory Commission of the governor on Latin American affairs. “I applaud DHS and DDAP for coming together to address mental health issues in minority communities. We are committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to provide service to those who need it most. “

“Minority Mental Health Month is helping to bring attention to the issue, and we hope that more people in our minority communities will not only be aware of the resources and services available to them, but also that members of our communities will understand that they are not alone, there are others facing the same challenges, and it is okay to seek help, ”said Stephanie Sun, executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Business Asia-Pacific. “I invite you all to join us in helping your family, friends and neighbors. The mental health of one affects the greatest number. We can’t do it alone, but together we can make a difference. “

Persevere PA Support and Reference Helpline

Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other difficult emotions as a result of COVID-19 and the economic insecurity that accompanies it can contact the Persevere PA Support & Referral hotline toll-free, 24/7 / 7 to 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600. Community Resource Center (CCR) staff are trained to be accessible, culturally competent, and qualified to assist people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, concurrent disorders, other special needs, or caregivers. looking for a supportive and empathetic person to listen to. Staff are trained in trauma-informed care to listen, assess needs, triage calls, and provide appropriate referral to community resources for children, adolescents, adults and special populations. Since its launch in April 2020, the helpline has received nearly 25,000 calls.

Get help now

People looking for substance abuse treatment or recovery resources for themselves or a loved one can call the free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This helpline is confidential, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and made up of qualified professionals with interpretation services available in more than 200 languages. Appellants may also be eligible for funding if they need help paying for their treatment. A live chat option is also available online or via SMS at 717-216-0905 for those seeking assistance who may not be comfortable talking to a helpline operator.

National lifeline for suicide prevention

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support, in English and Spanish, to people in suicidal crisis or in emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Localized text is also available through the Crisis Text Line, offering free 24/7 assistance by sending “PA” to 741741. For assistance in Spanish, contact the Línea Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio at ‘address 1-888-628-9454.

Guide to mental health in Pennsylvania

This online guide contains information on mental health screenings, finding a mental health professional, resources for housing insecurity, help with trauma due to racism, and finding a mental health professional. help in contacting the help desks in your county and requesting benefits.

Public aid programs

DHS encourages Pennsylvanians who are struggling to meet their basic needs to apply for programs such as Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and other programs, all now at www.compass.state.pa.us. For more information on the assistance programs available to help Pennsylvanians, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

CONTACT WITH THE MEDIA:

Ali Gantz, DDAP, [email protected]

Erin James, DHS, [email protected]

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