We All Have Mental Health

“We All Have Mental Health” is a 5-minute animation designed to give young people aged 11-14 a common language and understanding of what we mean by mental health and how we can look after it.

For more information, a behind the scenes video, and to download the free, accompanying teacher toolkit:

https://www.annafreud.org/resources/schools-and-colleges/we-all-have-mental-health-animation-and-teacher-toolkit/

Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children and families that’s been supporting children and young people’s mental health for over 70 years, combining science with lived experience to changes lives.

How to Deal with Your Emotions

How to deal with your emotions and stop passing them to others

Cassandra Worthy, the author of Change Enthusiasm: How to Harness the Power of Emotion for Leadership and Success, believes emotions can have a uniquely strong influence on our personal and professional lives.

According to Worthy, emotions don’t turn off when we walk into a business setting or turn on our laptops, and we can catch the emotions of those around us, both positive and negative. This phenomenon is called emotional contagion, and it can have a significant impact on our mood and productivity.

Worthy suggests that suppressing emotions can lead to physical ailments and that it’s important to acknowledge and transform them instead of ignoring them. Emotions can be transferred, transformed, or conserved, and by becoming more self-aware of our emotions, we can transform negative thoughts into positive ones. This transformation can help us reach our goals and fuel our personal evolution.

Cassandra Worthy’s practical yet inspiring strategies can inspire anyone to authentically embrace change and find their own unique power of resilience during turbulent times. Using insights gleaned from her life and clients, as well as the tools and exercises she has refined over the years, Cassandra Worthy has written the playbook for anyone leading, influencing, going through, or embarking upon change.

For more about Cassandra Worthy, see: https://cassandraworthy.com/

Ad Council Initiative re: Mental Health Crisis

The Ad Council launched a $65 million multiyear initiative to address the mental health crisis in the U.S.

The new effort will unite brands, marketers, media companies and nonprofits. The initiative encompasses current campaigns below and new efforts to meet the needs of multiple audiences.

The Huntsman Mental Health Institute made a $15 million contribution to the initiative. In 2019, the Huntsman family made a donation of $150 million to create the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

According to the Ad Council:

4 IN 10 ADULTS: Reported anxiety and/or depression symptoms in 2021, a fourfold increase from 2019. Black and Latina communities report even higher at 48% and 46%, respectively.

56% OF YOUNG ADULTS: Reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder during the pandemic.

95% OF EMPLOYEES: Take time off due to mental health issues but cite another reason.

Sound It Out uses the power of music to help parents and caregivers have meaningful conversations with their middle schoolers about emotional wellbeing. The album is available at SoundItOutTogether.org and EscuchandoSentimientos.org, where caregivers can also access free, expert-vetted resources to guide conversations with their child about emotional wellbeing.

Learn about emotional wellbeing: https://sounditouttogether.org/emotional-wellbeing

Guide to conversations: https://sounditouttogether.org/prepare-for-conversation

Common emotions and topics: https://sounditouttogether.org/select-an-emotion-or-topic

10,000 Mental Health Apps – Effective?

Mental health apps have become so popular in the last few years that there are now more than 10,000 mental health apps available that generated nearly $500 million in spending last year.

How effective are mental health apps?

Researchers at the University of New England reviewed five different mental health apps to gauge their effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms.

Article: https://scrippsnews.com/stories/how-effective-are-mental-health-apps/

“Calm” is a smartphone app for sleep, meditation and relaxation with over 100 million downloads and over 1.5M+ 5-star reviews.

See: https://calm.com/

BetterHelp, an online counseling service, offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and board licensed professional counselors (LPC).

See: https://www.betterhelp.com/

In 2020, the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry published a study, “Clinical or gimmickal: The use and effectiveness of mobile mental health apps for treating anxiety and depression” by Jamie M Marshall, Debra A Dunstan, and Warren Bartik.

See 9-page report: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0004867419876700

Trauma Professionals – Psychotraumatology

Mike Miller is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with the International Association of Trauma Professionals. He works at the Yatra Centre, Asia’s leading trauma care facility, offering evidence-based trauma therapy to clients with a range of mental health concerns.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) is an approach to psychotherapy that identifies and addresses multiple sub-personalities or families within each person’s mental system.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a common type of talk therapy (psychotherapy).

Earn a TraumaPro CPT Certification in Psychotraumatology: https://www.iptrauma.org/

National Suicide Prevention Week/Month

Suicide PreventionThe American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) recognizes the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month. National Suicide Prevention Week is the week after Labor Day.

“Suicide prevention is important every day of the year. National Suicide Prevention Month gives us an opportunity to shine a special, encouraging light on this topic that affects us all, and send a clear, hopeful message that help is available, and suicide can be prevented.” – AFSP

• For information about AFSP: https://afsp.org

Message from the USO (United Service Organizations):
USO
“Tragically, suicide rates among active-duty service members and veterans have risen dramatically in recent years. Service members are four times more likely to die by suicide than in conflict. Many of the realities of a service member’s day-to-day life, such as time away from their loved ones, dangerous conditions, an uncertain future, isolation and stress, are factors that we know can contribute to depression and thoughts of suicide.

This is a serious problem and not one that can be easily fixed — but by acknowledging it and continuing to do everything we can to support our service members, we can make a difference. Supporting service members’ mental health is at the heart of everything we do at the USO — from building a community, to showing them they are not alone, to creating programs that help them handle and cope with deployment, PTSD, financial management and other challenges.

Having a safe, supportive environment plays a key role in suicide prevention. USO Centers are strategically located in airports and military installations all around the world to give our service members a welcoming space to use however they’d like — from mentally regrouping to calling loved ones to just being themselves — no matter where their service takes them.

Isolation is known to be a key contributor to depressive and suicidal thoughts. Programs like USO Operation Phone Home® and the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program keep service members connected to their loved ones no matter where they are in the world.

USO Warrior and Family Centers offer therapeutic activities tailored to service members recovering from physical injuries, PTSD and other ailments. Classes in art, music, yoga and cooking have been proven to help service members express themselves and reduce anxiety.

By letting our service members know they have the support and gratitude of the American people, we can help build a stronger sense of community and reduce isolation. Right now, this feels more important than ever.”

• For information about the USO (United Service Organizations): https://www.uso.org

Mental Health Care

In this 25-minute video posted on August 1, 2022, John Oliver, host of the TV program “Last Week Tonight” on the HBO network, discusses problems and issues in our mental health care system with his trademark sense of humor. He talks about apps and hospitals and difficulties finding a (good) therapist… who takes insurance… and is available.

The Lifeline and 988

(July 16, 2022) – 988 is the new phone number for the USA’s Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

     See: https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

People who call, text, or chat 988 are connected to trained professional counselors who listen, understand, provide support, and connect people to resources.

In addition to reaching the Lifeline using 988, toll-free number 1-800-273-8255 remains available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

The Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers has been in operation since 2005 and has proven to be effective.

The non-profit administrator of the Lifeline is Vibrant Emotional Health. “For 50 years, Vibrant Emotional Health, formerly the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), has been at the forefront of promoting emotional well-being for all people.”

     See: https://www.vibrant.org/

Created by Vibrant Emotional Health, The Safe Space website offers free resources and tools that provide support in an emotionally safe environment.

     See: https://safespace.vibrant.org/

Vibrant Emotional Health

Mental healthcare IS healthcare!

mental healthcare

California just implemented the strongest mental healthcare law in the entire United States. At a time when anxiety, depression, loneliness, and PTSD are on the rise, such legislation is urgent. However, health insurance companies remain intent on raking in profits without doling out help, constantly putting greed above the health of people who pay for coverage.

That’s why we’re asking all 49 other U.S. states to pass similar laws to California and expand mental healthcare access and services. Sign the petition if you agree!

It’s part of a movement toward what’s known as “mental health parity,” the ideal standard in which mental health conditions are treated with the same level of care and seriousness as physical health conditions. Under California’s previous parity law, health insurance companies could deny financial coverage for mental healthcare willy nilly. Families were pushed into debt and bankruptcy trying to access and afford treatment. Lives were disrupted. Relationships were ruined. All this so a few (usually rich old white men) at the top of the corporate ladder can keep getting richer at the expense of others.

Learn more and see the petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/319/683/906/?TAP=1129

The foregoing is excerpted from a post at Care2.com, “the world’s largest community for good… where you’ll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.”: https://www.care2.com/

Conversation About Our Mental Health Crisis

“To better understand the ramifications of the global pandemic on the hearts and minds of humans everywhere,” Doctor Mike speaks with Dr. Ali Mattu and Dr. Tarun Dua in this 21-minute video for both healthcare professionals and the general public.

“COVID-19’s impact on the globe can’t be understated and, while the vaccine has dramatically reduced the spread of the virus in nations that are lucky enough to have access, the global toll on our mental health, vaccinated or not, will be felt for years to come.” – Doctor Mike Varshavski (family medicine)

With over 13 million social media followers, Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, commonly known as “Doctor Mike,” is a board-certified family medicine physician, media personality, educator, writer, and philanthropist.

See: doctormikemedia.com

Ali M. Mattu, Ph.D.: Dr. Ali Mattu creates mental health and psychology media that’s fun, easy to understand, and free.

See: https://alimattu.com/

Loop: Dr. Ali Mattu is also the director of mental health at Loop, a startup making self-care social through small group real time audio hangouts. Loop is a new way to manage personal challenges and anxieties through a fun, safe, live audio, clinically-backed experience. Loop is designed to be a safe place to talk about hard things. Think of looping as exercise for your emotional health.

See: https://www.loop.co/

Dr. Tarun Dua, Head of Brain Health, WHO: Dr. Tarun Dua is a medical officer working on the Program for Neurological Diseases and Neuroscience, Management of Mental and Brain Disorders in the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the World Health Organization.