Information for Faith-Based and Community Leaders

Transcription

1 Intrductin Infrmatin fr Faith-Based and Cmmunity Leaders On June 3, 2013, President Obama cnvened a Natinal Cnference n Mental Health at the White Huse. Dzens f cmmitments by rganizatins representing media, educatrs, health care prviders, faith cmmunities, and fundatins t increase understanding and awareness f mental health were annunced at the cnference. Increasing awareness f mental health issues and making it easier fr peple t seek help will take partners wrking tgether. Faith and cmmunity leaders can play a significant rle in helping t educate individuals and families abut mental health. What is mental health? Mental health is an essential part f verall health and well-being f individuals, families, and cmmunities. A persn's mental health includes hw they handle stress, manage emtins, relate t ther peple, make decisins, and perceive the wrld and their sense f purpse in life. 1 Mental health prblems affect virtually all cmmunities in ur cuntry. Apprximately ne in five Americans ver age 18 will experience a mental health prblem this year.ii The re are 45 millin adults with any mental illness ver the age f 18 in the United Statesm and currently suicide is the third leading cause f death amng year-lds. 1 v Hwever, we knw that peple can and d recver frm mental health prblems. Imprtant Infrmatin fr Faith and Cmmunity Leaders By taking part in this imprtant discussin abut mental health, faith and cmmunity leaders can help individuals and families in need by lifting up messages f supprt and prviding infrmatin n hw t access services if necessary. When individuals and families face mental health prblems, many turn t trusted friends and cmmunities. As leaders and members f cngregatins, and faith-based and ther cmmunity rgan izatins, yur vices add great value t effrts t reduce negative attitudes abut mental health cnditins and thse wh experience them. Fa ith and ther neighbrhd leaders are ften first respnders when an individual r family faces a mental health challenge r when a cmmunity experiences a traumatic event. Knwing hw t respnd t these events can make a huge difference in hw the individual and cmmunity cpes and heals. r..:. T The Partnership Center SAMHSA-7 ( )

2 Negative attitudes and discriminatin f peple with mental illnesses can impede recvery." Religius and civic leaders can help lessen negative attitudes, fear, and discriminatin against peple with mental illnesses by creating a safe and supprtive envirnment where peple can penly talk abut mental health issues. Empathy and active listening can help build relatinships and supprt recvery fr peple living with mental illnesses. Cmmunity cnnectedness and supprt, like that fund in faith-based and ther neighbrhd rganizatins, are imprtant t the lng-term recvery f peple living with mental illnesses.v 1 Yur understanding f behaviral health and the many pathways t recvery can help peple achieve their full ptential. What Can Faith and Cmmunity Leaders D T Becme Part f Cmmunity Cnversatins Abut Mental Health? If they chse t d s, faith and ther cmmunity leaders can have a significant rle in increasing understanding and awareness f mental health, encuraging individuals experiencing mental health prblems t seek help, and helping t build.resilience and well-being in individuals and cmmunities. These leaders can help by taking steps such as: Identifying pprtunities t discuss the imprtance f mental health, facts abut mental illness, and the rle that the religius and ther cmmunity rganizatins can play in supprting individuals living with mental illnesses and encuraging them t seek help. Organizing additinal meetings, dinners, r ther gatherings fr members f yur cngregatin r cmmunity t have cnversatins abut mental health. Creating a welcming, supprtive, safe and nn-judgmental envirnment t address mental health issues within the cngregatin and in cmmunity settings. let peple knw it is kay t talk abut mental health. Talk abut mental health with an apprach that supprts preventin, treatment and recvery. Encurage peple experiencing mental health prblems- and their families- t seek help and assist them in finding help when needed. Prmte psitive mental health thrugh fellwship. Fster pprtunities t build cnnectins with individuals and families dealing with mental health challenges thrugh a spirit f trust and acceptance..:. I T The Partnership Center r SAMHSA-7 (1 -an )

3 Recgnize and supprt individuals with mental illnesses regardless f whether they are ding well r needing additinal assistance. Cnsider ffering yur rganizatin's meeting spaces fr cmmunity cnversatins and supprt grups fcused n addressing mental health issues. Where can I find help fr myself, a cngregatin member, a family member, r a friend? Planning and facilitating a cmmunity cnversatin using SAMHSA's Tlkit fr Cmmunity Cnversatins Abut Mental Health. The tlkit prvides infrmatin abut hw t plan a cmmunity cnversatin, hw t guide these discussins, and includes infrmatin abut mental health issues t use during the discussin. Sharing the Tlkit fr Cmmunity Cnversatins Abut Mental Health with yur clleagues and leaders in ther rganizatins. Develping relatinships with lcal mental health service prviders and helping t direct individuals and families in need t available services and supprts in the cmmunity. Inviting lcal experts n mental health issues t speak at cmmunity gatherings and educatinal hurs. Cmmitting t nging invlvement and utreach. If yu r smene in yur cmmunity is lking fr experts t serve as speakers r t link t ther lcal services, please visit MentaiHealth.gv fr a list f partner rganizatins that can serve as a resurce. If the situatin is ptentially lifethreatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hurs a day. If yu r smene yu knw are suicidal r in emtinal distress, cntact the Natinal Suicide Preventin Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255). Trained crisis wrkers are available t talk 24 hurs a day, 7 days a week. T find help in yur cmmunity, cntact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin's (SAMHSA's) Treatment Referral Line at HELP (4357) available Mnday thrugh Friday frm 8 a.m. t 8 p.m. EST. Yu can als access the Treatment Lcatr nline by visiting r Tgether we can help imprve America's health and the health f ur families and cmmunities. Fr mre resurces visit and r.. ::: T The Partnership Center

4 1. (1999). Mental Health: A Reprt f the Surgen General. Rckville, MD: ; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin, Center fr Mental Health Services; Natinal Institutes f Health, Natinal Institute f Mental Health. n, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin. (2012). Results fram the 2011 Natinal Survey an Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings (NSDUH Series, H- 45, HHS Publicatin N. (SMA) ). Rckville, MD. Retrieved frm Findings/2k10MHResults.htm 111, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin. (2012). Results fram the 2011 Natinal Survey an Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings (NSDUH Series, H- 45, HHS Publicatin N. (SMA) ). Rckville, MD. Retrieved frm Findings/2k10MHResults.htm iv, Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin. (2010). Natinal Vital Statistics System, Natinal Center fr Health Statistics. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reprting System (WISQARS) [nline]. Retrieved frm All Deaths By Age Grup 2010-a.pdf Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin, Natinal Assciatin f Cunty Behaviral Health & Develpmental Disability Directrs, Natinal Institute f Mental Health, & The Carter Center Mental Health Prgram. (2012). Attitudes Tward Menta/Illness: Results frm the Behaviral Risk Factr Surveillance System. Atlanta, GA: Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin. vi, Office f the Surgen General. (2011). Natinal Preventin Strategy. Washingtn, DC: Natinal Preventin Cuncil. Retrieved frm strategy/reprt.pdf. f.!i T The Partnership Center SAMHSA )

5 Everyne Can Play a Rle in the Cnversatin abut Mental Health On June 3, 2013, President Obama cnvened a Natinal Cnference n Mental Health at the White Huse. Dzens f rganizatins representing media, educatrs, health care prviders, faith cmmunities, and fundatins cmmitted t take steps t increase understanding and awareness f mental health. Increasing awareness f mental health iss ues and making it easier fr peple t seek help will take partners wrking tgether. Faith and cmmunity leaders can play a significant rle in helping t educate individuals and families abut mental health. Did yu knw? Mental health issues affect all members f sciety in sme way, shape, r frm. It is estimated that ne in five Americans ver age 18 will experience a mental hea lth prblem this year. 1 It is estimated that 6-12 percent ftransitin-age yuth and yung adults struggle with a serius mental hea lth cnditin (2.4-5 millin individuals). 11 Of children and yuth in need f mental health services, percent f these yuth d nt receive services.m Mental health invlves hw a persn handles stress, relates t ther peple, manages emtins, makes decisins, and perceives the wrld and their sense f purpse in life. 1 v Mental health is essential t the verall health and well-being. Misunderstandings abut mental health can lead t negative attitudes that prevent peple with mental illness frm being accepted and supprted, and can make it harder fr them and their families t get help and lead prductive lives in their cmmunities. Peple can and d recver frm mental health prblems. Where can I find help fr myself, a family member, r a friend? If the situatin Is ptentially lifethreatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hurs a day. If yu r smene yu knw are suicidal r in emtinal distress, cntact the Natinal Suicide Preventin Lifeline at 1 (800) 273 TALK (8255). Trained crisis wrkers are available t talk 24 hurs a day, 7 days a week. T find help in yur cmmunity, cntact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin's (SAMHSA's) Treatment Referral Line at HELP (4357) available Mnday thrugh Friday frm 8 a.m. t 8 p.m. EST. Where can I find infrmatin abut mental health? The MentalHealth.gv website prvides infrmatin abut mental health, signs and symptms f mental illness, and hw t talk abut mental health issues. Yu can als find mre infrmatin abut hw yu can help yurfriends and lved nes t access treatment and supprt if needed. N T The Partnership Center Yu can als access the Treatment Lcatr nline by visiting r r.. XSAhfiiSA w-.samhsa.gv SA.MHSA-7 ( )

6 What can my cmmunity and I d t supprt individuals experiencing mental health prblems? Faith-based and neighbrhd rganizatins play a significant rle in the health and well-being f cmmunities. Trusted and supprtive relatinships-such as family, lng-term friendships, and cnnectins t clergy, religius and ther, cmmunity rganizatins-are imprtant t building resilience and well-being." Here's hw yu can help: 1. Learn the basic signs f mental illnesses and ther facts abut mental health. Understand that peple can and d recver frm mental health challenges and that help is available and effective. 2. Cnnect individuals and families within yur cmmunity t mental health t reatment and supprt if they r a lved ne needs help. 3. Bu ild a safe and supprtive envirnment in yur cngregatin r civic rganizatin where peple can penly talk abut mental health issues. 4. Prmte awareness by educating yur cngregatins and cmmunities abut mental health issues thrugh educatinal frums and ther pprtunities. Yu can invite lcal mental health experts- including thse wh have experienced mental illness - t speak with yur cngregatin r at cmmunity gatherings. If yu r smene in yur cmmunity is lking fr experts t serve as speakers r t link t ther lcal services, please visit MentaiHealth.gv fr a list f partner rganizatins that can serve as a resu rce. Tgether we can help imprve America's health and the health f ur families and cmmunities. Fr mre resurces visit lth.gv and 1, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin. (2012). Results frm the 2011 Natinal Survey n Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings (NSDUH Series, H 45, HHS Publicatin N. (SMA) ). Rckville, MD. Retrieved f rm H Findings/2k10MHResults.ht m u Davis, M., & Vander Step, A. (1997). The t ransitin t adulthd fr yuth w h have serius emtinal disturbance: Develpmental Transitin and yung adult utcmes. Jurnal f Mental Health Administratin, 24(4), ;;; Kataka, S., Zhang, L., & Wells, K. (2002). Unmet needs fr mental health care amng U.S. children: Variat in by ethnicity and insurance status. American Jurnal f Psychiatry, 159(9) tv. (1999). Mental Health: A Reprt f the Surgen General. Rckville, MD: ; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratin, Center fr Mental Health Services; Nat inal Institutes f Health, Natinal Institute f Mental Health. v, Office f the Surgen General. (2011). Natinal Preventin Strategy. Washingtn, DC: Natinal Preventin Cuncil. Retrieved f rm r..!e T The Partnership Center SAMHSA-7 ( )