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Mental Health First Aid
According to Mental Health First Aid USA, “Mental Health First Aid is an in-person training that teaches you how to help persons developing a mental illness or in a crisis.” A few weeks ago Dubuque County, Iowa hosted a free Mental Health First Aid training to over 30 people. Participants attended this two day training in order to learn what courses of action should be taken when one is thought to have a mental illness. Overall, the course helps to educate about mental health and how to help one get the professional services they may need.
Light to Moderate Exercise Can Improve Anxiety and Depression
The snow has finally melted and our days are slowly getting warmer. People all over are hitting the gym just a little bit harder than normal to try and shed that pesky winter weight in time for swimsuit season! While we all know the physical health benefits of exercise, more studies are linking exercise to improvement of mental health. The benefits have proven particularly helpful in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Metro Area LOSS Team
The Metro Area LOSS Team is currently collecting applications for team members. If…
2014 Pony Express Ride
The grass is turning from brown to green, and the trees are turning from bare to full. It is time to brush the dust from the winter months off that motorcycle, and come join a ride of a lifetime! May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and an opportunity to bring awareness to the importance of positive mental health in all ages including children. In order to help build awareness around this topic, the Nebraska community is again hosting the Pony Express Ride.
United Way Mental Health Panel
Representatives of United Way of the Midlands, Salvation Army and Community Alliance formed a panel at community event Monday to discuss the shortage of beds in residential treatment centers in Omaha. The need for additional inpatient and long term care facilities for people with mental illness is not new. However, it is a growing need, with only one in three people with a mental illness seeking help. “Longtime stigmas against acknowledging mental illness often prevent people from getting the help they need,” one panelist said.
Looking Ahead to May
May is a big month for those of us in the mental health field. It is recognized as many as Mental Health Awareness Month, and others recognize the first full week as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. When reviewing Mental Health America’s website I loved their theme, “Mind Your Health.” It aligned very closely with our community’s goal of shifting the mindset of individuals to view their mental health as a medical condition, just as they do with others such as cancer, diabetes, an injury, etc. We are working with the Douglas County Health Department in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to help facilitate this change here in Omaha. Mental Health America talks about building public recognition on the importance of mental health to people’s overall health and wellness. They also suggest different positive actions to protect people’s mental health and promote their whole health. Please visit their site, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may, for more information on how you can get involved and take some positive actions of your own!
Mental Illness and Crime
When a crime has been committed, people want answers. This can lead to simple answers the community can try to understand. We are all familiar with the headlines tying in a mental illness after a crime has been committed. Because crime in relationship to mental illness is often heavily advertised in the media, an unfair stigma has been associated with those suffering from a mental illness being violent or unpredictable.
Stigma of Mental Health in Sports Remains an Opponent
The stigma that is often associated with mental illness can make it hard for those suffering to reach out. Unfortunately, this stigma seems to be ever lurking in the world of sports as well. It is easy for players to find help for a sprained ankle or bruised up knee, but finding help for their mental health is not as easy. When looking at a physical injury, it is easier to identify the problem. The course of action is clearer. When looking at a condition with the brain, the action plan is not always as easily identifiable.
Being a Good Supporter
We have all been there. There are days and times in our life that things seem gloomy. It may be the results of a bad day, illness, accident, or an array of other things. For many, this is a time to turn to a support system in order to get through. Sometimes, this is all one needs to help turn things around.
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