Partnership Center Posts!

Partnership Posts highlight information and resources that we hope will helpful to faith and community-based health leaders. The Posts focus on prevention and preventive services and align with National Health Observances.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month July, 2015

Let's Talk About: Mental Health

Mental health problems affect all communities. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that approximately one in five Americans over age 18 will experience a mental health problem this year. In addition, the Office of Minority Health reports African Americans are 20% more likely to report having serious psychological distress than Non-Hispanic Whites. In recent years suicide has been the second leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Natives between the ages of 10 and 34.

Mental health problems are common and help is available. Start by visitingMentalHealth.gov to help members of your community find the help they need torealize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Prevention Works: How the Affordable Care Act covers mental health services

Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans must now cover preventive services that include depression screening for adults and adolescents . Covered preventive services also include behavioral assessments for children and drug and alcohol use assessments of adolescents, at no additional cost. Review this list for the complete description of all the preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act.

How can your congregation of community help?

As leaders and members of congregations, faith-based and other community organizations, your voice is important to reducing negative attitudes about mental health and making it easier for folks to seek help.

MentalHealth.gov suggests ways that faith and community leaders can help:

Know Fact from Fiction. Understand and share facts and common mythswith community members.
Identify and Support Community Members. Plan and facilitate community conversations using SAMHSA’s Toolkit for Community Conversations about Mental Health.
Connecting Individuals and Families to Help. Visit the SAMHSA treatment locator in your community newsletter or other publications.
Promote acceptance. Remember to be inclusive because mental health affects all of us.

Join Webinar on the Mental Health of African American Youth

Join the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for a WEBINAR on "Supporting and Strengthening Mental Health of African American Youth". This webinar will engage in an interactive discussion about supporting African American students' mental health and reducing the effects of toxic stress.

Date: July 28, 2015 at 3:00pm EDT

Become a Trauma Informed Congregation or Community

According to national experts convened by SAMHSA, trauma results from events or circumstances that are experienced by an individual as harmful or life threatening and that have lasting adverse effects on mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being.

While many individuals experience traumatic events without lasting harm, trauma can place a heavy burden on individuals, families and communities. Trauma-informed supports can help. A trauma informed congregation seeks to understand the impact of trauma and knows how to respond.

Be a Trauma-Informed Congregation or Community

Increase Awareness- Become educated about how trauma and toxic stress affect people.
Ask the Right Questions- Ask “What happened?” instead of “What’s wrong?” when talking with a friend in need.
Make Room- Give people the chance to tell their stories in their own time and away. While specialized trauma treatment is sometimes needed, having someone acknowledge what happened is often enough to begin a healing process.
Encourage Empathy- Encourage and express empathy in your family, congregation and community. Convey a message of nonviolence, love and compassion.

Build Community Support- Ask faith leaders to support the development of a trauma-informed congregation and join the movement.

Learn more about how your congregation can become a trauma-informed community or congregation. Also, visit SAMSHA’s website for community-based resources to help recognize and respond to traumatic stress.