ICYMI on our social media, we posted important info on Facebook in November! Here’s the rundown on our 13 posts in brief…
Our co-founder Dr. Theresa Rulien published an oped in the November 27th St. Augustine Record titled “Let’s Be Open About Mental Health Concerns.” The opinion piece is available in its entirety on this blog, and was also picked up by Yahoo Lifestyle here: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dr-theresa-rulien-start-talking-100029419.htm
Excerpt: “We need to start talking about mental health in a way that is open, honest, and inclusive — because mental illness is not just something that happens to other people. Like physical health, our mental health is a vital part of our overall health and well-being, and failing to address it can have serious consequences. This is particularly true for children, which means it should be a big concern for our community…”
Inspiration from one of our co-founders, Irene Toto, MS, LMHC, Chief Executive Officer Clay Behavioral Health Center
“Our group is a microcosm of working together for the greater good. Individual differences are accepted, and the group works together to share ideas, brainstorm solutions, problem solve, celebrate successes, and develop a sustainable network of support. It’s a demonstration of what a healthy community can be. Stronger together.”
Details on Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR), our class on suicide prevention and referral. (See October summary for details on this training.)
Details about our Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training.
YMHFA is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 6-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Details on It’s Time to Talk About It! (ITTAI) training.
ITTAI is designed to teach family members, caregivers, and other invested community members who interact with young people how to recognize the warning signs and risk factors of suicide so that they are able to identify these signs in youth whom they may encounter in everyday activities and have conversations with them that help youth create a safety net. Participants earn a three-year certification upon completion.