Wellness Tips for May is Mental Health Month

Wellness Tips for Mental Health

We’re midway through Mental Health Matters Month. These last two weeks we’ve shared ways how you can help others. This week we focus on how you can care for your mental health and wellness.

Taking momentary breaks throughout the day offers many benefits. One study stated that outdoor activities have been shown to alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, stress, depression, and also improve cognitive functioning andcreativity^[1].

Here are a few tips to help you restore your mental health, which also contributes to improved work performance and higher levels of satisfaction:

·         Get moving. Light exercise 3 days a week improves happiness and work productivity.

·         Go outside. 20 minutes of sunlight can help your mood, concentration and sleep.

·         Get together with friends or family. Studies suggest that social support networks help you deal with stress and may even help you live longer.

·         Play games. Keeping your mind active by doing things like playing new games can alleviate depression, especially as we get older.

How do you practice self-care?

Looking for inspirational ideas on self-care? Check out these interesting TED Talks.

 ^[1]Wolf, K.L., and K. Flora 2010. Mental Health and Function – A Literature Review. In: Green Cities: Good Health (www.greenhealth.washington.edu). College of the Environment, University of Washington.

This came to me at work and I thought I would pass it along.

May Is Mental Health Month: Each Mind Matters

A ribbon to wear and information about the Each Mind Matters Campaign.

May is Mental Health Month from Rene Santiago

 Message from René G. Santiago 

May is Mental Health Matters Month. Our Behavioral Health Services Department has been leading efforts to help reduce the stigma around mental health. Stigma is when someone views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or being judged by someone else. Fighting stigma is key to getting people the care they need and preventing suicides. 

Last year the department conducted a successful campaign geared towards middle aged men, the group with the highest suicide rate in Santa Clara County. The Suicide Prevention communication work group used research to learn what messages and images would work best. This was important to reducing the stigma around seeking help for mental health issues. During the campaign the percentage of calls from these men to the Suicide and Crisis Hotline doubled. Because it was so successful, the campaign is set to run again. 

The department is also working on a number of initiatives to encourage youth in our community to seek help. Since young people text more than make phone calls, a text crisis line will be added to Crisis and Suicide Hotline services. A social media campaign to young people will also be launched this summer. It’s a bit of a myth that more people attempt suicide in the winter and over the holidays. Unfortunately, suicides are attempted by all groups all year long. 

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. 1 in 5 Americans will be affected by a mental health condition in their lifetime and every American is affected or impacted through their friends and family. To help anyone in our community access services for themselves, family or friends, the department will be implementing a one phone number point of entry. This will go a long way in helping people get to the services they need. 

Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youth ages 15-24 and the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans. These numbers demonstrate why these activities and so many other initiatives taken on by our Behavioral Health Services Department and their partners are so important to the health and well-being of our community. 

You can help to reduce stigma and raise awareness about the importance of mental health. When you are posting or tweeting, spread the word by showing #MillionsLikeMe. You can also learn more about collaborative efforts at http://www.eachmindmatters.org/ 

**May is Mental Health Month: Santa Clara County

Join the Mental Health Matters Month Celebration!

The Behavioral Health Services Department and its prevention and early intervention programs

invite you to a celebration of hope, wellness and recovery. If you are interested in attending during

work hours, you must have prior approval from your supervisor. The celebration will be held May 27

from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Learning Partnership, 1075 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose. There will

be music, program information, resources, giveaways, wellness booths, and cultural ceremonies. 

The first 50 to attend will receive a free Each Mind Matters t-shirt.  You can also participate by taking

an online course on suicide prevention or attend a Mental Health First Aid Training. For more information,

visit www.sccmhd.org/sp

__May is Mental Health Month, Infomail Message

Please post and distribute                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               May 15, 2014

 

Message from René G. Santiago

Sixty-five years ago, May was designated as Mental Health Month to raise awareness about mental illnesses and the importance of mental wellness for all.  Did you know that nearly 1-in-5 Americans over the age of 18 will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year? Nearly half of them will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Another important fact: more people die from suicide than from homicide in Santa Clara County. In 2013, there were 149 suicides and 56 homicides in Santa Clara County. The people who died from suicide came from every city in our county, all income levels, and a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The ages of people who died from suicide ranged from 15 years old to 93 years old. Every death is tragic, but we know when it comes to suicide, these deaths are preventable.

 

From research and from experience, it is clear that mental health is integral to a person’s overall health and that there is “no health without mental health.”  With effective services and treatment, individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full, productive lives. The Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System (SCVHHS) is working to integrate prevention and treatment approaches across the Mental Health Department, Department of Alcohol & Drug Services (DADS) and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.  Through our services, we help those struggling with mental health disorders and addictions get the care they need in safe and stable environments.  By treating the physical and behavioral health needs of our patients and clients, we can improve the individual’s overall health.

In raising awareness, we need to let people know they are not alone. In the United States, it is estimated that 4 in every 10 cases of disability are directly attributed to mental disorders like major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is also estimated that twice as many women (12 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder.

If we really want to improve the health of our community and help our residents live well, we must continue to address mental health and addiction disorders, as well as enhance the services we provide. By having the Mental Health Department and DADS come together as a new Behavioral Health Services Department, we can be more effective in providing services and be better positioned as the provider of choice for these services.

Providing for the continuum of care is essential to helping people realize their road to recovery. The establishment of the Behavioral Health Services Department is one of the ways we will realize our SCVHHS vision of Better Health for All.

__May is Mental Health Month: Movie Bascom Library Wedenesday

I have not seen the movie, but IMDb says it is about a teacher after he has been released from a mental hospital.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/