Benson Mental Health Support

Every few weeks our BHS Student Support Specialists (counselors, social workers, school psychologists, & therapists) include mental health awareness in this newsletter format.

• BHS archived mental health topics (newsletters) are here.
• Ways to be a trusted and safe adult + resources for youth: Supporting young minds | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

As is always the case, it is OK to not be OK: here are resources that can help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, free and confidential support - call or text

• Local Resources: Multnomah County Crisis Line - 503-988-4888 including mobile outreach (interpretation available; open 24/7); Lines for Life General Line: Call 800-273-8255; Oregon Youth Line: Text Teen to Teen 839863 - Texting trained teen mental health responders
• BHS Community Resources

Spring Break Staycation Ideas - get outside! Getting outside provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits! Here are some local options that are free or almost free that are mostly outside.

• Free/Nearly Free things to do in Portland
• Washington Park - free activities
• Hoyt Arboretum - nature activities
• 35 Free Things to Do in Portland

So many women have impacted our understanding of mental health and wellness. During Women's History Month, we can take a moment to celebrate!

Resources:

• Stronger Together: Mental Health, Gender Differences, and Women’s History Month

• Women’s History Month: Honoring the Women Who Fought for Mental Health Awareness

• Women Trailblazers in Mental Health

• BIPOC Women’s Health and Mental Wellness During Women’s History Month

• The History of the LGBTQ Community and Mental Health Treatment

In an effort to decrease the stigma around mental illness, NAMI Multnomah is returning March 20 for a B Flex optional assembly showing the film Ending the Silence. The Students for Mental Health Club will co-present with NAMI Multnomah.

How is Benson responding? In recognition of Neurodiversity Celebration Week and Autism Acceptance Month, Benson is holding space for conversations in these ways: 2nd period classes have been invited to incorporate the conversation utilizing these short lesson plans paired with additional resources

• Day One - Neurodiversity Explained

• Day Two - Intersectionality - Checklist of Neurotypical Privilege

• Day Three - Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Neurodiversity

• Day Four - Neurodivergent Umbrella

• Day Five - Inclusion and Belonging

Things you’ll see around Benson:

• Neurodiversity displays throughout the school

• Neurodivergent Umbrellas

Friendly reminder that neurodivergent is an umbrella term that is inclusive and not exclusive - this means mental illnesses are considered neurodivergent.

⁣
A few things: ⁣

• ⁣Neurodivergent is an umbrella term for anyone who has a mind or brain that diverges from what is seen as typical or normal. ⁣
• Neurodivergent is a term created by Kassiane Asasumasu, a biracial, multiply neurodivergent activist. Neurodiversity is a different term created by Judy Singer, an autistic sociologist.⁣
• Neurodivergent doesn’t just refer to neurological conditions, this is an inaccurate idea based on the prefix of neuro.⁣
• Identifying as neurodivergent is up to the individual and we don’t gatekeep or enforce the term.

From Sonny Jane - Lived Experience Educator - Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent & disabled public speaker, advocate and author. Sonny Jane is pictured here with their newest book We are all Neurodiverse - the neurodivergent umbrella and neurodiversity terms to know was created by Sonny Jane.⁣

Each acronym is spelled out HERE.

We are going to begin highlighting glimpses from the Healing Story Alliance in upcoming newsletters. Their work might offer insight for those dealing with the pain and tragedy of turbulent current events in the personal, social, and global realms. Examples:

• Healing Treasures: Stories intended to precipitate conversation, and guide teaching and healing with participants.
• Stories We Live: Personal stories and methods for gathering and applying life experiences as healing references.
• Stories for Children in Crisis: Compiled by Laura Simms, includes stories, articles, and links, drawn from years of research and professional work with children.
• Stories for Peace: storytelling in pursuit of peace and understanding.
• Healing the Earth: featuring stories contributed by storytellers working in environmental settings or on educational projects with an environmental theme.

Please find a story pictured below as an example. Website.

The Beginning of the Story -

By Gail Rosen © 2013.

It had been a year since my father died. It was a rough year. He’d been sick for a long, long time and I found myself grieving not only his death, but all the years in which our relationship was limited and shaped by his illness. I found myself talking about him often, telling stories, trying to remember the stories of when he was healthy and strong. One of the stories I loved to tell was one I had told at his memorial service.

When I was little, Mom and Dad took ballroom dance lessons. Not because they wanted to be “ballroom dancers,” but so they would know how to dance enough to enjoy family weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and the occasional social event. My little brother and sister had to go to bed, but because I was the big – six years old – the babysitter was told that I could wait up for my parents.

The Rest of the Story here: https://healingstoryalliance.org/dancing-with-dad/

March: Women's History Month, National MS Education and Awareness Month, Intellectual and Developmental Disability Awareness Month, Greek-American Heritage Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Zero Discrimination Day (MAR 1), Self-Injury Awareness Month; International Women’s Day (MAR 8), International Day to Combat Islamophobia (MAR 15), International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (MAR 21), Neurodiversity Celebration Week (MAR 18-24), International Transgender Day of Visibility (MAR 31)

Sources, Diversity Resources - PPS Resource on heritage/history months

As is always the case, it is OK to not be OK: here are resources that can help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, free and confidential support - call or text

• Local Resources: Multnomah County Crisis Line - 503-988-4888 including mobile outreach (interpretation available; open 24/7); Lines for Life General Line: Call 800-273-8255; Oregon Youth Line: Text Teen to Teen 839863 - Texting trained teen mental health responders

Benson Wellness Resources - Benson Wellness Center with mental health supports, BHS Counseling Center with school counselors (by alphabetical order)

PPS Youth Resources in Trivory; Benson Community Resources

FREE Naloxone for overdose prevention - Opioid Certification | END OVERDOSE

PPS Prevention Strategies; The New Drug Talk Oregon | The New Drug Talk

PPS Healthy Choices Bulletin - curated list of substance use resources and also highlights student and family accessible services and activities.

• March edition, Substance Abuse Prevention Resources; link to archived Healthy Choices Bulletins. Substance Use/Community Resources

Image above HERE

Want to learn more about: Vocational Rehabilitation, Portland Community College, Disability Rights Oregon, Autism Society, Albertina Kerr, PPS Community Transition Program, and so much more!

• Here is a document for all organizations with links - GREAT resource!
• Local organizations: Local Disability Organizations and Resources
• You can also contact our Youth Transition Specialist: Veronica Bastillos, Youth Transition Program (YTP), Transition Specialist - Benson & Meek High School, 971-895-1707; vebustillos@pps.net

Do I really Make A Difference? from @wawawiwacomics