Mental Health Awareness Month

The world is constantly changing – for better or for worse – and it can be overwhelming to deal with everything going on around you. While society is getting more comfortable discussing mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when it comes to taking care of your own well-being.

This May, Mental Health America will help you:

• LEARN how modern life affects mental health with new resources to navigate our changing world.
• ACT by building your coping toolbox so you can manage stress, difficult emotions, and challenging situations.
• ADVOCATE to improve mental health for yourself, your friends and family, and your community.

What Schools Can Do

Host a Q&A with a mental health professional:

• Invite students to write anonymous questions about mental health conditions and how to take care of their mental health. Have the school counselor answer the questions and have teachers read answers to the class.
• Choose a topic and host an “Ask Me Anything”-style chat online for parents with a clinician or representative from your local department of behavioral health. Promote the event and invite participants to ask the expert any questions they have regarding mental health.

Share stories and information:

• Ensure your students are aware of and know how to access available resources.
• Include mental health as part of the conversation in alumni newsletters, department-wide communications, student life, and social media.
• Direct people to MHA’s Mental Health Month toolkit, mhanational.org/may in your messaging for the month.
• Host mental health monologues. Invite students to submit anonymous stories to be performed by student actors – or the individuals themselves – at an assembly or record them and share the video.
• Lime green is the official awareness color for mental health – coordinate a day, such as a spirit day or “paint the school green” day, to celebrate and honor mental health awareness.

SAMHSA National Prevention Week promotes the world we want to see—where prevention helps keep people and communities healthy and safe. Our tagline, “A Celebration of Possibility,” is about communities coming together and celebrating the brighter futures that exist thanks to the ongoing work of prevention.

NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK TAKES PLACE MAY 12–18, 2024. The Planning Guide & Resource Calendar below is packed with tips and tools for elevating prevention efforts during National Prevention Week and beyond!

The RCOE Mental Health Initiative is one of four initiatives announced in Fall 2020 by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. The initiative is aimed at addressing the needs of the whole student beyond the classroom. The Mental Health Initiative includes supporting and expanding mental health programs and services within the 23 school districts in Riverside County.

In connection with the RCOE Mental Health Initiative, the RCOE Virtual Wellness Center is a place for staff, families, and community members to learn about the many aspects of wellness through access to an abundance of user-friendly resources.

Wellness incorporates many dimensions of health, each of which is interconnected within an individual’s total well-being. SAMHSA’s Wellness Initiative supports embracing the Eight Dimensions of Wellness—emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual—to achieve longevity and improved quality of life.

Writing is a uniquely human experience used to communicate even across time and space. Argue whether or not the ability to express oneself competently in writing is essential to our social, emotional, and/or mental well-being.

Students who submit their argumentative essay will be invited to our Writer’s Showcase Celebration on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Select students will share their work publicly during this dinner celebration.

Submission Deadline:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

For more information, please contact:

Steve Hickman, Ed.D., Coordinator | shickman@rcoe.us

Behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and kids 0–12. No costs attached. No insurance required. No referrals needed.

Confidential support for 13- to 25-year-olds in California. No cost. No pressure. Chat 1:1 with a professional coach, use interactive tools to destress, or explore quizzes, videos, forums, and more. You choose!

Mission Statement: To educate young people about critical health topics through the medium of film and promote social justice by changing conversations in schools and communities.

Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

We are delighted to bring students, family members, community leaders, and mental health advocates to the Riverside County Directing Change Screening and Recognition Ceremony on May 16 at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Riverside. Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

All films were submitted through the Directing Change Program and Film Contest. We will also recognize the Hope & Justice monthly winners and honorable mentions at the Art Gallery Walk.

Light refreshments will be served.

To register: https://bit.ly/RivCoDirectingChangeRegister-24

Date & Time

May 16, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Location

Fox Theater

3801 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501

Program

5:00 pm

• Doors Open

5:00 - 6:00 pm

• Hope & Justice Monthly Winners Art Walk
• Screening Ceremony, Photos, and Refreshments

6:00 - 7:00 pm

• Recognition Ceremony and Opportunity Drawing

To learn more about Directing Change and view previous entries from Riverside County youth please visit, https://directingchangeca.org/riversidecounty/

May is a great time for young people to Take Action for Mental Health! This Activity Guide provides ideas for youth-led mental health events and activities. Whether you are a youth, educator, or a parent, take some time for journaling, coloring, and deep breathing activities from the Mental Health Thrival Kit. More activities and resources can be found in the Take Action for Mental Health Toolkit.

The intent of RUHS Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) program is to move to a “help first” system in order to engage individuals before the development of serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance or to alleviate the need for additional or extended mental health treatment by facilitating access to services and supports at the earliest signs of mental health struggles. Potential multiple negative outcomes can be dramatically reduced for all age groups.

The Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition (SPC), organized by members of RUHS Behavioral Health and Public Health, is made up of eight sub-committees and workgroups. Each sub-committee has their own unique set of goals and objectives that work toward advancing the goals of the strategic plan, and our mission in Riverside County to eliminate suicide.

The SPC offers a variety of trainings, including:

• Mental Health 101
• Building Resiliency and Understanding Trauma
  
• Self Care and Wellness
  
• Know the Signs
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
  
• Mental Health First Aid
  
• ASIST
• safeTALK
  
• Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR)

The It’s Up to Us campaign is designed to empower residents of Riverside County to talk openly about mental illness, recognize symptoms, utilize local resources and seek help. By raising awareness and providing access to local resources, we aim to inspire wellness, reduce stigma and prevent suicide. Recovery is possible and help is available. You can make a difference in the lives of those experiencing mental health challenges by offering support and providing opportunities. CARES Line (800) 499-3008

The Inland SoCal Crisis Helpline is the regional 24/7 crisis and suicide hotline for Inland Southern California. It is free and confidential and you may remain anonymous. Trained counselors are available to provide support and resources to best help you. Bilingual counselors are available.

The Inland SoCal Crisis Helpline was founded in 1968 and is a project of Inland SoCal 211+ and Inland SoCal United Way making it one of the longest running suicide hotlines in the state of California.

As part of California’s ongoing mental health movement, the Take Action for Mental Health campaign is designed to help you check in, learn more, and get support for your own mental health or the mental health of someone you care about.

Take Action for Mental Health is an evolution of the Each Mind Matters campaign. Over the last decade, Each Mind Matters has had a positive impact on reducing stigma of mental illness and increasing awareness of mental health needs and resources. Take Action for Mental Health builds on this progress and asks Californians to take action to support ourselves and the people we care about.

Digital Resource • Ages 12-25 • Bilingual

» NeveraBother.org

Feeling supported and connected to friends, family, and community can be a protective factor for suicide. The Never a Bother campaign is a youth suicide prevention awareness and outreach campaign for young people, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.

As part of the broader state’s CYBHI, the campaign aims to connect more youth with thoughts of suicide to help by reinforcing the belief that they deserve support and are never a bother when reaching out to friends, trusted adults, counselors, and other types of support such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. At the same time, their friends and allies are called on to make sure young people in their life know they are there for them and can reach out for help anytime. Get involved at NeveraBother.org.

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

https://988lifeline.org/

Each dimension of wellness can affect overall quality of life. Through its Wellness Initiative, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to work toward longer, healthier, and happier lives, particularly among people living with behavioral health conditions. The Eight Dimensions of Wellness take into account not only an individual’s physical health, but all the factors that contribute to a person’s overall wellness.

To learn more, see the resources below:

• A Guide to Community Action
  
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Wellness

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. However, ACEs can be prevented.

Preventing ACEs can help children and adults thrive and potentially:

• Lower risk for conditions like depression, asthma, cancer, and diabetes in adulthood.
• Reduce risky behaviors like smoking, and heavy drinking.
• Improve education and job potential.
• Stop ACEs from being passed from one generation to the next.

Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/pdf/vs-1105-aces-H.pdf

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to let everyone know that mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing and cannot be overcome through willpower. But they are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.

Education and mental health leaders understand the need to establish one system of social-emotional and behavioral supports in schools. The Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) is a way to blend PBIS with mental health supports in schools. This framework guides state, district, and community leaders to fund and modify policies and procedures to help every system work more efficiently. Clinicians – supported by integrated district structures – become part of multi-tiered school teams to address the social-emotional and behavior needs of all students. ISF expands the PBIS framework as a way to assist teams and enhance their efforts.

https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/how-to-talk/educators

https://www.hellobrightline.com/blog/9-tips-for-talking-to-kids-and-teens-about-mental-health

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/starting-a-conversation-about-youth-mental-health

https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/getting-started/how-to-start-a-conversation-with-children-and-young-people-about-mental-health/

https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/

Empower students to become responsible digital citizens with free Be Kind Online lessons

May 10 is Be Kind Online Day, an opportunity for students throughout Riverside County and the nation to use the power of their words and actions to create a more welcoming online community, starting in the classroom. Hosted by Beyond Differences, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending social isolation for middle school students through Social Emotional Learning initiatives, Be Kind Online Day challenges you and your students to "Unmute Your Kindness" in 2024. This positive prevention program helps to empower youth as leaders who inspire change and create cultures of belonging online is designed for 5th-8th graders but is flexible enough to be skilled up or down for older and younger students as well.

When educators register for Be Kind Online Day you'll receive:

• Three engaging lesson plans:
• Lesson 1: Social Media Self-Reflection: Students explore the impact of social media on themselves.
• Lesson 2: Shifting Your Social Media Feed: Students learn how to curate a positive online environment.
• Lesson 3: Power of Online Community: Students discover how to build belonging through social media.
• Unmute Your Kindness Calendar Challenge: Fun activities designed to spark kindness throughout the school.
• Teacher Guide and Resources: Available on April 15th, providing everything you need to implement the program seamlessly.
• Spanish/English Bilingual Student-facing Materials: Lesson Slides and Handouts, Digital Student Leader Guide, Belonging Boosters, and more!

Here's how you can join the movement:

• Sign Up: Register your school for Be Kind Online to gain access to Beyond Differences Curriculum Hub.
• Webinar: Learn more! Join a free webinar on May 1st at 4:00 pm PST to receive implementation tips.
• Get More Information: Schedule a call with Janessa at Beyond Differences to discuss how the program can be tailored to your specific student needs.

Be Kind Online Day seamlessly integrates with your current SEL framework by aligning with the five CASEL competencies. Through engaging activities, students will develop:

• Self-Awareness: Recognizing how their online behavior can impact others.

• Social Awareness: Understanding the perspectives and feelings of others online.

• Relationship Skills: Communicating respectfully and promoting empathy online.

• Decision-Making: Critically evaluating online content and making responsible choices.

• Responsible Management of Emotions: Managing emotions constructively in online interactions.

More ways to get involved with Beyond Differences:

• Join their free, virtual Professional Development Learning Community for access to training replays, and Be Kind Online lesson archives.
• Encourage student leaders in grades 8-12 to apply to be on the National Teen Board.
• Add Beyond Differences Calendar of Belonging to your Google Calendar so you never miss a thing!

https://www.annafreud.org/early-years/

https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/advice-for-parents-and-carers-talking-mental-health-with-young-people-at-primary-school/

https://classroommentalhealth.org/help-students/how-to-talk/

https://www.kqed.org/education/535891/youth-voices-on-mental-health-and-school

https://mhanational.org/talking-adolescents-and-teens-starting-conversation

https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/youth-mental-health/index.html

https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/index.html

https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Talking-To-Kids-About-Mental-Illnesses-084.aspx

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults/Kids/How-to-Talk-to-Your-Child-About-Their-Mental-Health

https://preview.mailerlite.com/v8v5h1f6d9/2205312113046460312/b5w0/

https://findyourwords.org/kids-mental-health/

https://www.samhsa.gov/programs/mental-health-awareness-month

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/talk

https://www.mhanational.org/

https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month/toolkit

Leadership, Wellness, and Student Services Division

School Engagement and Wellness Unit

Esmirna Valencia, Executive Director

Kathy King, Director II

Allison Haynes, Administrator

Theresa Stevens, Administrator

Angelica Plascensia, Coordinator

Christina Castro, Coordinator

Denise Granger, Coordinator

Jasmine Fincher, Coordinator

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For more information, please contact:

Michele Shaw-Williams, Administrator's Secretary

mshaw-williams@rcoe.us

Find more information about RCOE Suicide Prevention & Intervention practices HERE.