Mental Notes

Behavioral Health Partnership Program

Shan Guillory, LPC-S

A collaborative effort between Region 5 ESC, Spindletop Center and Burke Center in fulfillment of requirements outlined in H.B. 19

Providing mental health information, resources and self care tips!

Happy Spring everyone! Over the past few months, I've participated in community resource/health & wellness fairs throughout the region and presented at soooo many NEW campuses! Keep reading to see more from the recent events!

Also, make sure to check out the Self Care Tips section! I have a delicious smoothie recipe from my Self Care E-book!

Have ideas for a specific training, student presentation or resource that YOUR SCHOOL needs???

Send me an email or call me and lets discuss!

All services provided by ESC Mental Health Resource Coordinator are FREE to your school.

Download the flyer below for more information on ways that I can support you in the implementation of initiatives related to mental health and substance use prevention!

Email: shan.guillory@stctr.org
Phone: (409) 926-4416

Highlights from January, February and March: Thank you to all of the districts that participated in the MANY presentations that were available during the past few months as well as wellness and resource fairs! You guys have kept me BUSY BUSY these past few months and it was such a pleasure! I enjoyed bringing these presentations and resources to your campuses!

Check out some of the exciting photos below!

Reach out to me if you’d like to talk about bringing any of these trainings, presentations or a booth set up to your school!

Need to get some information to your students in a quick and interesting way?

Do your students need more information about stress reduction?

Toilet Talk can help!

Print these flyers off and post them in the restroom for your students to check out throughout the month.

Grounding Technique to Manage Stress and Anxiety during testing time

Test anxiety is that nervous feeling you may get when you’re about to take a test. It's normal to feel some pressure before an exam, and a little stress can actually help you focus and do better. But for some people, the worries are so strong that they can’t concentrate and don’t do as well as they'd like.

The good news is that you can lessen test anxiety with different strategies. Try one of the grounding techniques below.

Try this!

Grounding Using Your 5 Senses

Relax your body, take a few deep breaths, and focus on the following:

5 Things you can SEE

4 Things you can FEEL

3 Things you can HEAR

2 Things you can SMELL

1 Thing you can TASTE

Download the document below for more information on grounding techniques to manage stress and anxiety:

Social Media and Mental Health for Educators

Cost: Free

Earn CEU Credits

• Learn to identify websites, devices and apps that students are using
• Learn to identify potential harms that come with unsafe internet usage
• Learn the positive and negative implications of technology on mental health
• Learn to parent/teach with more understanding about the culture of technology for your families/students

Download the flyer below for more information on how to bring this presentation to your campus!

Self Care and Mindfulness for Educators

Cost:Free

Earn CEU Credits

We must work to establish healthy habits and routines that allow us to bring our very best selves to those we serve.

Presenter will use research-based framework for self care to help you

• Develop personalized self-care plans
  
• Improve and maintain your mental health and wellness

• Learn tools to use in the moment and to use after school to distress or de-escalate anxiety

Youth Suicide Prevention and Awareness for Educators

Cost: FREE

Presentation includes:

• Learn about mental health and suicide
• Risk factors vs. Protective factors
• Warning signs and symptoms
• Asking "the question"
• Prevention practices
• Resources

Can be offered in person or virtually

Contact me today to bring this training to your campus!

The Opioid Epidemic: How to Protect Your Family

What are opioids?

Opioids are a category of highly addictive narcotic substances that include prescription pain medicine and illicit opioids like heroin. They are products, or synthetic versions, of the opium produced in small amounts by poppy plants. Large doses can slow body's heart and breathing rate to the point of stopping completely.

​​Drug overdoses are a leading cause of unintentional death in the United States, and opioids are a major force behind these deaths. All ages and communities ​are affected by opioid addiction.

Here’s what you should know about what you can do to protect your family:

• Talk to your kids
  

• Store medicines safely
• Dispose leftover prescription medication
  
• Use only when nothing else works
  
• Consider the alternatives
  
• Ask for help
• Know what to do in an overdose emergency
  

Click the link below for more facts for parents about The Opioid Epidemic.

What’s the Connection Between Physical Health and Mental Health?

To most people, physical health and mental health are two very different things. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

As a matter of fact, physical health and mental health are very intricately related. When you have good mental health, your physical health can improve. At the same time, when you have good physical health, your mental health can improve.

By connecting physical and mental health and understanding how they influence each other and the importance of optimizing both, you can live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.

I make sure to eat healthy, balanced meals, exercise a minimum of 3 times per week & participate in lots of self care activities (meditation, deep breathing exercises, monthly massages, gardening etc.) Smoothies and juices have become my favorite because it’s easy to prepare and consume on the go and smoothies give me all the nutrients of a well balanced meal.

Sticking to this regimen has helped me mentally and physically!

I will share some tips below as well as my favorite smoothie recipe from my Self Care E-book!

TIPS FOR IMPROVING BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

1. Eat healthier meals

2. Exercise regularly

3. Get a good night’s sleep

4. Practice mindfulness & self care

5. See your primary care provider

6. Talk to a therapist

Participate in the self-care activity below!