SAP March Newsletter

• Self-harm is when people deliberately hurt themselves to cope with strong emotions. It’s usually a sign of deep distress.
• People who self-harm are at increased risk of attempting suicide.
• Repeated self-harm can lead to serious injuries, scarring, medical conditions and accidental death.
• Counselling and psychological therapy can help teenagers learn positive ways to handle strong feelings.

• To feel pain: Many individuals engage in self-harm behaviors as a way to experience physical pain when they are otherwise emotionally numb. Individuals who have a history of trauma or abuse will often feel numb as a way to block out the memories and internal emotions. Over time, this numbness can feel like an empty pit at the bottom of an individual’s stomach, and they will long feel some emotions or feelings. Self-harm allows for individuals to feel again.
• To induce punishment: Individuals who engage in self-harm behavior often feel guilty or unworthy. Their low self-worth may stem from past experiences such as bullying, abandonment, trauma, or lonliness, and as a result, they will often feel as though they are not good enough to belong. Those who are struggling with eating disorders, a substance use disorder, or a mental health disorder may harvest feelings of guilt because of these underlying disorders, especially if they are not properly treated. Self-injury behaviors are a means of punishment to relieve individuals from their “guilt.”
• To distract from unwanted feelings: Many individuals who engage in self-harm experience intense impulsive urges to cut as a way to avoid internal feelings. They may experience anxiety, sadness, loneliness, anger, and other negative unwanted feelings. They may unwantedly experience memories and flashbacks, and instead of sitting through them and practicing healthy coping skills, self-harm can be an easy distraction. For these individuals, self-harm is a way to forget about painful emotions or memories that are bubbling to the surface.
• To regulate internal emotions: Self-harm behaviors are often a way for individuals to have a temporary outlet from feelings they are not able to cope with or work through. Inflicting physical pain is a fleeting way to escape from reality and to express internal emotions. Self-harm releases a surge of endorphins, which create a sense of euphoria and relaxation. This temporary state is quickly replaced by feelings of guilt and shame, resulting in even more negative internal emotions, which can be a strong driving force to continue the cycle of self-harm.

• Go outside--Time in nature has a calming effect.
• Spend time with others--Being around others offers a distraction.
• Talk to someone-Get some emotional support from a friend.
• Turn up the volume-Turning your attention to lyrics and music gives you something else to focus on.
• Try guided imagery-Create your mental happy place
• Be creative-Creativity gives you a sense of control and allows you to express distress with your hands. You'll have a record of your feelings that you can keep or discard.
• Harm minimization-Use grounding techniques as a short-term solution.

How can parents help?

• Accept your own emotions-It's natural to feel a range of emotions. Find a way to express your feelings; maybe a good cry or talking with someone.
• Learn all you can about self-harm-Find out all you can about self-injury, why teens do it, and what can help them stop.
• Talk to your child-Convery your concern, love and willingness to help your child stop.
• Stay positive-Offer encouragement and support.
• Set a good example-Be aware of how you handle your own stress
• Be patient and hopeful-Stopping takes motivation and determination. It may take a long time.

Self-harm and substance abuse can be intertwined. Both are used by people with mental health issues and traumatic life events. As the high from a substance increases, people can lose self-control and engage in risky behaviors such as self-harm.

Both self-harm and substances are used to self-medicate. Some people begin by self-mutilating and then progress to drugs and alcohol, while others start as drug abusers and advance to self-harm.

• Like substance use disorders, self-harming is generally hidden and highly stigmatized.
• As with SUDs, the motivations underlying non-suicidal self-injury are diverse but often include a desire for reward or relief.
• People who self-harm often use language such as “getting clean,” “relapse,” or “recovery."

Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a nationwide grassroots campaign, held annually in March, that seeks to increase public awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Like substances, it can be uncontrollable and risky. Also, like substances, gambling stimulates the reward system in your brain.

Gambling problems, previously called pathological gambling, were considered an impulse control disorder until 2013, when the DSM-5 classified them as an addictive disorder. That made gambling addiction the first, and so far the only, defined behavioral addiction in the clinical section of DSM-5 (with some hints that video gaming disorder might ultimately follow, experts say). Like addictions to alcohol and drugs, gambling addictions are characterized by an increasing tolerance that requires more gambling as time goes on to feel satisfied. People with the disorder can also experience withdrawal that causes irritability when they try to quit.

• Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning gambling activities and how to get more gambling money
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill
• Trying to control, cut back or stop gambling, without success
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down on gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression
• Trying to get back lost money by gambling more (chasing losses)
• Lying to family members or others to hide the extent of your gambling
• Risking or losing important relationships, a job, or school or work opportunities because of gambling
• Asking others to bail you out of financial trouble because you gambled money away

Gender Equality Month is celebrated every year in March. The whole month is dedicated to celebrating the social, political, cultural, and academic achievements of women in the world. March is also important to raise awareness against gender bias in society. Did you know that, according to United Nations Development Programme, almost 90% of men and women hold some kind of bias against women? This month is dedicated to eradicating those biases and teaching people the indispensable role of women in society.

The purpose of International Women's Day is to bring attention to the social, political, economic and cultural issues that women face and to advocate for advances within those areas

It was first celebrated on March 19, 1911.

The UN celebrated International Women's Year in 1975.

Fun fact: In 2017 many women celebrated International Women's Day by taking off from work, creating a "Day Without Women". Women who couldn't take off wore red to honor the spirit of the strike This forced some school districts to close.

Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't matter, or like you don't have a place in our American story-because you do. And you have the right to be exactly who you are.

Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Bucks Human Services Connect-The HUB 1-888-942-8257

https://www.buckscounty.gov/1298/Bucks-Human-Services-Connect---The-Hub

The HUB aims to support families in Bucks County by connecting them to helpful resources and supports available in the community.

Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc.
https://www.bcdac.org/
The Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. offers online resources available in Bucks County and provides information on prevention, treatment, and recovery supports. If you or a loved one is struggling with drugs and alcohol, the BCDAC is here to help!

NAMI Bucks County, PA

https://namibuckspa.org/

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Lenape Valley Foundation (215)-345-5300

https://www.lenapevf.org/

Penn Foundation (215) 257-6551

https://www.pennfoundation.org/

Penndel Mental Health Center (215) 752-1541

https://www.penndelmhc.org/

Family Service Association of Bucks County (215)-757-6916
https://www.fsabc.org/get-help/counseling-therapy/

*Contact the number on your insurance card for appropriate provider*

• What is SAP? In Pennsylvania, every school must have a Student Assistance Program (SAP). A SAP team, made up of school and community agency staff, is here to help you access school and community services.

• How can SAP support students and families? SAP offers psychoeducational groups, including but not limited to coping skills, affinity groups, and socio-emotional supports. SAP also provides short-term, 1 on 1 problem-solving sessions tailored to your child's needs. Other options available through SAP are behavioral health screenings and biopsychosocial assessments. SAP is unable to provide a diagnosis or be part of an IEP/504 accommodations plan.

• Who to contact: You can reach out to your child's guidance counselor or look at their school website for SAP information.

The video below contains information about the SAP program in Pennsylvania K-12 schools.

Contact Information

Email: mgroden@councilsepa.org

Website: www.councilsepa.org
Location: 4459 West Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-345-6644