EMPOWERING MINDS MESSENGER
May 2019
Happy May, Empowering Minds community! This month's newsletter includes information on Mental Health Awareness Month, mental health facts, Spring events, Mother's Day suggestions, agency updates, and more.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Inspire others to raise awareness and take part in sharing information, resources and support for mental health conditions.

Mental Health Facts
  • 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition.
  • 1 in 25 (10 million) adults in the United States lives with a serious mental illness.
  • 43.8 million people in the United States face the day-to-day reality of living with a mental illness.
  • Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early intervention programs can help.
  • African Americans and Hispanic Americans used mental health services at about half the rate of whites in the past year, and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.
  • 90% of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but suicide is preventable.
  • The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90% of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with the right treatments and supports.
  • Additional facts will be listed throughout this newsletter concerning mental health.

What Is Stigma?

People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and even discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult. Stigma is when someone, or you yourself, views you in a negative way because you have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as shame that can be felt as a judgement from someone else or a feeling that is internal, something that confuses feeling bad with being bad.
Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to cope with stigma and how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us.


Wondering how to honor the wonderful mothers and caregivers in your life? Here are some suggestions!

Have Breakfast in Bed
Treat mom to a delicious brunch in bed!

Generations Unite
Gather all the grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles and other family members and caregivers together for a joint celebration. If the weather is nice a barbecue is the perfect venue.

Picnic in the Park
Pack a picnic lunch of your mom’s favorite things. Pick a quiet local park to have the picnic. Spend the time talking and laughing about the things going on in her life.

Memory Jar
Paint and decorate a mason jar. Write favorite memories of your mom on slips of paper. Encourage the other members of your family to write their memories down as well. Fill the mason jar with the paper slips. On Mother’s Day, sit with your mom while she reads all of the memories you have written down.

Donate to an Organization that Supports Moms
National Bailout works with groups all over the country on Mother’s Day to bail out as many Black Mamas and caregivers as they can, provide supportive services and fellowship opportunities for those we bail out, and organize to end money bail and pretrial detention.

Suggestions courtesy of Momtastic and Everyday Family
Ramadan Kareem to those celebrating Ramadan this month!
Empowering Minds is proud to partner with ShareBaby

Our partnership includes monthly diaper distributions for EMRC clients with children between the ages of 0 - 5 years old.  In addition, EMRC is currently accepting "ShareBaby Coat Requests" for children ages 0 - 5 years old and requests for Boy or Girl newborn bundles.

Newborn bundles include:
1 pack of size 1 diapers
1 pack of size 2 diapers
1 0-3 month onesie
1 0-3 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 3-6 month onesie
1 3-6 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 6-12 month onesie,
1 6-12 month outfit (top & bottom)

 If you are in need of diapers, a coat or newborn bundle for a child between 0 - 5 years old, please contact your  Direct Service Coordinator  to submit your request and provide the sex of the baby and size needed between 0 - 24 months or 2t - 5t. If you have any questions, please contact the Baltimore City office.
Spring Events in Maryland

Maryland Office of Tourism and Development recommends celebrating Spring with these family events!

Enjoy a Spring Fling at These Garden Shows
Spring 2019 Say hello to the bright colors of spring at Home & Garden Shows all over the state this spring. With spring plantings, amazing crafts and lots more to get you out of the house and back into your yard, you can’t miss with this list of great spring shows.

Maryland Film Festival May 8-12, 2019
With more than 40 feature films and 10 shorts programs, including all genres and drawing works from all over the world – acclaimed festival faves and new discoveries. Whether you’re a film fanatic or casual moviegoer, The Maryland Film Festival will leave you inspired and profoundly moved by the world of cinema.

May Day in Annapolis
This now-iconic event began in 1956 as a Garden Club of Old Annapolis Towne beautification project. Starting on May 1, stroll past dwellings and businesses in the Historic District of Maryland’s capital to see doors adorned with baskets brimming with fresh flowers and colorful ribbons.

View more springtime events here !
Harford County Group
Baltimore City Groups
Mondays 6-7 PM 
Women's Group, Teen's Group, and Youth Group

Tuesdays 6-7 PM
Men's Group

Thursdays 12-1 PM
Families Impacted by Substance Abuse
Anne Arundel County Groups
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Empowering Minds Resource Center is proud to announce there is currently  NO WAIT LIST at the agency. We work hard everyday to ensure referrals are quickly processed and clients are engaged by our staff and partnered therapists immediately. We are ready, willing and able to accept new clients TODAY.  
NOW ACCEPTING HARFORD COUNTY REFERRALS

Empowering Minds Resource Center has no waitlist for our CARE COORDINATION FOR MINORS and our PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAM in Harford County
Empowering Minds recognizes Lisa Griffin as Direct Service Coordinator of the Month. Lisa is an excellent Direct Service Coordinator that continues to support her clients and ensure that they are provided with all the resources to accomplish their goals. Lisa is determined and communicates well with staff and clients. Thank you Lisa Griffin for always going above and beyond!

WE'RE HIRING!

Empowering Minds is looking to add some new members to our wonderful team. Check out the link below for more information!