MHA AZ Newsletter - October 15th, 2016

Jack Beveridge
Sheri George
Charles Goldstein, M.D
Laurie Goldstein
Emily Jenkins, J.D.
Marcus Johnson , M.P.H.
Karen Pitico, M.P.H.
Mohamed Ramadan, M.D.

Clarke Romans

October 15th, 2016

Hello MHA of AZ Supporters. The October Newsletter is filled with a multitude of information, events, initiatives from MHA and other great non-profit organizations. Enjoy!

What's a MHA Association of Association's Meeting?

Meetings coordinated by MHA and include all groups and individuals who play a role in mental health advocacy here in Arizona. These meetings cover relevant issues occuring in our community along with advocay issues that need our united attention.

Image result for Domestic Violence Awareness

Domestic Violence is a pattern of coercive control where one partner uses their control to control the other partner. Domestic violence can take many forms including: physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse. According to the Arizona Coalition To End Sexual & Domestic Violence (2016) the prevalence of this issue is evident, "1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men" are affected by domestic violence within their lifetime. In 2013, at least 125 people were killed in domestic violence related homicides in Arizona.

Emotional abuse may be difficult to recognize as it leaves no physical marks. The abuser controls and manipulates psychologically by intimidation, fear and threats of violence. Emotional abuse creates negative effects on self-esteem, confidence, independence and autonomy.

Many domestic violence victims feel "trapped" or "stuck" in their situation due to fear. Fear of financial instability, fear of breaking up the family, fear of being abused further, fear of losing their partner, fear of change and much more.

Please visit the link below. It offers an abundance of information and resources to help domestic violence victims. It also informs on community events and ways the public can help end domestic violence. It is crucial to educate and spread awareness on domestic violence in order to make change for those in need.

Visit Arizona Coalition To End Sexual & Domestic Violence

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING AWARENESS MONTH

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."

This phrase couldn't be further from the truth, especially for the youth in our country. Studies show that people who are abused by their peers are at risk for mental health problems, such as low-self esteem, stress, depression, or anxiety. Bullies are at risk for these problems as well.

The statistics on bullying and suicide are alarming:

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year.
For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts.
In a survey,1 out of 5 children admit to being a bully or doing some "bullying."
In the same survey 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically.
19.6% high school students in the US report being bullied at school in the past year.
14.8% reported being bullied online.
64% of children who were bullied did not report it.

Please see how you can help prevent bullying in your community by pressing this link: STOP BULLYING

Image result for dont be a bully be a buddy

MENTAL HEALTH GUILD

The Mental Health Guild issued MHA of AZ a $2000 grant to help increase awareness of depression and the signs of suicide amongst members of our community as well as increase awareness of a FREE, anonymous health screening tool available to all.

From this generous donation, MHA will be able to support the implementation of the B4Stage4 Program, which includes delivering MHA's mental health screening tools to thousands as well as getting resource cards into the hands of students.

Thanks again Mental Health Guild, MHA of AZ is excited and looking forward to this partnership!

Welcome Sydney and Jamie!

These two MSW, PAC (Policy, Advocacy and Community Organizing) students will be joining MHA as interns for the 2016-2017 academic year. They have an eagerness to learn and grow throughout this opportunity and aspire to make positive change on behalf of the mental health population in Arizona and throughout the country.

Unlocking the Affordable Care Act's Potential for Justice-Involved Individuals

More than 2 million adults are incarcerated in American jails and prisons on any given day. An additional 4.7 million Americans are on probation or parole. As recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, many justice involved individuals have chronic conditions and high rates of substance-use and mental health disorders. More than half of state prison inmates report some form of mental health problem. Many prisoners are several times more likely to show signs of diagnosable psychosis and major depression and about 10 times more likely to have antisocial personality disorder than the general public.

HOW DO WE GET JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?

Click here to find the full story and video!

Hillary Clinton's Comprehensive Agenda on Mental Health

"To many Americans are being left to face mental health problems on their own, and too many individuals are dying prematurely from associated health conditions. We must do better." -Hillary Clinton

Click here to learn more about Hillary's plan and what it will include for the mental health population.

NJJN: AZ Wins Victory for Youth Prosecuted as Adults, and limits Shackling!

The Children's Action Alliance of Arizona (CAA) , a member of The National Juvenile Justice Network, helped pass legislation that allows youth being prosecuted as adults to be held in juvenile detention centers instead of adult jails, and played a role in restricting indiscriminate shackling of youth in Arizona juvenile court rooms.

Click here to read more.

A big thanks and congratulations to Beth Rosenberg and Dana Naimark for your outstanding accomplishments in protecting Arizona children and youth.

NIMH Funds Three 'Zero Suicide' Grants

"Zero Suicide" is a commitment, a goal, and a campaign led by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and its partners - including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Recently, NIMH funded three new grants that support the Zero Suicide commitment to preventing suicide attempts and deaths among individuals receiving treatment within health care systems. The Zero Suicide campaign seeks to improve health care systems' ability to identify who is at risk, and to identify and implement effective treatments for at-risk individuals. The campaign is also targeting ways to improve health care systems through provider training and systemic changes

For more info click: here

NIH awards more than $150 million for research on environmental influences on child health; ECHO program to investigate exposures from conception through early child.

NIH announced $157 million in awards in fiscal year 2016 to launch a seven-year initiative called Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO). The ECHO program will investigate how exposure to a range of environmental factors in early development - from conception through early childhood - influences the health of children and adolescents.

To find out more information on this initiative click here

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $5 Million to St. Louis, Baltimore and
Chicago School Districts to Promote Student Resilience

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $5,094,793 to St. Louis, Baltimore, and Chicago school districts to promote student resilience following significant trauma related to episodes of civil unrest in their communities.

The new discretionary grant program-Promoting Student Resilience (PSR)-provides funding to school districts or a consortia of school districts to establish school-based mental-health, counseling, and behavioral programs for students who have experienced trauma because of demonstrations of mass protest/civil unrest. Funding helps school districts create, strengthen, and maintain safe and supportive learning environments.

Click here to learn more!

We invite your participation and sharing of this newsletter by forwarding to your friends and colleagues. If they wish to receive the newsletter, encourage them to simply click on the link here. Let's share the word. Time to get involved.

Kristina Sabetta, LMSW

Executive Consultant

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