Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mental Health discussions in December. Members of the Seattle chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provided introductory information on recognizing and learning to destigmatize mental illness. The presenters also provided a wealth of follow-on listings of mental health resources.
In speaking with participants and others within the congregation, we know that the two evenings didn’t meet all of our expectation and needs. For example, there was a strong desire for resources that can help individuals and families cope with the stress of COVID 19 and continued social isolation.
Several participants requested additional information on how they could be trained to provide mental health intervention, akin to CPR for a person experiencing an intense mental health crisis.
We are pleased to have started the conversation about how we can care for ourselves and others, and how we can live into our commitment to inclusivity by learning more about mental health. And we know we only scratched the surface of this important topic. Many of you have said you’d love to learn more. To that end, we are providing links and resources:
General Education Resources on Mental Health
NAMI provides in depth information on emergency support, support groups and resources.
· This page provides a clearing house of resources: https://namiwa.org/index.php/resources
Recognizing that caring for family members experiencing mental illness also requires support for the caregiver,
· This link provides resources for family members and caregivers https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
Guidance for what to do during a mental health emergency and how to prepare for a crisis i
· This link includes a helpful guide to prepare advanced mental health care directives https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis
Self-Care Resources During COVID
The organization PsychHub has several 3 ½ minute videos that provide practical ways people can cope with the stress of the pandemic.
· From the search bar at the following link: http://psychhub.com/videos type in “Covid 19” to access these videos. Some of these videos are meant for front-line workers and others for anyone struggling at this time, but there’s a wealth of practical advice here.
