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Educational Programs and Community Outreach
MHA/NC is the leader in educating North Carolina communities on mental health. Our educational outreach programs reach wide audiences across North Carolina that consist of children, teens, older adults, teachers, minorities, law enforcement, businesses, and faith based organizations, as well as consumers, families, professionals, and providers.
MHA/NC educational outreach programs address many timely and important issues. We create and/or tailor presentations in response to community needs or specific requests. Some of our programs and workshops include:
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Healthy Minds! Healthy Children!
Healthy Minds! Healthy Children!…..that's our way of thinking. This successful and innovative program teaches children aged 5 - 12 appropriate strategies for positive mental health. Topics include dealing with emotions, stereotyping, social and communication skills, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and anger management.
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There Is More To Me Than What You See
There is More to Me than What You See is an Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Curriculum for students in 5th - 7th grades. This program teaches the importance of self-esteem, positive body images, overall good health, and the dangers associated with eating disorders and not taking proper care of our bodies.
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Take 15
Research shows that spending 15 minutes or more of quality time with a child each day can have a positive impact on his or her mental and emotional growth and self confidence. This campaign, Take 15! Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk, is an effort to empower parents and other adults involved in the lives of children to be supportive, attentive, and to practice early intervention. The goals of Take 15 are to: encourage communication, generate awareness, increase academic performance, promote prevention of mental disorders, encourage parents and caregivers to become involved in youth activities, and educate parents and caregivers.
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School Staff and Parent/Guardian Trainings
MHA/NC holds trainings available for parents, teachers, school counselors, and other important figures in a child’s education on topics such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), identifying mental illness, and communicating with children.
Let's Talk About Feelings Activity Book
"Let's Talk About Feelings" is a children's activity book designed by MHA/NC to promote good mental health and to serve as a tool to initiate conversation about different emotions that young children may experience. Through word games, puzzles, and other activities, the book allows children to put words with their feelings and express themselves in new ways. This activity book can be accessed by clicking here. (To print the book out for use, the pages should be printed back and front and sorted and folded following the page numbers at the top of the activity pages.)
For information on our Children’s Initiatives, please email MHA/NC Children's Program Coordinator Adrian Lovelace at
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, or call at 919-981-0740 ext 273.
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Suicide Awareness & Prevention
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Triangle Consortium for Suicide Prevention (TCSP)
TCSP consists of a network of organizations dedicated to the promotion education, awareness, prevention and postvention of suicide in the community. An opportunity for connection and collaboration, members meet monthly to discuss possibilities for coordination of efforts, help sponsor area events and provide resources for the community. Each November, the TCSP, in collaboration with the American Federation for Suicide Prevention sponsors the “Out of the Darkness” walk in Carrboro/Chapel Hill.
NC Suicide Prevention Task Force
MHA /NC is a charter member in the NC Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force which was formed in 1998 in response to the Surgeon General’s call to action against suicide. The task force has written and published Saving Tomorrows Today, the State Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention for North Carolina . The MHA /NC is the lead agency for Goal One of the plan which is to conduct a statewide public information and awareness campaign that promotes awareness that depression and suicide are public health problems that are preventable.
Another goal of the State Plan is to develop and implement community-based suicide prevention programs. The MHA /NC and the Task Force supports and promotes the following workshops:
ASIST
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two-day workshop conducted by certified ASIST trainers. This program is designed to provide community gatekeepers emergency first aid skills to intervene with someone who is at risk of suicide until danger is resolved and other resources can be accessed. The ASIST workshop teaches community members how to: Recognize invitations for help, reach out and offer support, review the risk of suicide, apply a suicide intervention model, and link people with community resources.
safeTALK
safeTALK is a suicide alertness program for everyone. This 2.5 hour workshop helps all members of your community identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources.
For information on our Suicide Awareness & Prevention Programs, please contact Romaine Riddle at 919-981-0740 x272 or
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.
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African American Outreach
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P.E.W.S. (Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality)
The message of P.E.W.S. is that emotional wellness and spiritual wellness do not have to compete. They can work together to help each individual reach the highest degree of wellness he/she can. Overall health is contingent on mental and spiritual wellness. The presentation includes a PowerPoint presentation, a short video and discussion questions and is presented to the faith community via Bible Study class and other weekly meetings.
Campus Outreach – Overcoming Unhealthy Eating
Eighty percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Despite a tendency to celebrate curviness among women of color, body image and eating disorders are still prevalent. This workshop talks about the signs and symptoms of the three major eating disorders and other topics covered include body image, dieting cycles, emotional eating, depression and eating, and tips for getting help.
Depression and the African American Women
A general introduction to mental health and wellness. Attendees also learn tactics to overcome stress, anxiety and depression as well as an approach to raising mentally healthier children.
For more information on any of our African American Outreach Initiatives, contact Tai Bryant at 919-981-0740 ext 275 or
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Hispanic/Latino Initiative
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LAWC
MHA/NC has partnered with the Latin American Women's Club (LAWC), a volunteer organization whose purpose is to strengthen the economic, emotional, physical, social, and intellectual development of Latinas in NC. Together, we provide information and education to parents in the Hispanic/Latino community about mental health and mental illness in children and youth through activities that stimulate creativity, leadership, and mental well being.
Taller de Mujeres
Taller de Mujeres is a women's workshop that promotes mental wellness in the Latino family. This group follows the topics laid out in the book "Fuego Y Hielo Entre Las Latinas" by Dr. Munoz and Dr. Martin. MHA/NC and LAWC also partner with the 4H Club in providing youth activities for the children of the participants.
Spanish Mental Health Materials
Additionally, MHA/NC provides the Spanish speaking community with many brochures and other publications on mental health in Spanish. We also have a database of information on various topics of mental health and mental wellness available at www.mha-nc.org/spanish.htm.
The Hispanic/Latino Outreach Initiative also includes special annual events such as the Latin American Women's Excellence Awards, Fashion Show Fundraiser, and Latino Women's Annual Conference.
For information on our Hispanic/Latino Initiatives, please contact Nora Hernandez at 919-981-0740 ext 276 or at
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Newsletters
In order to effectively reach out and communicate with the general public, MHA/NC puts great emphasis on communication efforts. Our major newsletter, The Advocate, is published twice per year and distributed to thousands of MHA/NC supporters across NC and beyond. The Advocate highlights major recent events and happenings in public policy, news from affiliates across the state, descriptions of current outreach initiatives, and includes personal messages from Executive Director John Tote and the current Board President.
Our monthly e-newsletter, The E-Advocate, is distributed electronically at the first of each month to over 1,200 direct MHA/NC contacts. The E-Advocate features latest news and announcements, upcoming events, and timely research and findings in mental health.
Public Policy and News Alerts
MHA/NC communication efforts also include public policy updates, press releases, rapid crisis response, and other timely news alerts and information distribution as needed based on local, state, and national happenings. These alerts are distributed electronically to any interested parties who have signed up to receive them.
Media and Public Relations
Being a leader of mental health education and advocacy, MHA/NC is often sought out by news outlets and the media to discuss current topics in mental health. MHA/NC values and continues to support and nurture these relationships. We appreciate the media helping to get the word out and inform the public on mental health issues.
For more information on our Communication efforts, please email MHA/NC Communication Specialist Kelly Capps at
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, or call at 919-981-0740 ext 274.
To sign-up to receive any of our e-communications, please click here.
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Other Educational Outreach
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Depression Awareness Campaign & Screenings
MHA/NC provides information on depression and promotes depression awareness, as well as helps coordinate screening sites across the state, particularly on National Depression Screening Day during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October.
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Law Enforcement Training
In conjunction with the NC Sheriff’s Association, NC Mental Health Consumers’ Organization, and NC Institute of Government, MHA/NC provides training for law enforcement officials, which provides a handbook, mental health information, and a list of local resources. Attendees are law enforcement personnel, which includes police, sheriffs, and highway patrol. This training ensures that officials know the commitment process and are properly trained in crisis intervention and to treat consumers with respect and humanity. It also works to ensure that consumers receive the proper mental health care without injury to themselves or to law enforcement personnel, and that families are well apprised of the procedure. A suicide prevention protocol was recently added to the curriculum. For more information contact Rick Hill at
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Mental Health Information
MHA/NC also makes mental health information and resources available and accessible to the community at large. Our library provides books, brochures, videos, and DVDs on various mental health topics that are available for loan. We also have an abundance of educational brochures and pamphlets available for distribution, which can be sent directly to you through our Information & Referral Line by calling 1-800-897-7494 or emailing
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Mental Health Observances
MHA/NC also acknowledges many observances throughout the year such as Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Childhood Depression Awareness Day, Mental Health Month, National Depression Screening Day, Mental Illness Awareness Week, National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day, Brain Awareness Week, and National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. We highlight these observances by holding workshops and seminars, mailing educational packets to schools, arranging screenings across the state, highlighting relevant resources, and distributing relevant educational materials.
Real Men. Real Depression.
Depression is a serious medical condition that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. While both men and women may develop the standard symptoms, they often experience depression differently and may have different ways of coping. The Real Men. Real Depression. workshop includes a presentation to raise awareness of the symptoms of depression, reduce the stigma associated with men and depression, and includes informational materials for distribution.
When The Mind Causes Pain
Participants learn about the physical symptoms of depression. A video will show real people sharing their personal stories about suffering with painful physical symptoms that were disrupting their lives. These individuals share their efforts to understand what was causing their problems and how to find relief. This workshop also addresses some of the causes and treatments for clinical depression and offers voluntary depression screening.
The Blues: Not a Normal Part of Aging
Older adults are a high risk population for depression and suicide. The Blues: Not a Normal Part of Aging is a program that delivers a message of hope and recovery by providing an educational video, optional depression screening, and Feel Good Bingo, a game to educate older adults on depression symptoms and treatment options in a fun-filled manner.
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