Mental Health Advocacy and Education
Whether it's a cut or a cough, most people are not ashamed to call the doctor for an appointment to get it looked at and possibly take a prescription to treat an illness. In fact, if we don't get medical attention our loved ones may comment that we are not taking good care of ourselves.
Health is about caring for the wellness of our whole being: body, mind, and soul. So, why might we hesitate to call a counselor to talk about stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, or to help us heal our emotional wounds or broken relationships?
Mental health advocacy is needed to address the stigma around accessing mental health services because not everyone has mental illness, but we all have mental health. Seeking a therapist to help us when we need support and guidance is a healthy and positive strategy for life long personal development and emotional balance.
Behavioral health - which includes mental health, substance use and more- is a key part of your overall well-being. Brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a behavioral health professional. Think of these as a checkup from your neck up. This program is completely anonymous, confidential, and do not transfer with academic records. Contact us for more information.
- Educational Repository: Digital, educational, communicative material to promote health and well-being among our Cuesta Community.
- Student in crisis Quick Guide: Know the signs, assess for suicide, respond and give resources.
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Transitions Mental Health TMHA’s Education Programs offer a variety of classes and programs designed to provide support and insight into mental illness, promote wellness and recovery, and to provide people with tools to use in their recovery process.
- Mental Health First Aid Free 12 hour Mental Health First Aid Training // (805) 540-6500
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Family to Family Free training for families and/or support persons with a mentally ill loved one. (805) 440-3516
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WRAP participants learn how to develop their own WRAP plan which they can use to help manage physical and/or emotional difficulties.
- Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
- The Safe Zone Project (SZP) is a free online resource providing curricula, activities, and other resources for educators facilitating Safe Zone trainings (sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ education sessions), and learners who are hoping to explore these concepts on their own.
- QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) is a 1-2 hour educational program designed to teach lay and professional "gatekeepers"
the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include
anyone who is strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide
(e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers).
The process follows three steps: (1) Question the individual's desire or intent regarding
suicide, (2) Persuade the person to seek and accept help, and (3) Refer the person
to appropriate resources.
- The Welcome Home training is a program for faculty and staff about the mental health needs of student veterans. The major objectives of the training are to increase awareness about the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression so that faculty and staff can better understand how these conditions might impact student success in the classroom and on campus.
- JED Foundation helps more teens and young adults get access to the resources and support they need to navigate life’s challenges and educates and equips families and the communities around them to know when and how to support teens & young adults.
- Know the Signs is a statewide suicide prevention social marketing campaign built on three key messages: Know the signs. Find the words. Reach out.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
- Mental Health Resources Guide critical Mental Health Resources for College Students.
- MakeTheConnection.net is an online resource designed to connect Veterans, their family members and friends, and other supporters with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their lives.
- Student Guide to Surviving Stress in College is an online resource that teaches your about the effects of stress, tips on how
to combat stress and anxiety and a quiz to see how stressed you are.
savvysleeper.org: This article will break down everything you need to know about sleep health, its effects on your mental capacity, and time management tips to help you get more sleep.
thehavenatcollege.com helps students struggling with mental health and substance use challenges have a safe and successful college experience.
- Get connected to community resources: www.211slo.org
- National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
- Equity in Mental Health: https://equityinmentalhealth.org/
- General info on creating LGBTQIAP+ safe zones: https://outalliance.org/education-safezone/
- Materials/Suicide Prevention: https://foundationccc.org/What-We-Do/Equity/Student-Mental-Health/Crisis-Text-Line-Awareness-Materials
- Online QPR: How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal; How to
get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide; The common causes of
suicidal behavior; The warning signs of suicide;
How to get help for someone in crisis https://qprinstitute.com/organization-training - Is mindfulness the secret to student wellbeing?
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Click here for more Mental Health Resources
Youth PAAT is a committee of peers that work to advocate for those served by the mental health system, educate our community about mental illness, promote wellness and recovery, reduce stigma, and provide support for those living with mental illness.
Peer to Peer is a unique, experiential learning program for people living with a mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery.
Active Minds advocacy and resources for mental health awareness.
