Moving Beyond Cancer in NOLA: Mental Health First Aid Monthly Newsletter

To view this email as a web page, click here

For many, 2021 was another challenging year. With the loss of loved ones, physical illness, and economic and social disruption, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many of us to face stress, loneliness, anxiety and depression.

But the new year is a chance for new opportunities, new goals and a fresh start. It comes as no surprise that more than one in four Americans are focusing their 2022 New Year’s resolutions on their mental wellbeing. As you celebrate with friends and loved ones and share in the hope of all the good to come, now is a great time to reflect on the past year and think about ways to prioritize and improve your mental wellbeing in the months ahead.

In December, we shared tips from the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum to help you cope with loneliness and to support loved ones during and after the holiday season, and we shared information to prepare you for a healthy new year. As you transition into 2022, we hope you turn to MHFA as a guide to help you focus on your mental wellbeing. You can use your MHFA skills and knowledge to support a life devoted to wellbeing in yourself and those around you.

We’re continuing to share daily information and tips on our blog and social media channels – follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

tMHFA Taught Me How to Take Care of My Own Mental Health

teen Mental Health First Aider Ava Zapolski shares her mental health story and how teen Mental Health First Aid helped her take care of her own mental wellbeing and support her friends and peers in high school. Read more.

Prepare for a Healthy New Year with Mental Health First Aid

A new year can provide us with hope and, more importantly, a desire to change. As we begin a new year, use tips from MHFA to create resolutions that are meaningful, realistic, and prioritize your mental wellbeing for the long-term. Read more.

Loneliness: How to Cope During the Holiday Season

The holiday season can leave you vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and anxiety, negatively impacting your physical and mental wellbeing. Mental Health First Aid can help you cope with these feelings in a healthy way and #BeTheDifference for yourself and others who may be feeling alone this time of year. Read more.

How to Support a Loved One in Recovery During the Holidays

The heightened atmosphere of the holidays combined with the increased presence of substances like alcohol can put a person in recovery for a mental health or substance use challenge at a higher risk of relapse. As a First Aider, knowing how to support loved can make a huge difference in their journey to recovery and mental wellbeing. Read more.

Sign up for National Council advocacy alerts and learn how you can take action to ensure equitable access to high-quality services, including Mental Health First Aid training. Take action when possible. This may include voting, spreading the word in your networks, or writing to your legislators.

Mental Health First-Aid Training Offered to Rural Virginians

The Virginia Rural Health Association, in partnership with Recover Virginia/Recover Fest, will offer Mental Health First Aid training for rural Virginians. The Appalachian region of the state continues to see a spike in drug overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Williamson County, Tenn., Police Train to Respond to Mental Health Crises

Law enforcement agencies in Williamson County, Tennessee, will provide the entire patrol force with Mental Health First Aid training to help officers recognize symptoms of mental illness and better respond to calls involving mental health crises. Read more.

Mental Health Awareness and Training Grant Funds MHFA Training

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded a $625,000 Mental Health Awareness and Training grant to St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, a not-for-profit hospital in Chelsea, Michigan. The grant will help provide Mental Health First Aid training to adults and teens in the community. Read more.