Mental Health Minute
Alief ISD Guidance and Counseling Newsletter, May 2021
Alief Is Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month in May
10 Ideas for Mental Health Month & Mental Illness Awareness Week
For over 70 years, the month of May has been dedicated to raising mental health awareness. During what is widely celebrated as Mental Health Month, organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Mental Health America, and NAMI take this time to spread knowledge and fight stigmas surrounding mental health and well-being.
You Are Not Alone
For 2021’s Mental Health Awareness Month NAMI will continue to amplify the message of “You Are Not Alone.” We will use this time to focus on the healing value of connecting in safe ways, prioritizing mental health and acknowledging that it’s okay to not be okay through NAMI’s blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events.
Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives — a nation where no one feels alone in their struggle.
Help us spread the word through awareness, support and advocacy activities. Share awareness information, images and graphics for #MHAM throughout May.
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
5 ways you can support someone dealing with mental health issues
"We are living in an environment of imbalance," said Dr. Neal Sarahan, executive director of NAMI Greater Houston. "There's an environment of uncertainty. There is an invisible virus which is out there. We have all been challenged to change."
https://abc13.com/mental-health-help-ta-weekend-how-to-get-covid/10458886/
How Schools Can Help Kids Heal After A Year Of 'Crisis And Uncertainty'
Kai Humphrey, 9, has been learning from home for more than a year. He badly misses his Washington, D.C., elementary school, along with his friends and the bustle of the classroom.
"I will be the first person ever to have every single person in the world as my friend," he said on a recent Zoom call, his sandy brown hair hanging down to his shoulder blades. From Kai, this kind of proclamation doesn't feel like bragging, more like exuberant kindness.
But when Kai's school recently invited him back, he refused. That's because his worry list is long, topped by his fear of getting COVID-19 and giving it to his 2-year-old sister, Alaina. She was born with a heart condition, Down syndrome and a fragile immune system. To her, the disease poses a mortal threat, and he is her protector, the only one who can make her giggle breathlessly.
Reminder to use Alief Employee Zen Den
Are the days leaving you feeling a bit overwhelmed? Do you wish you had a safe and relaxing place to go? Well, the exclusive Zen Den is just what you need. All Alief ISD staff can join for FREE! Please join the Alief Virtual Staff Lounge Schoology group. The Staff Lounge will cater to all Alief ISD staff to provide everything needed for self-care. The code for the group is 5HFP-K86G-SQFQV. Please take some time for yourself to relax, unwind and enjoy!
As schools reopen, we can't leave mental health behind
By Amy Kennedy, education director of The Kennedy Forum
Even before COVID-19 changed life as we know it, young people in the U.S. were experiencing sharp increases in mental health conditions. Between 2009 and 2017, rates of depression increased by more than 60% among kids ages 14-17, and, over a similar time period, the rate of suicide among those ages 10-14 nearly tripled.
Add the social isolation, interruption, and anxiety surrounding a global pandemic, and youth mental health is now in an even more dire state. Recent research from the Jed Foundation and Fluent shows more than half of all American teens have struggled with mental health issues due to the impact of COVID-19 alone, and two-thirds of parents reported their child recently experiencing a mental or emotional challenge.
The data is clear: our young people are struggling. It’s now incumbent upon elected leaders, federal agencies, and school administrators to ensure that resources are devoted to supporting them as the country recovers.
https://www.thekennedyforum.org/blog/as-schools-reopen-we-cant-leave-mental-health-behind/
COUNSELOR SPOTLIGHT
Eanisha Washington, Albright Middle School
Eanisha Washington is currently a middle school counselor at Albright Middle School in Alief Independent School District. After graduating from the University of Houston with a degree in Kinesiology and Health, she landed her first teaching job in Pasadena, TX. Ms. Washington had the pleasure of working in Pasadena for one year before getting the opportunity to teach in Alief. Eanisha's career in Alief began in 2000 at Alief Middle School. She was a Physical Education Teacher, Volleyball Coach and the Head Track Coach.
As an educator and coach, she observed the instabilities of mental and emotional behaviors of students which led her to pursue a career in Counseling. Upon completion of graduate school, Ms. Washington worked as an intermediate counselor for 8 years then transitioned to middle school where she is currently and has been a member of the Alief Family for over 20 years.
Ms. Washington continues to work in the community providing outside resources to better equip students and parents with their educational, emotional, and mental health needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eanisha has been married to husband Sean for over 20 years. They have two boys and a dog: Lake (17) and Cruz (10) and Cali the dog (7 mos). In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family, exercising, painting, and watching movies. She truly believes in practicing "Self-Care."
Thank you, Mrs. Washington for all your hard work.
VIRTUAL TOOLS
Want to learn more about suicide prevention? Check on the free training Act on Facts. See the video below to find out a little more about the training.
https://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/making-educators-partners-youth-suicide-prevention-act-facts
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 7th, 2021
(additional dates- June 4th, June 12th and July 17th)
SAT Test Date
May 14th, 2021
New Counselor meeting
11-12 p.m.
May 19th, 2021
District Counselor Meeting
Elementary/Intermediate- 8:30-10:30
Middle/High- 1:00-3:00
RESOURCES
Mental Health Screening Tool
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools
NAMI Texas
NAMI National
Crisis Intervention of Houston
Harris Health System
Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC)
Harris County Sheriff’s Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
713-221-6000
Houston Police Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston
http://www.council-houston.org
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)
Autism Society of America
National Institute of Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention
http://www.texassuicideprevention.org/
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation