Created by:Service Initiatives Committee Mind Your Mind Created by:Service Initiatives Committee

Mind Your Mind is about raising awareness about the various different mental health issues people live with. In addition to supporting one of the many mental health organizations through fundraising, mental health related service projects, awareness, outreach and educational events are also a great way to support this project. Since there are such a large variety causes associated with this topic, each club can plan events to benefit the specific cause which is most significant in your club and/or college community. Some the areas that touch on mental health include: Depression Suicide Eating disorders Bullying Anxiety Contact sami.sharifiy@nycirclek.org with any questions! Description

Overview Facts Advocate Educate Hands-on experience Fundraisers Organizations

Facts Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders and CANNOT simply be “powered through” 44% of adults with diagnosable disorders and less than 20% of children and adolescents seek treatment ⅕ of the entire adult population will suffer from some form of mental illness every year ½ of chronic mental illness begins by age 14 and ¾ by age 24 9.6 million people experience suicidal ideation Veterans are not the only ones who struggle with post traumatic stress disorder

Advocate Talk about mental health Share your own story (if you feel comfortable) Volunteer with mental health organizations Be conscious of your surrounding and watch out for bullying Learn the signs of depression and teach others about it Shed light on mental health in a judgement free way Lobbying for legislation that supports mental health related policies

Educate Start small and start with yourself! What is mental health? Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing - it is all about how we think, feel, and behave Different Types of Mental Health Depressive disorders which include depression and bipolar disorder Anxiety disorders which include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder Eating disorders which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder etc.

Hands on Experience Put random compliments on mirrors around campus Put a poster in the hallway and let people write what stresses them out Give out words of encouragement to random people in the hallways Have a mental health themed movie night Go around your campus and ask people what they know about mental health and try to get rid of the stigma Have a group mediation Mental Health Awareness Month PPT: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12kMaCml4kXsNe8CyOCcubbl j0w5s8U2L5znIiwQRJIQ/edit?usp=sharing

Hands on Experience Cont. Host an educational event about mental health awareness Visit a nursing home and create a spa for the residents Paint positive messages on rocks and place them around campus Make “Be a Buddy not a Bully” bracelets, pass them out and in return ask people to sign a sheet pledging to treat all people with kindness

Organizations National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention The Trevor Project The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

Thank you!