Reflecting Back on Year 1
Mental Health Awareness Month was a big reason why Grace In Your Corner was created. Read Cory Strathman's reflection on the past year.
Resources: better understanding is the first step in helping
Suicide Prevention, Risk Factors, and Warning Signs
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. A common misconception people have is you should avoid talking to someone struggling about suicide because it may put the idea in their head. That is not true. It is better to be direct with the topic. Whenever it doubt, pick up the phone and call a professional. Below is a link to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website that outlines the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. mental health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Online Resources
Below is a link to NAMI's online resources where you can find information on all mental illness diagnoses. If you are looking for something in regards to mental health, you will most likely find it on their site. Also take a moment and research about the local NAMI organization near you!
Myths and Facts About Depression
Below is a link to the University of Michigan Medicine's website where you will find a graphic identifying common Myths vs Facts about depression. Information like this can help you better understand what people could be dealing with. Like all aspects of life, symptoms of depression might contrast in different people. There is no all encompassing blueprint.
Loving Someone Who Is Depressed
Julia Kristina is a registered clinical counselor, mental health therapist, and counseling psychologist from Vancouver, British Columbia. She offers great advice through the YouTube links below on how to best operate with someone who struggles from depression. Please take the time to watch both of her videos and take step 1 in better understanding depression.
https://youtu.be/k5PRxE4yJpw Part 1
https://youtu.be/_HJ0AqZmi6Y Part 2
Understanding Substance Abuse Disorders
Similar to mental illness, It is important to understand the science behind addiction. Below is a link to Center On Addiction's website, where you can find scientific research about substance abuse disorders. Also check out Cory's entry No Judgment, Know Facts, where he explains the stages of recovery and term anhedonia. Better understanding those concepts helped him in recovery.
Johann Hari: Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong
Johann Hari presents a TedTalk challenging the approach the world often uses when dealing with a person struggling with addiction. He states, "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection."
YouTube Description:
Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.
Brene Brown: Understanding the Role of Shame & Vulnerability
Brene Brown is a research professor in Houston that has spent over two decades studying shame, vulnerability, courage, and empathy. She states when you stop bottling up your life, become vulnerable, and find the courage to speak up you will find a better quality of life. Her motto is "Courage over Comfort", which directly aligns with GIYC's mission of helping people find their confidence. Below are just a few of her talks that explain what it takes to live your best life.