October Newsletter

Happy Halloween and welcome to the October newsletter! We hope you all have been well as we enter the final two months of the year(!!!) Check out some of the resources we have attached - including a couple of longer reads on the state of mental health in America (from MHA) and a toolkit to help improve school employee wellness (from Child Trends). As always, we encourage you to take some time reading the self-care corner. Your own well-being has to come first! A kind reminder that you cannot pour from an empty cup.

MHA - Uplift Wisconsin

Uplift WI is a warmline for Wisconsin residents and is staffed by certified peer specialists. This line is for those who need someone to talk to for support when things are difficult, or when you just need a peer to connect with.

This is a fully anonymous and confidential line that will not contact emergency services unless specifically directed by you.

The number is (534) 202-5438

With daylight savings time ending on Sunday, November 5th (set those clocks back!) - we will be stepping into the months of early darkness. Seasonal affective disorder is common and insidious. Share this resource to those who may need some additional support.

MHA - Uplift WI Warmline

Building Connections: How Relationships and Time with Peers Can Improve Mental Health

In this article from October 6, 2023, David Krasky discusses the importance of peer connections for youth mental health. He offers some strategies to encourage in-person connections and some data to back up the importance of this emphasis.

NAMI - Read more here

Common Sense Media Report - Teens Are Exhausted by Phone Notifications but Don't Know How to Quit

This study included data from 203 11-17 year olds that let them track their smartphone data for a week using an unobtrusive app (Chronicle). Data interpretation was done with the assistance from "an advisory council of young people" to get a better understanding of the nuances involved.

The full report is linked below but here are some key highlights:

Half of the study's participants received 237 or more notifications per day
Phone use during school hours is nearly universal but varies widely, reflecting a patchwork of different school policies.
TikTok was one of the most popular and longest-duration apps due to the bite-size pleasure and low-friction interaction.

Link to Full Report

The Behavioral Health website is live!

Check it out using the button below.

Behavioral Health Site

MHA-Wisconsin '23-'24 Peer-to-Peer Grant Application

The Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grant is a competitive grant program that has been established for Wisconsin elementary, middle, and high schools. Recipients of a grant may use the funding to support an existing evidence-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program (Hope Squad, Sources of Strength, NAMI Raise Your Voice, REDGEN, or Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)) or to implement a new program. For schools wanting to implement new programs, please provide evidence linked to the program's effectiveness.

The application deadline is December 1st, 2023. The link to the application is below - You must complete the survey in one sitting; you will not be allowed to save and return to it.

There is a .pdf version you can download to review the questions before proceeding with the application.

Click here for more info and to Apply

MHA - The State of Mental Health 2023

From Mental Health America, see the State of Mental Health 2023 report. The full report is linked below and the website with more information is linked in the button below. Click to see key highlights from MHA's national surveys on the state of mental health.

Full Report (.pdf)

State of Mental Health in America 2023

A Toolkit for School Systems to Advance Comprehensive School Employee Wellness

This toolkit from Child Trends illustrates how improvement in school employee wellness can help reduce school system costs, foster positive working conditions, and improve outcomes for students.

The funding for the development for this toolkit came from the CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC-DASH).

It is comprehensive and something to take in when you have some time!

Toolkit from Child Trends

From the American Psychological Association: Impacts of climate change threaten children's mental health starting before birth

Read this brief article that discusses the impact of climate change on children's mental health starting before birth. This article includes links to much larger reports that details the studies around this ever growing existential threat.

Climate Change and Children's Mental Health

Self Care Corner

This month's edition is focused on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Although many of you may be familiar with this seasonal mental health condition, it doesn't hurt to refresh ourselves on what to look out for.

According to the NIH, commonly, SAD symptoms begin in the late fall or early winter and subside during spring and summer. Hence the timeliness of this post. SAD is a type of depression that is characterized by its seasonality and symptoms typically lasting around 4 to 5 months a year. Follow the link below for the most common symptoms of SAD to look out for. If you begin to or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed in the factsheet, it would be wise to talk with your doctor.

Treatment for SAD includes:

Light therapy
Psychotherapy
Antidepressant medications
Vitamin D

Take care and remember that self care is really care for all of the individuals and organizations you support!

SAD Factsheet

Event Reminders

November office hours - November 9th from 9:00am - 10:00am

More details to come soon!

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

432 N. Lake Street
Madison, WI | 53706 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.