Philadelphia Health Partnership’s Post

💡 This week's meeting with the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Jovanka Trenchevska, was truly productive, focusing on the mental health of young people and potential measures to enhance youth standards. 💬 National Youth Council of Macedonia President Filip Ivkovski and I discussed the adoption of a National Mental Health Strategy for young people. The strategy aims to address all the needs and challenges young people face regarding self-care and well-being: 📌 Prevention and early intervention 📌 Awareness and education 📌 Access to mental health services 📌 Integration and collaboration 📌 Data collection and research 🤗 The conversation also touched upon a multi sectoral approach to mental health and youth standards. Besides housing and scholarships, the youth standard should encompass various areas: mental, sexual, and reproductive health, financial independence, housing, mobility, equality, culture, and access to cultural events and social services. ✔️ Stay tuned for more information! #YouthEmpowerment #MentalHealth #NationalStrategy #YouthWellbeing #MultisectoralApproach

🌸 May is AAPI Heritage Month! It's a time to celebrate the rich cultural diversity within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. But it's also a moment to shed light on important issues, like mental health, that affect many within these communities. Did you know: Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. identify as AAPI, making up 6.1% of the population. AAPI adults are three times less likely to seek mental health services than their white counterparts. 1 in 3 adolescents in the AAPI community are victims of dating abuse, leading to long-term mental, behavioral, and physical health consequences. Serious mental illness in AAPI young adults (18-25) rose from 2.9% to 5.6% between 2008 and 2018. The term "AAPI" encompasses a vast array of countries, ethnicities, and identities, each with unique challenges and experiences. At Backpack Healthcare, we're committed to providing truly inclusive care. Here’s how we make a difference: 🌐 Offering therapy in over 250 languages. 🤝 Training our therapists in cultural competence to understand and respect the diverse backgrounds of our patients. 💳 Accepting Medicaid to make quality mental health care accessible to more people. Understanding and addressing mental health in the AAPI community requires sensitivity and inclusivity. Let's continue the conversation and support each other. #AAPIHeritageMonth #MentalHealthAwareness #InclusiveCare #MentalWellness #BackpackHealthcare Sources: Mental Health America, US Census  Image Credit: Courtesy of the Smithsonian

A new report from the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench examines how systems in Ontario can best support children and youth with complex behavioural and mental health needs. Find the full policy brief here: https://lnkd.in/g-JZYxtm

The Investigaytors' latest report summarizes results from the "I stand out!" survey, which aims to better understand the mental health issues of 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth (15-24). These infographics highlight results from the survey. This study calls attention to the need for culturally safe and easily accessible support services for 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. The survey was developed in collaboration with members of the Jeunes Chercheur.e.s Queer program--the Montreal and Francophone adaptation of CBRC's Investigaytors program--and run out of Qollab (https://qollab.ca/en/). Read the report & view the infographics here: https://lnkd.in/g6DY2vxX Funding for this resource was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Affected by COVID-19 (MH COVID) initiative.

We need to do a better job for our children to work together to address their complex needs. This is an important report with detailed implications for practice and policy " it is clear that a “one size fits all” approach will not be enough to meet the needs of these children and families, as no single sector or agency has the necessary capacity to address these challenges effectively. There is a need for integrated solutions that break down existing silos and work towards a more holistic, whole systems approach ̶ in which all child-serving systems collaborate and acknowledge their shared responsibility to not only meet the needs of these children but to help prevent them before they escalate and reach the point of crisis."

👉 “We needed you like yesterday.”   National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (7th May) focuses on the importance of youth mental health and highlights the fact optimal mental health is essential to healthy development. 👉 “We needed you like yesterday.” Understanding the signs and symptoms of youth mental health struggles is crucial as they frequently differ from adult presentations. Warning signs include: 📌 Decreased interest in activities Youth mental health challenges may become apparent through diminished interest in typical 'childhood' activities, such as socializing with friends, engaging in physical activity, or having a desire to learn. 📌 Inappropriate/sudden behavioral changes 2/3 of children globally report a traumatic event by age 16. This number is higher for the Upili Youth with Disabilities Participant population. When a youth witnesses or experiences abuse it can manifest as initiating topics for discussion/conversation that can appear 'inappropriate' to adults. Additionally, as we saw with our pilot program Participants, youth with mental health challenges may display signs of bodily disconnect. (read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNqUkWh8). 📌 Talk of suicide or self-harm Routinely denied access to educational, economic, social and cultural opportunities, Youth with Disabilities in East Africa are among the world’s most excluded young people.  The resultant aloneness, challenges, stigma and distress can become too much for this age group to bear creating suicidal ideation and execution. 👉 “We needed you like yesterday.” Next Step Foundation's Upili program is dedicated to bringing Counselors with Disabilities into Kenyan special schools to provide much needed psychosocial support. When we met with teachers and staff at S.A Joytown Secondary School a staff member announced: “We needed you like yesterday.” These 5 words keep our Team motivated, focused and driven to make an impact on Children's Mental Health Awareness Day and every day. #Africa #Kenya #mentalhealth #Inclusion

Watch this brief presentation to learn how professionals, families, and communities can use our guides to support #LGBTQIA2S+ youth: https://ow.ly/T0NH50QFMGy #mentalhealth #suicideprevention

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟎𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒. May 9th is celebrated as National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in the USA. It aims to raise awareness about children's mental health needs, reduce stigma, and promote available resources. Organizations and communities host events to emphasize the importance of prioritizing children's mental well-being. Somalia currently lacks an annual observance of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, leaving a critical gap in addressing the mental well-being of its youth. Despite the absence of such initiatives, the need for advocacy on this front is paramount. It's time to take proactive steps to establish a dedicated day focused on promoting the mental health of Somalia's children. Proposing the introduction of a National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is not merely symbolic; it's an essential step toward recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by children in Somalia. Issues such as dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, abuse, and violence continue to jeopardize the well-being of children, often depriving them of their fundamental rights. Collaboration among key ministries—those responsible for children's affairs, human rights, and education—is imperative in formulating a comprehensive proposal for this special day. This proposal should encompass actionable strategies to raise awareness about children's mental health issues, provide support services, and advocate for policy reforms aimed at safeguarding their rights. Moreover, this proposed day of observance serves as a platform to amplify voices advocating against the stigmatization of mental health conditions and promoting inclusivity and acceptance within Somali society. The journey toward establishing a National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day does not end with drafting a proposal. It requires the endorsement and approval of parliament to formalize this initiative and ensure its sustainable implementation. In championing this cause, we affirm our commitment to nurturing a generation of resilient and empowered youth, free from the shackles of mental health stigma and discrimination. Let us join hands in advocating for the well-being of Somalia's children and securing a brighter future for generations to come. CC Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

According to World Health Organization in conflict and post-conflict contexts, nearly 50 percent of all mental health issues start before the age of 14.   ➡️ Studies from Colombia highlight higher rates of mental health struggles among displaced children.  ➡️ The National Institutes of Health findings show that internally displaced children from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and northern Uganda reported higher degrees of internalizing symptoms and post-traumatic stress than non-displaced children. Explore how the Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support into Youth Programming toolkit by Youth Power, a USAID partnership with Making Cents International, provides strategies for evaluating mental health and psychosocial support programs and activities for youth in conflict-affected contexts.  Read more: https://bit.ly/3Z7k0E2 #educationincrisisandconflict LAC Regional Hub - USAID Leading through Learning Global Platform Photo: Kashish Das Shrestha, USAID/Nepal

🛑 Content Warning: This post discusses statistics on suicide and mental health challenges. Please exercise self-care. 🏳️🌈 In addition to the Two-Spirit Flag by 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, another Two-Spirit Flag was created by 2Sanon in 2016, which has two feathers representing feminine and masculine spirits, and a circle combining them together. (Source: https://lnkd.in/g-q_pFzs) 📢 The mental health challenges faced by Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Canada are particularly severe. Indigenous youth in general face disproportionately high suicide rates. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 10-29 in Indigenous communities. These rates are five to seven times higher for First Nations youth and eleven times higher for Inuit youth compared to the national average (Source: Amnesty International at UofT). ❇️ Addressing the mental health needs of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth requires systemic change and culturally grounded resources that affirm their unique identities. At Myles Ahead, Advancing Child & Youth Mental Health, our goal is to collaboratively bridge system-level gaps and scale evidence-based practices to help ensure timely access to appropriate mental health services, both clinically and in schools. Ultimately, our purpose is to transform systems to help prevent child and youth suicide. 🌎 As we honour National Indigenous History Month and Pride Season, it's crucial to recognize and act on these mental health disparities. By collaborating with communities and partnering with various individuals and organizations, Myles Ahead strives to create a comprehensive support ecosphere with, and for, young people across Turtle Island. ✨ On that note, if you're not already following @FindingOurPowerTogether, we invite you to do so, as they are doing inspiring work in "Supporting Indigenous Youth to Thrive." 🤗 Together, we are advancing child & youth mental health. Miigwetch / Thank you for all that you do to make this happen, for the betterment of All! ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🤎 🖤 #MylesAhead #ChildMentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #LifePromotion #SuicidePrevention #TwoSpirit #2SLGBT+ #2SLGBTQIA+ #NIHM2024 #IndigenousHistoryMonth #PrideMonth #PrideSeason