|
Dear Partners,
Greetings from the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Alaska Mental Health Board, and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council.
These Behavioral Health Advisory Boards intend to deliver to your inbox useful information and resources on an ongoing basis through this new online delivery tool. Resource topics include mental health, substance misuse and recovery, suicide prevention and postvention, justice-involved, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
For the short-term, these emails will highlight resources that support our stakeholders and constituents through the immediate coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As we move forward, the content will transition to other prevailing topics as we continue to advocate for Alaskans.
Should you wish to stop receiving these emails, you can unsubscribe by updating your subscriber preferences at the bottom of this email, or by sending us an email.
Wishing you and your family well,
ABADA, AMHB & SSPC
|
|
April 17th, 2020 Resource Bulletin
|
|
Mental Health
The relationship between our immune system and mental health is important to consider during the COVID-19 crisis, especially for people with pre-existing mental and physical health conditions. Here are a few resources supporting mental health.
|
|
|
Online Nature Peer Support Training April 27- May 1 and May 4-8 (9:00a-1:00p) Ionia offers Alaskans an interactive training especially for people who have personally experienced traumas, mental illness and/or addiction in their families, with friends, or themselves – as well as all students of behavioral health. Participants will explore the recovery principles and practices of hope, mutuality, empowerment, and community; learn the history of peer support, ethics, and boundaries; and more. For questions, email Eliza Eller or call 907-252-2314.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Online Support Groups NAMI Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks expanded their online support groups for Alaskans living with a mental health condition and their families. Participants can join by computer, tablet or smartphone.
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Neighbors Helping Neighbors Sign up to get a call from a volunteer to help with social isolation or join the COVID-19 discussion on The Mighty: Online Community Discussion, a safe, supportive community for people facing health challenges and those who care for them.
Greater Good Science Center, University of California Berkeley This site offers science-based insights including recent articles on how to keep coronavirus worries from interrupting your sleep, how helping others can help you cope during lockdown, the scientific benefits of "awe" and how to find it indoors, and more.
|
|
|
Alaska Careline For someone to talk to, call anytime: 1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863 3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
|
|
|
|
|
Substance Misuse & Recovery
As we self-isolate to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is especially important to approach things one day at a time and to care for pre-existing health concerns such as substance misuse. In this section, we highlight Alcohol Awareness Month and a few peer support and recovery resources for maintaining healthy connections.
|
|
|
April is Alcohol Awareness Month Talk of Alaska interviews Akiak Native Community Tribal Leader Mike Williams, retired internist and addiction medicine specialist Charles Herndon, MD, and Tiffany Hall, Executive Director of Recover Alaska to better understand the scope of the problem of alcohol in Alaska, and how people are working to create more opportunities for socializing and having fun without alcohol.
Online Support Groups Recover Alaska shares numerous recovery support groups available online including statewide Alcoholic Anonymous meetings that are offered online and over the phone.
Substance-Related Considerations During COVID-19 The Alaska Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP) shares resources and information for people with a history of substance misuse as well as for treatment providers. OSMAP is also sharing their COVID-19 social media posts for use - Click Here to Download. Addiction and the Workplace provides resources to help employers consider ways to promote workforce health and safety, and includes updates regarding COVID-19.
|
|
|
|
Suicide Prevention & Postvention
Managing our mental health, substance use, and healthy relationships is always important. Physical isolation due to COVID-19 can make this more difficult. The resources below shine light on the topic of suicide prevention during this crisis.
|
|
|
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty Doreen Marshall, PhD, provides 5 coping strategies for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to bolster mental health during “shelter in place” mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preventing Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Distancing Rob Cramer, PhD, discusses the importance of talking about suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, including crisis call center funding and support, reducing access to lethal means for those in crisis, and financial policymaking in uncertain fiscal times.
COVID-19 Messaging Guidance The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention has created a list of messaging guidance for all stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Alaska Natives and American Indians, veterans, children, older adults, law enforcement, faith-based communities, and more.
|
|
|
Alaska Careline For someone to talk to, call anytime: 1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863 3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
|
|
|
|
|
Justice Involved
We are told to practice physical distancing but how does that work for people living in correctional facilities? What happens when they return to the community? Here are some resources on these topics and more.
|
|
|
Supporting Our Loved Ones Group This Alaska-based group offers resources for justice-involved individuals and family members including COVID-19-related articles, and updates, statewide policies, criminal justice legislation, and interviews with Alaska Department of Corrections representatives.
What is Coronavirus: How Will It Affect People Living In Correctional Facilities? Anne C. Spaulding MD MPH, offers information for inmates and staff about COVID-19, how it’s spread, symptoms, prevention, treatment, and management in correctional facilities.
Criminal Justice System Responses to COVID-19 The National Conference on State Legislatures offers information about efforts with federal, state, and local governments, including resources detailing actions taken by courts, law enforcement, state and local agencies, correctional facilities, juvenile justice, civil and criminal justice stakeholders, and many additional resources.
|
|
|
|
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
The COVID-19 crisis can be especially difficult for people with neurobehavioral disorders. Many individuals with FASD have a high rate of pre-existing health conditions and often rely on the help of others. Below are just a few resources regarding how we can support individuals living with this disability.
|
|
|
COVID-19: Tips for Caregivers of Individuals with FASD The Canada FASD Research Network offers preventative health measures, a guide for explaining COVID-19 to children, setting a daily routine, displaying protection reminders, managing sensitivities, giving direct and positive health instructions, making preventative health fun, practicing calming techniques, and more.
FASD, COVID-19, and Alcohol Awareness Month The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome offers information and resources for pregnant women, recognizing the impacts of FASD and pre-existing health conditions, changes in access to care, and more.
Stay At Home Guide for Kids with FASD The National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK offers a workbook for kids offers hands-on activities that include fun ideas, things to do outside, making a calm space, daily timetable, cut-out activities, and more.
|
|
|
|
Other Resources
This section highlights a few state, tribal and federal resources supporting Alaskans during the COVID-19 crisis. If you discover a great resource send us an email and we'll try our best to include it in a future issue.
|
|
|
Questions? Comments?
Send An Email
Or Call 1-907-465-8920
1-888-464-8920
|
|
|
|
|