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May 1st, 2020 Resource Bulletin |
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Miss our last email? You can find links to past e-bulletins in the left column on both the ABADA and AMHB websites.
Click here if you missed our April 17, 2020 issue.
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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.
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May is National Mental Health Month
The National Institute of Mental Health and Mental Health America provide general as well as COVID-19 resources and sharable media. In addition, Mental Health America has created a downloadable Tools 2 Thrive Outreach ToolKit which can be adapted and useful for supporting individuals through the pandemic.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Physical Health of Alaska Families Survey
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is conducting a series of surveys related to the mental, physical and educational impacts of COVID-19. The results of the initial survey are located here. In this recent press release, DHSS asks families to complete a second survey on impacts specific to physical health.
Tele-Therapy, 24-Hour Crisis Line & Virtual Training Seminars for Parents & Caregivers
Anchorage Community Mental Health Services/Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services are offering many services remotely and have a 24 hour Crisis Line (907) 563-3200. In addition, upcoming free trainings include "Coping Skills for Young Children" on May 7th and on May 14th, "I've Got 99 Problems and Adverse Childhood Experience are Most of Them".
COVID Coach App
The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) within the Department of Veterans Affairs created this app for everyone, including Veterans and Service members, to support self-care and overall mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features include education on coping, tools for self-care, trackers to check your mood and measure growth, and more.
Story Works Alaska's Educator Story Circle Training
Alaskan educators interested in helping students connect through storytelling are invited to join this free youth-led training which provides information, toolkits and other resources. Registration is required and space is limited. For more information contact Story Works by email.
Thursday Facebook Live Townhalls
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Alaska is hosting weekly meetings to share resources for health and monetary support, including telehealth, unemployment benefits and stimulus payments. Recordings of previous townhalls can be accessed here.
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska
This organization continues to update stay-home activities for those looking for mental and physical stimulation while hunkering down. Check out the Quarterly Calendar for upcoming Zoom classes, including Savvy Caregivers (5/5/20-6/9/20). Register by emailing Gay Wellman or call 822-5620.
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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
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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.
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Virtual Recovery Supports for Substance Use and Mental Illness
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers resources that can be used to virtually support recovery for mental health and substance use disorders. It also provides resources to help local recovery programs create virtual meetings.
United States Coast Guard Substance Use Prevention Program
This program is available to active duty Coast Guard and Coast Guard Selected Reserves. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for District 17 (including Alaska) is HS1 Kimberly Burrows. For more information, contact the duty line at 757-628-4329.
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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. This section addresses suicide prevention during this crisis.
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Telehealth and Suicide Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Zero Suicide Institute guides organizations through system-wide transformational change toward safer suicide care by providing a range of consultation and training. This resource provides basic information on adapting to telehealth, as well as how to provide effective and safe suicide care via virtual platforms.
Lethal Means & Suicide Prevention: A Guide for Community & Industry Leaders
The National Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently released this guide which supports the national strategy of promoting efforts to reduce access to lethal means of suicide among individuals with identified suicide risk. |
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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
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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.
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Mat-Su Reentry Coalition Community Wide Zoom Meeting, May 6th 8:30-10:30AM
Presentations on the intersect of mental health and the criminal justice system. Specific topics include:
*How Mental Health Services Are Functioning in the COVID-19 Environment
*How Law Enforcement Implements Crisis Intervention Teams
*Crisis Now Model
*Crisis Stabilization
*Early Intervention for Young Adults First Experiencing Psychosis
*Mental Health and Department of Corrections
Registration is required. Click the link above, email Barbara Mongar, or call 907-414-4077.
COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project
The University of California Los Angeles Prison Law and Policy Program offers an extensive list of data and actions taking place across the country regarding correctional institutions, COVID-19, and community actions addressing the pandemic at the local level.
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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.
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Thursday Check-ins for Alaska Families (8:30-9:30am) Zoom or Call-In
The Alaska Center for Children and Adults Fetal Alcohol Community Evaluation & Services (FACES) group hosts a weekly private meeting for families and caregivers of children and youth who experience an FASD. To receive the Zoom link or call in information, email Jenn Wagaman or call 907-371-8247.
COVID-19 Self Help Booklet Series
The University of Glasgow, with assistance from colleagues at Lancaster University, the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick, published a series of guided self-help booklets developed to support people with mild to moderate learning/intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Children in an Anxious World"
This 46-minute webinar presented by Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, examines anxiety in children and teens in these unprecedented times, with a focus on the neurobiology of anxiety, sources of anxiety, and how anxiety is expressed at different points in development, behavior management strategies, family-based interventions, teen anxiety-driven behavior and restoring constancy to family life. Please note there is a $19.99 licensing cost to download.
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Other Resources
If you discover a great resource send us an email and we'll try our best to include it in a future issue.
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 Questions? Comments?
Send An Email
Or Call 1-907-465-8920
1-888-464-8920
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