Programs

Public Education Initiatives

Empowered Minds

Shockingly, 4/5 of adolescents who need mental health services do not receive them, resulting in poor school performance and significant dropout rates. Thus concurrent high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse occur. According to a 2007 CDC report, a staggering 17% of US high school students seriously considered suicide and 8.4% had attempted suicide at least once during the prior year

Empowered Minds addresses students, faculty and parents to reduce stigma and increase prevention, early identification and intervention essential for students who are unable to reach their academic potential due to a mental health issue.

Positive examples and candid dialogue about dealing with these problems are both rare and essential. The Heard, the principle component of Empowered Minds, provides such examples. Featuring dynamic young people who have dealt with these issues encourages others to recognize and seek help for their emotional difficulties. Serious mental health issues are often mistaken for “typical” adolescent behavior. The most effective and efficient way to prevent escalating problems is to first dispel the myths and stigma surrounding mental health. Second is to foster open dialogue among students, parents and educators before manageable issues spiral out of control.

To this end, Minding Your Mind (MYM) and the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign (NMHAC) have partnered to create Empowered Minds, which is offered free of charge to middle and high schools in the Greater Philadelphia area. A trained speaker from The Heard delivers presentations at schools for students, parents and faculty. MYM staff works with area mental health providers, support and outreach agencies to ensure that the school-based presentations are adequately supported by local mental health professionals from provider agencies such as Northwestern Human Services (NHS).

All attending students, parents and teachers receive specific information on where to seek additional information, resources and referrals, and how to address mental health issues with one another. A menu of additional mental health education programs are also be made available.

Annual Mental Health Forum

Beginning in May 2006, Minding Your Mind (MYM) has sponsored a free forum every May in recognition of Mental Health Month. Over the past three years, MYM’s forum has become the largest publicly attended mental health forum in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Annually, our forums continue to attract close to 1,000 attendees. Increased funding will assist MYM’s efforts to build attendance, particularly among our community’s most vulnerable populations, as well as increase the information and services available throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Our forums help diminish stigma while increasing public awareness of the prevalence and impact of mental health disorders and recovery on individuals, families, and society-at-large.

Forum attendees gain:

the knowledge that mental health disorders are both manageable and treatable;
an understanding of dual diagnosis and the multiple social systems affected by untreated or under-treated mental health issues;
an opportunity to ask questions of speakers during a Q&A period; and
specific information on local mental health resources in order to increase prevention, early identification and help-seeking behavior.

Funding of Research on Early Identification and Prevention

The World Health Organization has reported that 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental health issues. By 2020, major depression will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.

Inhibiting the progression of depression and other chronic mental health disorders is one of the top priorities for Minding Your Mind (MYM). To this end, MYM is currently funding research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Center for Neurobiology and Behavior. The Center has already identified evidence regarding the specific DNA variants that increase the risk of developing Bipolar and other chronic mental health disorders. Additional findings from the research studies will, potentially, enable medical professionals to identify people at risk for developing chronic mental health disorders prior to their exhibiting symptoms.