Are you able to be h.i.m.?

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H.I.M. provide free resources for our network of clients, students and anyone who is looking for help and/or information dealing with mental illness and mental health issues, depression, suicide, substance abuse, eating disorders, Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, National Cancer Institute Smoking Quitline.

Organizations, websites and numbers for anyone seeking help and support group services: 
Mental Health America-www.mentalhealthamerica.net
National Alliance on Mental Illness- www.nami.org
National Institute of Mental Health- www.nimh.nih.gov
​Mental Health America- www.mentalhealthamerica.net
National Institute on Drug Abuse- www.nida.nih.gov 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-www.samhsa.gov
Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous-www.na.org/www.aa.org
www.nycwell.cityofnewyork.us
Contact numbers
Smoking Cessation Centers-1-800-QUIT- NOW
National Cancer Institute Smoking Quitline-1-877-448-7848
America Psychiatric Association Answer Center- 1-888-357-7924
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 1-800-273-8255
NYC WELL-888-NYC-WELL
​Trevor project-866-488-7386

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H.I.M.'s
Mental health 
terms and Definitions 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Serevices Administration, "mental health issues affect all of society in some way, shape or form. It's estimated that about one in five americans will experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year."
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Definition: the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something. 
Most times, abstinence is practiced as a way to refrain from bad habits, behaviors and substances that is detrimental to ones health and well-being, like sex, drugs or alcohol use. Practicing abstinence is a great barometer to see how mental and physically strong you are, as well as releasing those issues that have a holds on you that doesn't serve your best interest. We encourage and support our young people, especially males to look into the practice of abstinence and its benefits. You matter!

Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences.

Education-the process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the abilities of reasoning, logic and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for school, self and life.

 Restore- To bringing back to a former position or condition. 

Rehabilitation is defined as “a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment”. Rehabilitation is care that can help you get back, keep, or improve abilities that you need for daily life. These abilities may be physical, mental, and/or cognitive. 

An intervention is a specific strategy used to meet a specific goal to address a problem or behavior. It is considered an act of taking action about something in order to have an effect on its outcome. An intervention is an act initiated by a professional interventionist in conjunction with a substance user’s family members and loved ones. It aims to educate, create self-awareness, and alter unhealthy behaviors to encourage positive change for all affected.

Prevention-Action taken to decrease the chance of getting a disease or condition.​ Interventions that occur prior to the onset of a disorder that are intended to prevent or reduce risk for the disorder.

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First Aid is the assistance given to someone who is injured or in physical need of treatment from medical professionals to protect life, prevent further harm, promote recovery and provide comfort to the person who is ill, sick or injured.
Mental Health First Aid is the assistance offered to someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis or breakdown.

​Mental health First Aid is a initiative to education the public about mental health awareness.
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​We also have educators/trainers with First Aid/CPR/AED and Mental Health First aid certification on staff. Find out how you can receive medical First aid and/or Mental Health First aid training once you're part of the H.I.M. family.

Unfortunately, still in the year 2024 there still is a stigma associated with having mental health issues and getting help in certain communities in the U.S especially among males. This stigma often leads people to mask or hide their problems which prevents individuals seeking help. There is help and assistance available to those who really need help. It is more common than you think and others are going through issues as well so please do not feel like you're alone or have no way out!

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​Ringing the alarm

The U.S. saw the highest number of gun deaths in 2021+
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What are the alarming facts of suicides by gun deaths according to the CDC and Pew Research.
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   Adults 35-64 accounted for 46% of all suicides in the U.S. and suicides by gun deaths accounted for more than half of U.S. gun deaths in 2021. adults 75 years and older have one of the highest suicides rates and non-hispanic white men have the highest suicide rates compared to other racial men in this age group. the U.S. saw a record number of gun suicides and murders in the same year. gun deaths among children and teens rose 50% from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021. according to Pew research, both the number and rate of children and teens killed by gunfire in 2021 were higher than at any point since at least 1999. Homicide was the largest single category of gun deaths among children and teens since 2021, followed by suicide and accidents. among teens and adults, gun violence is the leading cause of death among non-hispanic black men from 15-34. Conversely, among U.S. adults suicides accounted for a 55% majority of gun deaths in 2021. new data shows African American individuals between 10 & 24 years old saw the largest increase in suicide rate from 2018-2021.
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your mental health is your wealth

Here are some health the stats in communties of color
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AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ARE FACING HARD TRUTHS ABOUT MEN.

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION’S MENTAL HEALTH FACTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS GUIDE:

*trauma is the #1 risk factor to all mental health issues.

*Africans Americans are twice as likely to be dianosed with Diabetes than any other ethnic groups.
 
* Males complete suicide at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 77% of all suicides.

* ONLY 1 IN 3 BLACK ADULTS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH CARE RECEIVE IT and are LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE GUIDELINE-CONSISTENT CARE.

*Strokes impacts African Americans more than any other racial or ethnic groups.
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*homicide is the leading cause of death in black males from ages from 1 to 44.

*African Americans aged 18 to 49 are two more likely to die of hear disease than any other Americans.

*African Americans men are 50% more likely to get lung cancer and die from it than any other ethnic group.

*Suicide is ranked as the third leading cause of death in black men from ages 15-34.

*The leading cause of death among black men in the United States is heart disease.

*MORE LIKELY TO USE EMERGENCY ROOMS OR PRIMARY CARE (RATHER THAN MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS).

*1/2 of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by adolescense usually by age 14.

*African American men are 50 percent more likely than white men to get lung cancer.

BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE
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SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES

SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS CAN MAKE TREATMENT OPTIONS LESS AVAILABLE. IN 2018, 11.5% OF BLACK ADULTS IN THE U.S. HAD NO FORM OF HEALTH INSURANCE. THE BLACK COMMUNITY, LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES SUCH AS EXCLUSION FROM HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES. THESE DISPARITIES MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WORSE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

STIGMAs

NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IS PERVASIVE WITHIN THE U.S. AND CAN BE PARTICULARLY STRONG WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. ONE STUDY SHOWED THAT 63% OF BLACK PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IS A SIGN OF PERSONAL WEAKNESS. AS A RESULT, PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE SHAME ABOUT HAVING A MENTAL ILLNESS AND WORRY THAT THEY MAY BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DUE TO THEIR CONDITION. FOR MANY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TO DISCUSS THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH DUE TO THIS CONCERN ABOUT HOW THEY MAY BE PERCEIVED BY OTHERS. THIS FEAR COULD PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY REALLY NEED IT. ADDITIONALLY, MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAITH COMMUNITY RATHER THAN SEEKING A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS.
IN MANY BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S., THE CHURCH, MOSQUE OR OTHER FAITH INSTITUTION CAN PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE AS A MEETING PLACE AND SOURCE OF STRENGTH. FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CAN HELP IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS AND BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A TREATMENT PLAN. FOR EXAMPLE, SPIRITUAL LEADERS AND FAITH COMMUNITIES CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND REDUCE ISOLATION. HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHOSE DAILY FUNCTIONING IS IMPAIRED BY MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS.

PROVIDER BIAS AND INEQUALITY OF CARE

BLACK PEOPLE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE US. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY BLACK PEOPLE STILL HAVE THESE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO SEEK TREATMENT. PROVIDER BIAS, BOTH CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS, AND A LACK OF CULTURAL COMPETENCY CAN RESULT IN MISDIAGNOSIS AND INADEQUATE TREATMENT. THIS ULTIMATELY CAN LEAD TO MISTRUST OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND CREATE A BARRIER FOR MANY TO ENGAGE IN TREATMENT. BLACK PEOPLE MAY ALSO BE MORE LIKELY TO IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, some people have DESCRIBEd feeling BODILY ACHES, PAINS and other symptoms WHEN TALKING ABOUT DEPRESSION or anxiety issues. A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO IS NOT CULTURALLY COMPETENT MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE THESE AS SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY, BLACK MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A MISDIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA WHEN EXPRESSING SYMPTOMS RELATED TO MOOD DISORDERS OR PTSD."

HOW TO SEEK CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE

​ WHEN A PERSON IS EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THEM TO RECEIVE QUALITY CARE AS SOON AS THE SYMPTOMS ARE RECOGNIZED. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CARE THEY RECEIVE IS PROVIDED BY CULTURALLY COMPETENT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. WHILE WE RECOMMEND SEEKING HELP FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, A PRIMARY CARE PROFESSIONAL IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO START. A PRIMARY CARE PROFESSIONAL MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN INITIAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IF NEEDED. COMMUNITY AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS MAY ALSO HAVE A LIST OF AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN YOUR AREA. WHEN MEETING WITH A PROVIDER, IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO ASK QUESTIONS TO GET A SENSE OF THEIR LEVEL OF CULTURAL AWARENESS. PROVIDERS EXPECT AND WELCOME QUESTIONS FROM THEIR PATIENTS OR CLIENTS, SINCE THIS HELPS THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THEIR TREATMENT. HERE ARE SOME SAMPLE QUESTIONS: HAVE YOU TREATED OTHER BLACK PEOPLE OR RECEIVED TRAINING IN CULTURAL COMPETENCE FOR BLACK MENTAL HEALTH? IF NOT, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PROVIDE ME WITH CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, PATIENT-CENTERED CARE? HOW DO YOU SEE OUR CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS INFLUENCING OUR COMMUNICATION AND MY TREATMENT? DO YOU USE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN YOUR TREATMENT WHEN WORKING WITH PATIENTS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS? WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR BLACK PATIENTS? WHETHER YOU SEEK HELP FROM A PRIMARY CARE PROFESSIONAL OR A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, YOU SHOULD FINISH YOUR SESSIONS WITH THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL FEELING HEARD AND RESPECTED. YOU MAY WANT TO ASK YOURSELF: DID MY PROVIDER COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH ME? IS MY PROVIDER WILLING TO INTEGRATE MY BELIEFS, PRACTICES, IDENTITY AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND INTO MY TREATMENT PLAN? DID I FEEL LIKE I WAS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY? DO I FEEL LIKE MY PROVIDER UNDERSTANDS AND RELATES WELL WITH ME? THE RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PERSON AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER IS A KEY ASPECT OF TREATMENT. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR A PERSON TO FEEL THAT THEIR IDENTITY IS UNDERSTOOD BY THEIR PROVIDER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT AND CARE".