“The only thing shameful about mental illness is the stigma attached to it.” Jordan Stephens.

#IAMWHOLE is a nationwide anti-stigma mental health campaign for 13-25 year olds created by YMCA and NHS. Jordan Stephens (from the band, Rizzle Kicks) is the face and voice of this campaign and it is backed by a number of other celebrities including Ed Sheeran, Dermot O’Leary and James Corden.
 
According to YMCA research   more than one in three (38%) young people with mental health difficulties feel the negative impact of stigma and 70% of young people who have suffered stigma because of their mental health difficulties said it made them less likely to talk about their experiences.
 
#IAMWHOLE is launching on 10th October, World Mental Health Day, with the release of a new music video called ‘Whole’ by Jordan and an accompanying campaign video telling young people to:

• Challenge harmful language – so young people can ask for help and advice without fear of negative labels.
• Ask for support – from friends, parents, teachers, youth workers, their GP
• Find and get help* – visit www.findgetgive.com 

 
Watch the campaign video, featuring young people from  YMCA Right Here project, below.
You can get involved and support the campaign by posting #IAMWHOLE  selfie on social media with a black circle on your palm as per the video above.
 
*New FindGetGive website – designed by young people for young people
This website is being redesigned and relaunched for a national audience as part of the #IAMWHOLE campaign by Brighton & Hove’s YMCA Right Here mental health project. The first of its kind, FindGetGive is an online mental health service directory designed by young people for young people in England. It will allow users to find the support they need (helplines, support groups, NHS and YMCA services), get advice from blogs and videos, and give peer-to-peer feedback on their experiences of using services listed on the site.

If you are in need of mental health support stop by the Community Center, we are located at 38 Park Way in Happy Camp. We are open Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-4pm, closed for lunch from 12pm-1pm. The Community Center contracts with Siskiyou County Behavioral Health and we can refer you to their services.

This article was  originally posted on  ​https://www.ymcadlg.org/iamwhole-mental-health-anti-stigma-campaign/

Don't miss the last market of the season! That's right Thursday, July 27th is the last market of the Spring-Summer season, but don't worry we'll be back in September!!! Come to the Gail Zink Park from 5:30 to 7:30pm for French Dip Sandwiches, Potato Salad and Fresh Fruit for $12 per plate. We'll also have our First 5 Play Group (including the water slide!), fresh produce, baked goods, jewelry, crafts and cards and so much more! We hope to see you there!!!

According to an article by Alice G. Walton, parenting often exhausting and depressing for many adults. The following is excerpted from her article in The Atlantic, to view the full article click here. 

Judging from Huggies commercials, Gerber ads, and perhaps a select number of oddly giddy parents on the playground, there's no more blissful experience than becoming a parent. One's days are filled with the laughter of little children; the pride of school recitals; and the rapture of bake sales, soccer game victories, and family vacations.
However, many research studies -- and an awful lot of parents if you ask them to be candid -- paint another picture. While there's certainly a lot of joy involved in parenthood, it is not unusual to also feel overwhelmed with negative feelings: anxiety, confusion, frustration, depression.

PARENTS ARE AT RISK FOR DEPRESSION
Because of all the work and exhaustion that accompany parenthood, it can bring a rise in depression as much as a boost in happiness. A number of studies have found that people are not only less happy after having children, compared to their pre-child levels, they are less happy than their childless counterparts.
Significantly, once kids leave home, things seem to improve. The same study suggested that the happiness level of empty-nesters was comparable to people who never had children. The authors suggest that while kids are still living at home, "the emotional demands of parenthood may simply outweigh the emotional rewards of having children."
While postpartum depression usually dissipates within a few months or a year after the birth of a child, regular old parental blues can wax and wane over the entire period during which your child is living at home. There are additional factors, beyond the fatigue associated with caring for a child, that contribute to it. Luckily, there are ways to combat it.

Remember the Cost, Idealize the Benefit
Having kids generally entails some level of sacrifice, as some parents are eager to remind their kids. "What I did for you!" can be a common refrain in some households, which is probably not the healthiest sentiment to impart on one's children. But reminding yourself of the cost (and the benefits) can actually help your attitude toward parenting. It may sound a little dire, but recalling how much you have sacrificed to have your own kids can actually help you appreciate the endeavor more. Focusing on the positive also minimized the negative.

Take Time to Yourself, and Your Spouse
As most parents will tell you, leisure time -- doing fun activities by yourself or with your spouse -- is a key to parental happiness. In fact, studies have found that after women became mothers, they enjoyed their leisure time more than before (which is not surprising, since there is much less of it after the baby comes along).

Personal time, either by yourself or with your partner, is an important part of maintaining your sense of self -- and your sanity. Pursue a project you want to do; take a walk, visit a museum, listen to a CD you love. (In the same study, women also rated their moods as less negative toward their relatives after the birth of the child, which could suggest that having a baby makes one a little less hard on family members.)

Spending time with your spouse is also an important tool for getting through parenthood. Though couples' alone time drops off sharply after a baby is born, it tends to climb in the months after -- maybe not to pre-baby levels, but still. And the kind of leisure time couples spent before the baby is born has a lot to do with how well the relationship works after the baby is born. For example, women who spend more time enjoying leisure activities with their husbands before having a child are generally happier in the first year of their child's life. For men, the situation is similar: the fewer leisure activities men do by themselves, the less conflict they experience after the baby is born.

Take Yourself (and Your Child) a Little Less Seriously
Parents are a self-conscious, self-serious group these days. The "helicopter" phenomenon -- parents who monitor their kids' every move and pack their kids' schedules full of extracurricular or educational activities -- is becoming more widespread. But as helpful as we try to be, sometimes we do too much. And doing less can also make parenting more pleasurable.

Free play, the kind kids do totally on their own (as opposed to structured or supervised activity) is critically important in how kids develop basic cognitive abilities, like decision-making, problem-solving, and self-control. The trial-and-error nature of unstructured play is an essential practice for the trial-and-error nature of life -- and taking it away from kids can actually be a great disservice to their overall mental well-being.

Our tendency to strive for parental perfection is understandable given the amount of information to which we have access nowadays. But over-parenting can lead to more anxiety than there needs to be. Learning to have fun with your child -- and let him have fun, too -- will not only make the experience more pleasant, it will be a big help to your child's development.
​
For more Help
If you are a parent struggling with depression, please visit the Happy Camp Community Center. We are open Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm; we can refer you to Siskiyou County’s Behavioral Health Services. Alternatively you can contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around suicide.

Know the Risk FactorsRisk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. They can't cause or predict a suicide attempt, but they're important to be aware of.

• Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders
• Alcohol and other substance use disorders
• Hopelessness
• Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
• History of trauma or abuse
• Major physical illnesses
• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• Family history of suicide
• Job or financial loss
  
• Loss of relationship(s)
• Easy access to lethal means
• Local clusters of suicide
• Lack of social support and sense of isolation
• Stigma associated with asking for help
• Lack of healthcare, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment
• Cultural and religious beliefs, such as the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
• Exposure to others who have died by suicide (in real life or via the media and Internet)

Know the Warning SignsSome warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these, seek help by calling the Lifeline.

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
• Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or isolating themselves
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Extreme mood swings

The Happy Camp Community Center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm. We can refer you or a loved one to Siskiyou County Behavioral Health.  Alternatively  you can contact the  Lifeline anytime at  1(800)273-TALK(8255).

We hope to see you at the Happy Camp Farmers Market on Thursday , July 13th from 5:30 to 7:30pm for Indian Tacos, only $8 per plate! Come to the Gail Zink Park  for great food, First 5 Kids Play Group, produce by  Marble Mountain Farm and Old Mill Ranch, Tamales by Jim Maxwell, and more!!! Beer, Wine (if you are 21+) and Lemonade available for purchase, water is always free. We hope to see you there!

Don't miss the Happy Camp Farmers Market on Thursday, July 6th at the Gail Zink River Park from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We're serving New York Steak, made to order with optional sautéed mushrooms, Green Salad, Baked Potato and Garlic Bread and Iced Tea. Price per plate is $15, kids plate only $8. Lemonade, and if 21+ Beer and Wine available for purchase. Water is always FREE!

We're having an Extra Special First 5 Play Group this week. Free Face Painting, Bounce House and Water Slide! in addition to our other Play Group items (slides, tunnels, play tents, teeter totters, craft table and more!) We hope to see you there!