{"id":2321,"date":"2021-05-04T00:04:50","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T00:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/?p=2321"},"modified":"2022-09-27T14:43:23","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T14:43:23","slug":"bringing-mental-health-into-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/bringing-mental-health-into-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Mental Health into the Light"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  inner-heading-area  container_wrap fullsize' style='background-color: #222222;background-image: linear-gradient(to right,#222222,#00aeef); '  ><div class='container' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2321'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock inner-landing-text av_inherit_color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1>Bringing Mental Health into the Light<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2321'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ago5dd-38f5408b64cfffee853109d0c8c25f22\">\n.flex_column.av-ago5dd-38f5408b64cfffee853109d0c8c25f22{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-ago5dd-38f5408b64cfffee853109d0c8c25f22 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p><section  class='av_textblock_section av-ko98m4si-f0519291debab06ae781e814b05a554f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>Written by Guest Blogger Cindy Simpson<br \/>\n<b>Deputy Director\u00a0<span title=\"\">of <\/span><span title=\"\">Children <\/span><span title=\"\">and <\/span><span title=\"\">Family <\/span><span title=\"\">Services <\/span><span title=\"\">for <\/span><span title=\"\">Lutheran <\/span><span title=\"\">Immigration <\/span><span title=\"\">and <\/span><span title=\"\">Refugee <\/span><span title=\"\">Service; Consultant<\/span><\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ko98nfua-f79ddb403356bad424a0cd1f9027785e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>2020 was a difficult year to say the least with the pandemic, racial injustice, the increase of violence and many of our children not being able to attend school in person. Though our children and youth have been able to spend more time with their parents or primary caregivers, many are grieving the loss of peer interaction, social connection, and time spent in person with other vital, caring adults in their lives, such as extended family, educators, therapists, neighbors, and other community members.\u00a0It was a year of grief and loss of family members as well as a life-style change, being with friends, being on the playground, dating, prom, and graduation. A year of trauma.<\/p>\n<p>So, given all we experienced in 2020, what should be the priorities to address in 2021? Besides COVID-19 vaccinations, immediate needs in racial inequities, housing stability, education, supporting the children at our borders, and the accompanying trauma and mental health impacts on our children and youth should be first on the list. Though many of the issues are sadly not new, more is being learned daily about the toll of the pandemic and racial injustice events on the mental health of everyone; we must ensure children, youth, and young adults are a priority for supports. Depression, anxiety, and suicide among these ages groups has increased over 25% in the past year, while domestic violence and gun violence has increased 31% in the past year. And it stands to reason that both gun violence and domestic violence has a traumatic impact on those who witness, live with, or have been victimized by either.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9btdu9-b5cd9158a64a2e0d82e1452bd327bcaf\">\n.flex_column.av-9btdu9-b5cd9158a64a2e0d82e1452bd327bcaf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-9btdu9-b5cd9158a64a2e0d82e1452bd327bcaf av_one_third  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ko98qmow-3d97c34c048bfba2a2189eedb72625eb\">\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-3d97c34c048bfba2a2189eedb72625eb img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-3d97c34c048bfba2a2189eedb72625eb 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container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2321'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7xxh29-28b9d960b42472600cf6f83679ef40db\">\n.flex_column.av-7xxh29-28b9d960b42472600cf6f83679ef40db{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-7xxh29-28b9d960b42472600cf6f83679ef40db av_one_third  avia-builder-el-10  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ko98qmow-29c34200cd01d7aec4f826534f6affbb\">\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-29c34200cd01d7aec4f826534f6affbb img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-29c34200cd01d7aec4f826534f6affbb 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type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ko98qmow-a1ce65698e04bc79c9268137cf70b59c\">\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-a1ce65698e04bc79c9268137cf70b59c img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-ko98qmow-a1ce65698e04bc79c9268137cf70b59c .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-ko98qmow-a1ce65698e04bc79c9268137cf70b59c av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2327 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2327 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-1030x687.jpg\" alt='' title='Video 3'  height=\"687\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-1030x687.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Video-3-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5b3rjl-e3a57daf74e20146a4d4c0e7dfbd4a85\">\n.flex_column.av-5b3rjl-e3a57daf74e20146a4d4c0e7dfbd4a85{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5b3rjl-e3a57daf74e20146a4d4c0e7dfbd4a85 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-ko98nfua-f79ddb403356bad424a0cd1f9027785e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Although my own organization will focus on the mental health needs of children, youth, young adults, and families in 2021, we know we must broaden our reach. We are doing so by continuing our work with <a href=\"https:\/\/cvg.org\/\">Cure Violence<\/a>, which addresses community violence and through serving as the child welfare expert at our southern borders for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acf.hhs.gov\/orr\">The Office of Refugee Resettlement<\/a>. I recently wrapped up a four-day visit at the Texas border, advising on best practices in supports of unaccompanied children and youth. More work is needed, and we are committed to offering this support.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, mental health providers cannot do this work alone. Addressing the mental health needs of our children is the responsibility of all community members. Children and youth learn from their parents, caregivers, family members, educators, coaches, doctors, and more \u2013 the adults they are taught to respect and rely on. In these roles, we all impact how children and youth think about and care for their own mental health and how they treat others who have mental health challenges. It takes all of us and together, we can fully bring the conversation into the light.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_4'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2321'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-3i60ld-8ee9f9d2d261869c79ee1d320423f3fd\">\n.flex_column.av-3i60ld-8ee9f9d2d261869c79ee1d320423f3fd{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-3i60ld-8ee9f9d2d261869c79ee1d320423f3fd av_two_third  avia-builder-el-16  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-ko98nfua-f79ddb403356bad424a0cd1f9027785e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>When you ask what comes to mind for physical health, people often answer, \u201cExercise, good nutrition, having a primary care physician and getting plenty of rest.\u201d But what we fail to mention is the impact mental health has on our overall well-being and the toll it can take on our physical health when we are struggling. If we really want to change the outcomes for children as they grow into adulthood, our perception of mental health and openly caring for it \u2013like we do our physical health \u2013 must begin in childhood. It\u2019s time for the stigma to fall away.<\/p>\n<p>As we recognize <a href=\"https:\/\/nami.org\/Get-Involved\/Awareness-Events\/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month\">Mental Health Awareness Month<\/a> in May, my hope is that we keep in mind the many challenges we now face as we see our way to a post-COVID reality. And that mental health discussions are something we should not shy away from but embrace and support with resources and openness to keeping the conversation going. And what can we each personally do? Three things to recognize and champion:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Caring for our mental health is a vital part of living a healthy, fulfilling life.<\/li>\n<li>It is not just ok, but it is important, to ask for help.<\/li>\n<li>Acceptance, support, and respect for others who have mental health challenges in their lives and communities is not only a good thing to model for our children, but vital to those in need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-35fze9-bac6076456da2784105c97206410331d\">\n.flex_column.av-35fze9-bac6076456da2784105c97206410331d{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-35fze9-bac6076456da2784105c97206410331d av_one_third  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" 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