Tanya
Respuestas creadas en el foro
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Janine, I love your plan of providing a safe place and open dialogue as means to end stigma. You can try to end stigma with facts and figures but the power of real testimonies is far more effective than any fact you can throw at people. Showing them that mental health effects us all and that there is a safe place for them to seek help, is the best method to break stigma you have available. Providing compassion, grace, and empathy will make individuals more receptive to receiving help, resources, and referrals. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Sally, it is sad how closed off people are when it comes to mental health distress. I love that you have learned how to compassionately share your own story in a safe and healthy manner. That is important not just for others to open up to, but it is also important for you to only share what you feel comfortable sharing as to not be re-traumatized in the future. While sharing our own experiences makes mental health distress more relatable, we have to remember as Mental Health Coaches, that everyone’s mental health journey is unique.
In my time as a Mental Health Coach, I have often shared tools and techniques that have been helpful for others. I encourage those that I work with to apply these techniques as it applies to them. It is ok to tweak a plan or resource as this is not a one size fits all. Being compassionate, caring, and understanding are some of the best ways to break stigma in your community. It is a blessing to have a mental health ministry within your faith community and community programs. I look forward to hearing how your faith community integrates the benefits of this Mental Health Ministry into your organization. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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David, I love your 3 C’s method. I agree that connections or relationships with your community are the absolute foundation of making an impact in the community. Especially in minority communities where trust is necessary in order for the community to be receptive and accept help. Without that, no matter how great of program or referral network you may have, no progress will be made. Content and credibility are great ways to describe the resources you plan to bring to the community. Having a program and a referral network not only that you standby, but that speaks for itself, will be well received. In some of the greatest marketing campaigns that I have seen, very little is actually done to market the product. The very reputation your Mental Health Coach ministry builds over time, will be your greatest channel for marketing. Word of mouth is a powerful tool that many individuals overlook. I look forward to hearing all the wonderful stories you will share in the years to come of how serving as a Mental Health Coach has impacted your community and those it serves. Thank you for taking the step in becoming a Mental Health Coach.
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Ella, there is a long history of myths surrounding mental health. Matthew S. Stanford, PhD., wrote a book called Madness & Grace. It details the history of the faith community and it’s involvement in the mental health community. In there, you can read how the church or religious organizations have bridged the gap and broken some of those long believed myths. Myths which include that mental health distress is a result of sin, being weak in faith, or moral failings. Despite those beliefs, it is amazing how an individual in mental health distress is more likely to seek help from their faith community before seeking medical assistance. Individuals still see their faith community as a place of refuge and help. While there is still more work to be done, it is the very foundation of our Mental Health Coach training course.
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Fiona, the stigma around mental health in minority groups is deeply rooted in a multitude of factors. I agree that “be strong, don’t show weakness, not in public” are common phrases that you will hear when someone begins to share their mental health struggles. The problem with that is, no one is ever there to help the individual deal with or talk through those same struggles in private. It often gets swept under the rug or not talked about again and the mental health distress continues.
I agree that building trust and speaking their language, both literally and culturally, you will make inroads into having the individual be open to receive help or a referral for additional services. Being able to build on that trust and show yourself to be genuine, that individual will be a great referral source for others to come seek help from you as a Mental Health Coach. I look forward to hearing all the great things that your organization will do in bridging the gap in the mental health community and the impact you will have on the community you serve.
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Cecilia, I love your use of music as a de-escalation technique. As a Mental Health Coach, I often play soft Christian music in the background when hosting a group or session. I find that music has a way of calming people or it also has a way of speaking to / connecting with people. Many times I have had a person say, “Wow that music is on point today. It really speaks to what I am going through right now.” The use of aroma therapy is also a great grounding technique. The other grounding techniques mentioned work well. They distract the brain from the emotions at hand and get the individual to refocus on the present moment. I look forward to hearing what other de-escalation techniques you find helpful as a Mental Health Coach.
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Grounding techniques are very important, Taylor. As humans we feel things so intensely sometimes that it disrupts our thinking patterns. Being able to have several tried and true techniques that you are comfortable implementing is important as a Mental Health Coach. It may take more than 1 technique to calm a person down or get them to refocus on the matter at hand. I have also read about another MHCs adding fidget spinner to their toolkit. Having the individual do a task while expressing their emotions can also help ground them and keep the emotions under control. If you try any other techniques, I’d love to hear them.
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Linda, I agree that far too often we reply with, “I’m good, how are you?” instead of sharing how we are actually feeling. In rare instances will you have someone answer honestly. As a Mental Health Coach, I long for a day when we normalize honestly and vulnerability instead of putting on the brave face we are so used to doing. In sharing our struggles, we will often find common ground that leads to empathy and compassion. As a Mental Health Coach, you have the opportunity to allow others the space needed to be open, honest, and find a path to healing. I look forward to hearing how your work as a Mental Health Coach will impact the community in which you serve.
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As a Mental Health Coach, setting clear boundaries for you and the person in mental health distress is crucial. You have to remember that you are there to help those in need, not fix them. I understand this struggle and can relate to how difficult it can be in the beginning in setting those boundaries and keeping them. Maintaining a safe space and going over those boundaries at the start of each session can help in keeping this at the forefront for both you and the individual you are coaching. Thank you for taking the step to become as a Mental Health Coach and the impact you are having in the mental health community.
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Jaime, first of all I would like to applaud you for taking the steps needed to find healing for your own trauma and doing the hard work needed to be the best version of yourself. Using your own story to connect with others is going to be one of the best tools you can have as a Mental Health Coach. While your story may not the be same as some of the refugees you work with, understanding the strength and the courage it takes to seek help, will help those individuals relate to you. As you work to build your referral network, you may want to check out the resources available on the Gateway to Hope University website. You may be able to find resources in your area that will be of benefit to you and those you serve in your community.
https://gatewaytohopeuniversity.org/mischer-behavioral-health/
gatewaytohopeuniversity.org
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Naomi, it is such a blessing to be able to partner with an organization that is already established within the community. Can you share what other mental health resources or practices, the organization has in place and how this training is expected to compliment those practices? As the Community Education Manager, I love to hear how organizations plan to incorporate our training into their organizations.
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Sharon, taking a stand and speaking up against stigma can be very intimidating. I agree that being intentional, leaving judgment out of the conversation, and showing compassion are three important factors in breaking stigma. As you begin to do that in your faith community, you will begin to find more allies than foes. Thank you for fighting against the stigma and silence surrounding mental health. I look forward to reading your success stories as you begin your journey as a Mental Health Coach.
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Veronica, lowering your voice is a powerful de-escalation tool. In my experience, individuals will raise their voice to try to get their point across. So if as a Mental Health Coach you lower your voice and keep your composure, the individual will match your tone. Just because you are using one technique, it does not mean that you cannot use multiple techniques at once. Adding in validation and reaffirmation of their feelings, significant progress can be made in de-escalating the situation. I’d like to hear some of the other de-escalation techniques you have used in the past.
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Nathan, as a Mental Health Coach and someone who has spent several years interacting with individuals, I can tell you that no matter what I had planned for a session, sometimes it pans out and more often then not, I have allowed the individual’s need to lead the session. As a person of faith myself, I have learned that Jesus never pushed faith on anyone. He met individuals where they were and allowed grace and compassion lead them to repentance. I try to model that in my interactions with individuals. Being able to give those you coach the space needed to talk through the tough situation they are facing and giving them access to multiple resources to make the best decision for them, that is your role as a Mental Health Coach. After the session is over, make sure that you have a healthy way to decompress and not carry the burden of someone else’s decision. This is important in avoiding burnout as a Mental Health Coach. Thank you for your work in the mental health community.
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Building connections and inroads within the Hispanic community is desperately needed. Minority communities are vastly affected by mental health distress, lack of resources, and stigma surrounding mental health. Being able to create those connections and build referral networks, would be a great asset as a Mental Health Coach. In such communities, having multiple ways to share that information is also needed. Not everyone is tech savvy, or has the means to access resources digitally. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community. I look forward to hearing all the wonderful stories of the impact, you will have in your community.
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