Download October 2022 SAP News Letter
SAP CONNECTION
October 2022
PNSAS
INTERAGENCY UPDATE
2023
PSA Contest for Youth Suicide Prevention
Prevent
Suicide PA is once again hosting the annual PSA contest for high school
students. This is a great opportunity to engage students in a dialogue around
suicide prevention, the importance of positive messaging, and communicating
effectively. Staff who have participated in the past have seen this to teach students on many
levels (academically, socially, and emotionally), and students have been
empowered to use their voice to reach out to their peers.
Each school building or community organization may only
submit one entry per category. We encourage you to consider a local challenge
within your school or community organization to help identify the best
submission per category. The categories include: poster, 60-second video,
30-second video, and either 15- or 30- second audio.This year’s contest submissions are due by Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Contest
rules and submission guidelines will be updated on the current PSA website
soon.
All the winning and honorable mention PSAs from
previous years are available for free public use and can be accessed by
visiting http://psa.preventsuicidepa.org.
These
are great resources to use during Suicide Prevention Month and throughout the
year.
SAP BACK TO BASICS
Wellness
Considerations for SAP Teams
“Teaching is the one
profession that creates all other professions.” – Unknown
If
we really stop to think about it, that statement showcases just how selfless
educators are and how vital the profession is. With that
responsibility comes a heavy burden.
This is particularly true for SAP teams, which regularly work with
high-need students and families in distress or crisis. It can get overwhelming—fast. By recognizing this and taking a few moments
to care for ourselves and each other, we can function more effectively as a
team. So how do we do that?
Take 2 For Yourself
Yes,
you can take 2 minutes in the workday that are just for you. Give yourself permission to step away
(literally or figuratively) and commit to this at least once a day. Take a lap around the hallway, have a
stretch, try the technique in the graphic, or choose one of the quick activities
below:
Notice Your Feet- When you start to feel
overwhelmed/frustrated/distracted bring yourself back to the moment by bringing
your attention to your feet. Notice how it feels to stand on the ground- their
temperature, what parts are pressing into the ground more firmly, any
discomfort. This practice will ground you back in the present moment, a little
reset.
Mini Massage- Keep some lotion in your desk and
periodically give yourself a mini hand massage. You can go about what you are
doing, but with some added awareness and a small act of self-care
Mindful Walking- As you are walking to the
office/bathroom/to fill your water, bring your attention out of your thoughts
and into the physical movement of walking. Notice your feet hitting the floor,
how your weight shifts as you move, how your arms swing, and whatever else
comes into your awareness.
Take 2 For A Friend
People
working in helping professions like to help people! It seems obvious but taking 2 minutes to
thoughtfully pay someone a compliment or perhaps thank them genuinely for their
help brightens both their day and yours.
Take 2 In Your SAP Meeting
Ideally, a SAP
team meeting is structured, solution-focused, and collaborative, so it’s
crucial to make sure that all team members are ready and able to
contribute. It’s difficult to put
aside all of our pressing responsibilities and focus on the tasks required
in a SAP meeting-- and when we do, we’re often faced with the serious and
distressing situations of our students and their families. Take 2 at the beginning and/or end of the
meeting to:
Reset (see
“Notice Your Feet” above, or simply lead the group in taking 4-5 deep
breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth) Highlight positive
progress with a student situation
Recognize the
efforts of team members (communication with a family, speedy and accurate
data collection, thorough resource mapping, etc.)
|
Resources:
Lilla Dale McManis, PhD.
Corrin Rockwell, School Counselor
RESOURCES AND NEWS
Digital Shareables on Child and Adolescent Mental
Health
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Use these resources to raise
awareness about the importance of child and adolescent mental health.
Teen Depression
Being a teenager can be tough,
but it shouldn’t feel hopeless. Check your symptoms and find out what you can
do if you think you might have depression. https://go.usa.gov/xFWnV #shareNIMH
My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?
Do you need help with your mental health? If you don't know
where to start, this infographic may help guide you. https://go.usa.gov/xGfxz #shareNIMH
I’m So Stressed Out!
Life
can be stressful. If you are struggling to cope, or the symptoms of your stress
or anxiety won’t go away, it could affect your health. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xfQKq.
#shareNIMH
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Help
raise awareness about the importance of child and adolescent mental health by
sharing informational materials based on the latest research. Share science.
Share hope. https://go.usa.gov/xvWKK #shareNIMH
Children and Mental Health
If
you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, where do you begin? Start by
talking with your child’s teacher or ask your family health care provider for a
referral to a mental health care provider who focuses on children. Read more
here: https://go.usa.gov/xyxvD #shareNIMH
Mental Health is Important for Children and Adolescents
It can be tough to tell if
troubling behavior in a child or teen is just part of growing up, or a problem
that should be discussed with a health professional. Learn more about warning
signs: https://go.usa.gov/xdQUd #shareNIMH
Get Shareable Resources
PA Parent and Family Alliance
New resource developed by the PA Parent and Family Alliance,
in collaboration with members of our Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention
Grant team. The tip sheet, “How
do I talk to my child about suicide?” is
available in both English and Spanish, and there is also a blog post on the same topic.
Back to School Toolkit
Adolescence is already a confusing time without added concerns
about social media, safety in schools, staying healthy, family financial
security, and loss of loved ones—so we shouldn't be surprised that the rates of
anxiety, depression, suicide, and other mental health conditions are on the
rise.
Mental Health America recognizes that our youth are having
"all the feels" as they enter the new school year. These resources
look at the issues young people face that are having an impact on their mental
health and offer tips on how to deal with these issues and the resulting
emotions. The MHA toolkit can also help parents and school personnel better
understand the issues, such as the effects of social media on youth mental
health and how to be supportive. Click here to
sign up to receive the Toolkit.
WELLNESS CORNER
Mental
health is your health!
Our brain and body are connected, and the wellness of each affects
the other. Physical fitness and mental
fitness together lead to a best-lived life.
Access these short wellness tips every day.
Click here to
access these strategies to help live your life fully.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
SAP
Trainings:
PA Approved SAP Training Providers deliver these trainings and are available
both in person and virtually in certain locations throughout the state. Click hereto access the
training calendar.
PA Parent and Family
AllianceUpcoming and archived webinars, tip sheets and resources are located on their website.
The Pennsylvania Care
Partnership:
offers trainings and webinars throughout the year.
Click here for this year’s
events. The next
virtual training is:
Pandemic Anxiety and
Family Stress
October
20, 2022 from 2:30-4:00
Speakers
Kathleen Kline, MD and Michael T. Flaherty,
Ph.D.
Click here
to register for this webinar.
Center
for Safe Schools:
Stay tuned for The Third Thursday series.
If you missed any of last years’ trainings, they are recorded and available by
clicking here.
Building
Restorative Justice Systems in Schools,
Creating
a Foundation for Teaching and Learning
October
6, 2022, Free webinar
Click
here to register.
Virtual
Suicide Prevention Webinars from Prevent Suicide Pa
Suicide
Risk Assessment for Mental Health Professionals
October 6, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Safety
Planning for Mental Health Professionals
October 13, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Family
Engagement for Mental Health Professionals
October 27, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Postvention
Training for Schools and Community Behavioral Health Partners
November 3, 12:00 - 1:15 PM
Lethal
Means Reduction for Mental Health Professionals
November 10, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Click here for more information and to
register for any of the webinars.
School
Safety Summit
November
1-2, 2022.
To
Register click here.
PaPBS
Implementers Forum
November
30 - December 2, 2022
Hershey,
PA.
Registration
coming soon.
PASAP
Conference: In person at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center
February
26 - 28, 2023
The
Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College, PA.
Registration
coming soon!