• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Women's Health Month
• National Foster Care Month
• National Maternal Depression Month

• Monitor each client during in-person visits of 30-45 minutes for a minimum of three visits (for children & adolescents) and six visits (for adults) per month and document any changes in the client's emotional, psychological, or physical health
• Document monthly all client contact, interaction, interventions and goal achievement, including dates, locations, and types of contact 
• Work cooperatively with family and other involved professionals to coordinate services with other agencies and programs in the best interest of the client
• Research and provide the client with community-based resources as needed to meet the client's needs and encourage progress toward personal goals
• Facilitate client participation in weekly EMRC group meetings to encourage peer socialization and development of coping strategies/techniques

• You can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text ‘MHA’ to 741741. You can also visit the following websites for more information: 
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• Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org/get-involved/contact-us
• Suicide Crisis Lines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines
• Suicide Prevention Lines: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/ 

• “Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
• Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.
• Eating disorders.
• Personality disorders.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.”

• Mental health awareness is represented by a green ribbon.

• Life has numerous ups and downs. Some are solvable but others not so much. When your mental health acts up, seek the right treatment and make yourself better because, after all, life has much more to offer than just pain and suffering.

• Check up on your friends and family. Many times, all people need is a shoulder to cry on and/or an ear to listen. Support and encourage them if they are being treated for any mental problems.

• One of the best ways to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month is by talking about it with your peers. The more you talk about it, the more normalized it will become. This is one of the aims of the month as the stigma attached to mental health has led to countless delays in treatment AND research on the matter.

• The only way to enjoy life to the fullest and experience all its wonders is if we take care of ourselves, mentally and physically. Don’t shy away from talking about what’s plaguing you because it might not be your fault, no matter how much society tells you otherwise.

• We have come a long way from the times when mental patients were treated as outcasts, not only by their loved ones but also by medical professionals. Times have started changing and more and more people are changing their outlook on mental illnesses. However, we still have a long way to go.

• We humans are a set of meticulously-put-together details. Our minds (and bodies) work in harmony to bring us amazing feats in technology, science, humanities, literature, etc. Our mental power, therefore, needs to be taken care of for a better tomorrow for the coming generations.

• Talk to your doctor online, by phone, or email.
• Get active.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Prioritize your mental health. Research shows that positive mental health is associated with improved overall health and well-being.
• Practice healthy behaviors. Daily decisions influence your overall health.

• There are over 407,000 children and youth in foster care, and 34 percent were placed with relatives or kin. 

• When children cannot remain safely in their home, placement with relatives and kin - both formally through the child welfare system and informal through family arrangements - can increase stability, reduce trauma, and help children maintain a sense of family, belonging and identity. 

• Investing in culturally appropriate services and supports for relative and kin caregivers may help reinforce a child’s cultural identity and traditions. their parents or primary caregiver.

• Relational permanency is fundamental to the well-being of children and youth. Maintaining relationships with relatives and kin can help provide a sense of belonging for young people in care.

• Feeling overwhelmed-feeling like you will never be able to handle the responsibilities of motherhood and doubting and questioning your decision to become a mother.
• Guilt for believing you should be handling motherhood better, feeling tat your baby deserves better, or may even be better off without you
• Numbness, a feeling of being empty
• Depressed mood or severe mood swings
• Excessive Crying
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
• Inability to Sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much
• Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy
• Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Intense irritability and anger
• Fear that you are not a good mother
• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, and or inadequacy
• Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
• Severe anxiety and panic attacks
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

• Reach out to your mental health specialist. If you do not have one consult with your insurance company to help you locate a provider that takes your insurance in your area.
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
• Seek help from your Obstetrician, Midwife, primary care doctor, or other physician that you feel comfortable with.
• If you are involved in a faith based community, reach out to your minister, priest, or spiritual leader.

• You have bipolar disorder
• You have a history of depression either during pregnancies or when you are not pregnant
• You have experienced PPD after a previous pregnancy
• You have a family history of depression or other mood disorders
• Stressful events during your pregnancy
• Your newborn has or will have health problems, or other special needs
• you are experiencing Difficulty with breast feeding
• You and your spouse/significant other are having relationship issues
• You are having financial problems
• You lack a reliable support system
• Your pregnancy was unplanned or unwanted

• Breastfeeding

• Decreasing relationship stress with your spouse or significant other
• Increasing your intake of B-Complex Vitamins
• Eating a healthy balanced diet
• The research on the relationship between what foods you consume/gut health and the brain are outstanding. The healthier the diet the healthier your brain will be.
• Exercise
• Getting active increases, the feel good neurochemical Serotonin in the blood which results in lowered anxiety and improved mood!
• Getting enough Rest and Sleep
• Yes, we realize this may sound impossible to new mothers but it is very important to your mental health and energy levels.
• Try resting when your baby sleeps, and do not be afraid to ask for help when needed!
• Stay hydrated!
• Drink plenty of water! Dehydration is directly linked to anxiety and lack of energy.
• If you breastfeed, this puts you at higher risk of dehydration, so make sure you drink up and replenish your body!
• Reduce Stress
• Try some stress reducing techniques to easy your mind and relax your nerves.
• Mediation, deep breathing techniques, exposure to nature and sun, yoga, and tea are just a few great stress reduction modalities that you can incorporate into your day.
• Remember ladies, you are not alone, feel free to reach out to our women’s health specialists for questions and concerns about your emotional wellbeing.