Weekly Wrap-Up
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Announcements
Greetings,
 
Mental Health America of California, in accordance with Sacramen to County orders, continues to shelter in place . Please know  we continue to work full days with the continued passion of achieving our mission and values.  Our mission to ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender and ethnicity receive the mental health services and supports they need is even greater today as we all face the current challenges of COVID19 and sheltering in place. In response to these challenges,  we have been working on a variety of projects, public policies and emergency orders to help increase access, supports and services for all our communities. Our hearts are with all you as we move into the next few weeks of sheltering in place. We are in this together. Please remember to reach out to one another, be kind to each other and be kind to ourselves.  #youarenotalone
 
In community,
 
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO
Mental Health America of California


California Surgeon General: Keep Your Stress in Check During COVID-19 Crisis
 
On April 7, World Health Day, California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris announced the release of the California Surgeon General's Playbook on Stress Relief During COVID-19. The playbook includes evidence-based guidelines on how to alleviate stress during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
 



Psychiatrists Lean Hard On Teletherapy To Reach Isolated Patients In Emotional Pain
 
Locked away from families, hospitalized patients these days feel particularly isolated emotionally as well as physically, psychiatrists say. Teletherapy can help bridge the gap and ease that pain.
 



How to Manage Panic Attacks

The sudden, short-lived feeling of anxiety, shortness of breath and disabling fear can be confused with symptoms of coronavirus




 
What Are Clinical Considerations for Giving LAIs During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency?
 
Since LAI antipsychotics need to be administered in person, some planning can help assure continuity of treatment with LAIs even in situations where a person is unable or uncomfortable coming to clinic for their injection. In addition, patients who are older or who have pre-existing conditions should minimize their exposure to the community, including coming to a clinic. A particular area of concern are people in self-quarantine or isolation at their home, group home, or facility in which they live due to COVID-19.
 
Ideally, patients should be seen as infrequently as medically prudent during this public health emergency, to limit the possibility of exposure (both patients and healthcare staff). LAIs have pharmacokinetics that can be used to achieve this goal. Creative solutions may be needed to actually give the injection. All solutions are going to be local.
 



California Surgeon General's Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19
Importance of Stress Management During This Time
 
The health and safety of our nearly 40 million Californians is the number-one priority for our state. This includes the physical and psychological well-being of all individuals. We are mindful that the public health policies and interventions necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 are affecting all facets of society and our daily lives. These daily disruptions, coupled with the fear of not knowing what may come, are resulting in increased stress and anxiety for many.
 

Support for MHAC


 
 
Do You Shop on Amazon? 
Your Purchases Can Generate a Donation to MHAC  at No Extra Cost to You

It's very easy to setup, click below, you will be prompted to login if you aren't already. Make sure to bookmark SMILE.amazon.com and that the top of the page says 'Supporting: Mental Health America of California'. Every time you shop, a portion of all eligible purchases generates a donation to MHAC.


Events


Thursday, April 23, 2020
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Virtual National Assembly: Youth Organizers Responding to Coronavirus- Final Session
 
This is the final installment of a three part series that brings together youth organizers in response to the COVID-19 crisis. During this assembly groups will have the opportunity to report back from discussions they had with their base following Part 2. We will also discuss ideas for shared action.
 
Recording from Part 2/previous assembly can be found here. All the support materials for this workshop can also be found in this GOOGLE FOLDER.
 
We had some great conversations about how this current crisis calls on us to think with our most visionary and radical selves. Many of you expressed interest in having a similar conversation with young people in your organization. To support that intention, we have developed a virtual workshop guide called "FROM CRISIS TO LIBERATION" Included in the guide are some tips for using Zoom, supporting materials (including the slides that were used in last Thursday's assembly), and a sample agenda. Also, we highly recommend this article recently posted on Organizing Upgrade about how to seize the opportunities created by the Coronavirus Crisis.
 


Mental Health Matters Day Postponed

Mental Health Matters Day must be suspended. Once we have clear guidance on when public events/gatherings can resume, we will move forward with determining another date. Thank you for your continued support.

 

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