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Ending Stigma on Mental Health Amid Growing Suicide Rate in Teens

4/27/2020

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It's also the second leading cause of death in the world among people ages 15 to 24. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are common, and so is suicide.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), suicide rates increased by 50% among girls and women between 2000 and 2016 and 21% among boys and men.

A recent article from Time Magazine points out, 'depression among teens in the U.S., particularly with girls has jumped 37% in the last decade'. In the article, mental health professionals mention the overuse of technology and social media as a possible culprit.

Knowing this, where do we go from there?

The stigma around mental health has been shifting. Stars like Glen Close with BC2M (Bring Change to Mind) and Jameela Jamil with I Weigh are among those shining light on the issue. While there is still work to be done, more people are joining the conversation.

Mary Albertoli, a clinical social worker who has worked with children and adolescents for 11 years, in both individual and group settings with depression, PTSD, and suicidal and homicidal ideation is working against the stigma by facilitating the conversations we need to have in an open platform. Albertoli, who has a Master's degree in social work from Columbia University, understands that it "is only through effective conversations about ourselves and with each other that real growth and change takes place."

"There's so much stigma around mental health, but the truth is not one of us is alone in struggling with something"

Enough
is Enough

After being deeply affected by a headline about a 9-year-old girl's suicide, she thought "enough is enough. When did suicide become an option for young people?" That's when Albertoli started developing the idea for a docu-series called The Shift. She knew this was primarily due to a lack of dialogue about mental health. Young people were failing to bring language to their emotions and traumatic experiences and were often left to deal with haunting mental health issues alone.

Albertoli has partnered with Co-Creators and Producers, Nadia Sarmova and Maureen Isern.

"Our goal is to provide a relatable and even fun format for young people to engage in discussions they might otherwise avoid, often because of not knowing how to begin," says Isern. Maureen Isern is a social impact strategist, brand manager, and seasoned digital content producer with a 20-year track record working across new categories and start-up environments.

She started MOPED Productions in 2007 to leverage online storytelling that drove action for leading digital platforms, foundations, institutions, and brands.

As Co-Creator of The Shift, Mo is committed to authenticity and making a difference through story-rich experiences that delight, inform, and move people. Mo has helped clients earn People's #TellyAward, Emmy, Webby, and past White House recognition, nominations, and awards. She's currently developing content around anxiety, childhood trauma, and end-of-life care to create conversations that empower others in their healing journey.

Maureen Isern

Nadia Sarmova has worked in the entertainment industry for over thirteen years. She has worked on various productions as a Writer and Assistant Director. Nadia is best known as a filmmaker with heart, highlighting controversial stories and marginalized people who are often forgotten.

Nadia's past feature film credits include Foreign Letters, The Investigator, 23 Blast, Russian American, and Netflix's Like Father, just to name a few. Nadia is the Founder & Chief Impact Producer at Beam-In Studios with an upcoming scripted mini-series inspired by the grimy sewers and glittering palaces of international human trafficking.

Nadia Sarmova

The first to join the creators of The Shift was the USC Media Institute for Social Change at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. USCMISC will produce facets of the pilot episode, which will provide insight into recent student experiences with anxiety and depression, the first of many subjects to be addressed by the docu-series.

Social workers are advocates, community developers, and human rights activists. Albertoli is one of them. Her 'mission is not to diagnose, but to open the door to candid conversations'. What many social workers do is fight for oppressed communities and marginalized individuals, often forgotten about by society.

We hope The Shift does exactly that, create conversations and make it easier for adolescents, young adults, and adults over 30 to fully articulate their emotions and ask for help. But let's ask her some questions and get her perspective on the topic.

Q & A with Mary Albertoli

IC: Have you had your own experiences with Mental Health?
MA: Yes, of course, I believe we all do. As a teen and young adult, I suffered from severe anxiety and depression and I was attempting to self-medicate my suffering with alcohol. Of course, my methods were ineffective, so I sought out other treatments from talk therapy to hypnosis.

IC: Working as a social worker for 11 years, how has that influenced you and affected you personally?
MA. The biggest gift that my 12 years as a clinical social worker gave to me was the ability to be in pursuit of my own mental alignment. Whether it was talk therapy, group therapy, AA, hypnosis, chakra healing, personal development programs. I have been on a life-long pursuit to see what would help me be with and better understand the emotional pain I sometimes experience.

IC: What are some practices you've adopted that have helped you and/or others work through mental health experiences/issues?
MA: The creation of a safe space where stigma and judgment are not present has often led to open and authentic dialogue. Once the dialogue begins, I am sure many others can identify with some aspect of what is being shared which causes others not to feel so alone.

Let's talk about your project, The Shift.

IC: What was your inspiration behind this idea? What are you hoping to achieve with this docu-series?
MA: I remember reading the headline that a 9-year-old had hung herself in her bedroom with a rope because she had endured years of horrific racial bullying. I felt physically ill. Through research, I discovered that many very young kids were losing their lives to suicide. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages 15-24. I believe that something needs to be done on a large scale to help these young people.

What I observed in my practice was that being able to talk about what was going on emotionally without fear of being judged or shamed was critical to beginning the journey to better emotional health. My vision for The Shift was to create a platform where effective peer to peer conversations about mental health struggles can take place. Participants in these conversations will learn they’re not alone and that there’s nothing shameful about emotional and mental health struggles.

I believe everyone working on The Shift is hoping to achieve a combination of things and the main one would be to impart this message-Everything starts in conversation-You are not alone and you are not broken!

IC: You’ve partnered up with Nadia Sarmova and Maureen Isern. How did that collaboration begin?
MA: I have been so blessed to have both Maureen and Nadia as Co-Creator and Producers on The Shift. Their commitment has been unwavering. I presented the idea of the show to Maureen first who saw the need and potential to reach and help this struggling population. Shortly after, Nadia joined the team and quickly saw the vision of The Shift. It's been an honor to work with them for the last two years.

IC: In addition to social workers, will other mental health experts like psychologists, psychiatrists, CBT practitioners be involved? If so, how?
MA: Our goal is to have experts on the show to guide and support the conversations on the show. However, we do not want to provide answers. We want to stop the stigma and start the difficult conversations that this population has been struggling with on a daily basis.

IC: Will you talk about or discuss brain scans?
MA: No, our topics will primarily focus on specific mental health issues that this population has faced from depression and anxiety to school shootings, peer bullying, social media, cutting, coronavirus. Different methodologies for diagnosing and treating will be discussed and possibly explored as well, but our focus is on how conversations can make a difference and lead to getting the help most needed.

IC: Understanding that a lot of homeless are struggling with their mental health because of their situation and trauma, and many are also homeless as the result of mental health issues, will topics about this matter also be addressed?
MA: Certainly, homelessness can be the direct result of a mental health issue. It may be one topic that we address on the show.

IC: When will The Shift go into production?
MA: We’re going through some shifts for sure in our own production plan. We’re exploring the best new ways to develop content differently - including some video calls and online events which we’ll be announcing as they get solidified -- And we aim to be going into on-the-ground production this Fall.

IC: Any other details you can give us about the docu-series?
MA: We will be launching our updated website, www.shifttheshow.com on May 1st, 2020. And you can follow us on Instagram @shifttheshowofficial and on Facebook at @theShiftshowofficial.

IC: When talking about mental health in videos and content creation, do you think there's a "right way" in using the form of self-expression through art?
MA: I believe the best way to express yourself is authentically.

IC: The stigma is real and there are still adults over 30 who don’t work through their trauma and mental health disorders. Will there be content specific to older generations?
MA: Our hope and goal is to reach the parents and other members of the community through the conversations that take place on the show.

IC: Is there a difference in helping or facilitating the conversation for an adult over 30 vs a teenager?
MA: From my experience, facilitating a conversation comes from creating a safe space where others can show up any way they truly are and without the fear of judgment or shame. I believe this works for anyone at any age.

IC: As listeners and witnesses of mental health, how can we help?
MA: Becoming more aware of your own stigmas regarding mental health and exploring them to see what's in the way of letting them go. We can also let others know that they are not alone in what they are dealing with and by acknowledging their bravery for opening up.

IC: Any thoughts about our current situation, COVID-19 and how we can cope and work together during this time?
MA: We can be generous to ourselves and each other by providing a space and time to share what we are experiencing. If you’re feeling down, reach out to friends or family members or support groups. We also encourage the use of the Crisis Text Line, text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.

IC: What are some ways parents can facilitate the conversation with their children about mental health? Is there a right question?
MA: There are no right questions. However, having mental wellness checks, where a parent can simply have their children share what’s there for them emotionally would be great.

Final Question...

IC: What are you grateful for today?
MA: I am grateful for the amazing people in my life that I can authentically communicate with, my health and, the amazing team on The Shift.

If you are in emotional distress or experiencing thoughts of harm to yourself or others, help is available 24/7.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) Spanish & English; Deaf & Hard of Hearing TTY 800-799-4889
Text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Text Line counselor
If you need mental health treatment but cannot afford it, contact Rise Above The Disorder, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to making mental health care accessible to everyone: YouAreRAD.org

by Jessica G Ferrer
connect on social media: @jessicagferrer

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9 Effective Ways to Stay Mentally Healthy

4/23/2020

3 Comments

Life isn’t always easy. While there are times when it feels like we’re on top of the world, at others, it can feel as if we're at the bottom of a ditch. And the thing about these low moments is that they can come from nowhere; even if everything seems to be well in our lives, it’s not always possible to be in a cheery mood. The first thing is to recognize that it’s normal to feel this way, and that there are many other people in the same position. The one upside of the prevalence of mental health conditions is that researchers have learned a lot about the things we can do to get ourselves in a mentally healthy state of mind.

We take a look at a few of these solutions below.

Listen To Yourself
It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of daily life. However, it’s important to avoid getting too swept up in all that life throws at us. From time to time, we need to listen to ourselves and take stock of what we need. For example, by doing this, you might learn that you’re beginning to feel a little overwhelmed. At which point, you’ll know that you need to slow down and look after yourself a little. In your quest for positive mental health, simply listening to yourself can be your first line of defense.

Run It Out
We can sometimes find ourselves in negative circles that we have to escape from. If we’re in a negative state of mind, then sitting in a room, while just fine if we’re doing so with intention, may end up doing more harm than good. One of the quickest and most effective ways to nudge your mental health in the right direction is to put on some running shoes and go for a long jog. This will help to get you out of your head a little, and, more importantly, it’ll release feel-good chemicals called endorphins into your mind. These are what cause the “runner’s high” after you’ve finished.

Eating Well
Ever heard of the saying, you are what you eat? While it’s fine to indulge in some “not good for you” foods from time to time, as a general rule, you’ll want to ensure that you’re eating healthy. In order to maintain positive mental health, it’s important that your body is getting all of the minerals and nutrients it needs to be at its best. Many people have some misconceptions about eating well, the chief one being that it takes a lot of time. This is not the case! Indeed, there are extremely healthy meals that you can make in around twenty minutes or less. Also, the ingredients don’t have to be expensive; in many cases, they’re cheaper than unhealthy options.

Limit the Vices
While things like alcohol are presented as socially acceptable, it is worth thinking about your own alcohol intake, and deciding for yourself if it’s a good thing for you or not.

Alcohol is depressive, and while you won’t feel it just by having one glass of wine, if you’re drinking slightly more than you should on a regular basis, then you might find that you lose a little bit of your zest for life. You don’t have to commit to never having another drink again; instead, take a look at simply giving it up for a few weeks or so. You might be surprised at just how good you feel after a couple of weeks.

Cut Out Toxic People
It’s bad enough when we’re our own worst enemy, but it’s even worse when we have an enemy who presents themselves as a friend. If you have someone in your life who you think probably isn’t as good for you as you previously thought, then look at cutting them out of your life. The people we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our state of mind. If someone is belittling you or making you feel bad about yourself, it’s time to move on.

Remember You Have Options
Sometimes, it’s our circumstances that contribute to poor mental health. If we feel like we’re trapped in a situation that we can’t get out of, then it won’t be long before your state of mind begins to dip into negative territory. It’s really important to remember that, whatever you’re going through, there will be options that will help you overcome the issue at hand. For example, there are organizations that can help get you get out of debt. You can even find at home abortions without pills. It’s normal to feel like the weight of our circumstances is weighing us down, but it’s always possible to find a path towards better ground.

Talk With Others
Communication is probably the best tool we have when it comes to overcoming our mental health issues. Very often, you’ll find that just by talking about what you’re going through with another person can effectively help reduce your stress and current issue. You might learn that it’s not as big a problem as you thought it was, for example. Or you might discover that the person you’re talking with has gone through the exact same issue as you, and has useful advice you can follow.

Pexels - CC0 Licence

Into Nature
Nature is amazing; it’s just that most of us live in cities, where nature is limited or non-existent. It really is worthwhile looking at taking regular trips into the outdoors, since studies have shown that just fifteen minutes of nature is enough to give our brain a boost. And if you spend two hours in nature each week, you’ll significantly boost happiness and reduce your anxiety levels, too.

Do Something For Others
Finally, remember that sometimes, we have to avoid digging ourselves into a negative state of mind. One of the best ways to do this is to do something for others. Studies have shown that volunteering and random acts of kindness can have a tremendous effect on our confidence, self-worth, and happiness levels, so look at making it part of your schedule.

By Iconic Chica Mag Editors