mental health Archives - The Austin Common

Diversion Center Community Town Hall

Amy Stansbury — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

We need your help to shape the future of mental health services in our community. This month we’re hosting a Town Hall about Travis County’s Diversion Center.

Join Travis County Judge Andy Brown on Tuesday, July 25th & discuss how the program works, the types of people it will help, and how your ideas can shape our future steps. The town hall is at 700 Lavaca St. and starts at 6 p.m.

Nobody in our community deserves to get locked up because of a mental health condition, your feedback helps us ensure the diversion center is designed with our neighbors in mind. Together, we can help people dealing with mental health challenges and redirect them toward the necessary care and resources.

To help us plan accordingly, please RSVP by filling out this form.

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In-Person Mental Health First Aid Training

Amy Stansbury — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Take a class. Save a life. Strengthen your community.

Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training that provides people the basic tools to help someone who might be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA can save a life, just like CPR can save someone who is having a heart attack.

Reserve your spot here.

Why is MHFA important?

Mental illness is common.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness. 50% of mental health issues can be identified by age 14.

Who should take MHFA?

Anyone! MHFA gives people the tools they need to help friends, family, colleagues and community members. It answers key questions like “What do I do?” and “Where can someone find help?”

What will you learn in MHFA?

Warning signs and risk factors for mental illness
Information on sign and symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and substance use disorder
A 5-step action plan to help someone showing signs of mental illness or experiencing a crisis
Professional and self-help resources provided

CEUs are free and available for the following licenses: LMSW/LCSW, LPC, LMFT, LCDC. CPE’s for teaching professionals, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians credit available as well as TCOLE credit available.

For more information on Mental Health First Aid, if you’d like to host an MHFA training or to request special accommodations, please feel free to contact MHFA@integralcare.org.

Household income is asked during registration for grant purposes only. Click here for poverty guidelines.

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Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training

Amy Stansbury — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Take a class. Save a life. Strengthen your community.

Virtual Blended Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a 2-hour, online, Self-Paced Introduction Course, followed by a 6-hour instructor led, interactive training, using videoconferencing technology at Central Standard Time (CST). Participants will be able to become certified in MHFA from the comfort of their own workspace.

There are three upcoming trainings for the Central Texas community:

Why is MHFA important?

Mental illness is common.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness. 50% of mental health issues can be identified by age 14.

Who should take MHFA?

Anyone! MHFA gives people the tools they need to help friends, family, colleagues and community members. It answers key questions like “What do I do?” and “Where can someone find help?”

(Registrants living outside of our Central Texas service area will be required to pay a $25 participant fee)

What will you learn in MHFA?

Warning signs and risk factors for mental illness
Information on sign and symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and substance use disorder
A 5-step action plan to help someone showing signs of mental illness or experiencing a crisis
Professional and self-help resources

For more information on Mental Health First Aid, if you’d like to host an MHFA training or to request special accommodations, please feel free to contact MHFA@integralcare.org.

Household income is asked during registration for grant purposes only. Click here for poverty guidelines.

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BRAVE Communities Connection – AAPI Heritage and Mental Health Awareness Month

BRAVE_Communities — Sat, 27 May 2023 20:30:00 +0000

Join us on Saturday, May 27th, 3:30-5:00pm at Austin Public Library – Central, as we come together to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) and Mental Health Awareness Month. Whether you’re looking to connect with community members, learn new coping strategies, or simply have fun, this event has something for everyone.

Anticipated agenda:

3:30-3:50PM “Sway with Pray” Bollywood Dance

3:55-4:05PM Screening of Pixar’s “Float”

4:08-4:50PM Community Listening Circles* with mental health therapists *exclusive teens listening circle available with teen therapist

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander culture, voices, and eat some Asian snacks, and prioritize your mental health. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors of all ages.

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Mental Health Resource Tables:
Amplify Center, Contigo Wellness, NAMI, YWCA

About our guest therapists and artist:

Briana Liu a licensed professional counselor who is passionate about social justice, providing accessible trauma informed care, and offering people a different lens than the dominant culture to make sense of their experiences.

Prayana aka “Pray – started her own brand “Sway With Pray” in 2021 and continues to express herself through her passion for dancing. She was CEO for 5 years for a school before building a small community of dancers who share similar zest for the craft.

Diana is the founder & owner of the award winning health & wellness center; Austin Trauma Therapy Center. Her work as a social change activist and influential leader in mental health equity & reform created a safe space for survivors to grow & heal; in-community with others. As a licensed clinical social worker and trauma-resilient therapist in Austin, she continues to serve in numerous healing spaces with trauma survivors.

Geoffrey is the licensed master social worker & care coordinator in the Amplify Center (clinical partnership between Austin Community College and UT Health Austin). He specializes in applicable mental health and substance use recovery strategies, and puts his focus on cognitive behavioral therapy interventions that are culturally relevant, collaborative, and power-sharing to try and make people feel empowered in their own mental health treatment.

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Mental Health & Our Criminal Justice System

Amy Stansbury — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:21:56 +0000

On, March 21st, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to take the first steps toward creating a mental health diversion center right here in Travis County.

And what is a mental health diversion center? We discuss it all with Travis County Judge Andy Brown.

You can hear this episode on any of the following podcast services:

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Caregiver Hike

Eileen McGinnis — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Join The Parents’ Climate Community for a short urban hike dedicated to caregivers. Whether you are caring for your own kids, a classroom of preschoolers, or aging parents (or all of the above!), you deserve a space to connect with nature, fellow adults, and your interior life!

After our 30-minute hike, member Denise Kleinman will lead an optional EFT tapping session to address our emotions around climate change and other systemic issues that threaten kids’ safety. Spots are limited, so please RSVP.

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Helping Kids Grow Their Emotional Resilience Around Climate Change

Eileen McGinnis — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000

In this free, interactive workshop led by clinical psychologist and group therapist Anna Graybeal, learn what kids need from us to help them grow their emotional resiliency around climate change. Presented by The Parents’ Climate Community.

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Should Austin Reinstate Its Homeless Camping Ban? (Episode 15)

Amy Stansbury — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:26:59 +0000

Should Austin reinstate its homeless camping ban? That’s the question voters will have to decide on May 1st. (It will be called Prop B on your ballot.)

In this episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, host Amy Stansbury dives deep into the upcoming City of Austin elections, sharing everything you need to know about Propositions A & B. Topics include the Austin Firefighters Association & the city’s homelessness ordinances. Guests include Bob Nicks of the Austin Firefighters Association, Matthew Mollica of ECHO, Cleo Petricek of Save Austin Now, and Marina Roberts and Seneca Savoie of Homes Not Handcuffs.

Give it a listen! You can hear this episode on any of the following podcast services:

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Mental Health & Policing (Episode 14)

Amy Stansbury — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:37:40 +0000

Did you know that earlier this year, Austin became the first city in the country to add a mental health option to its 911 call center script? Did you also know that in 2018, a city audit found that amongst the 15 most populous US cities, Austin had the highest per capita rate of fatal police shootings involving those believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis?

So how did we get here? And how can we better serve Austinites experiencing mental health crises in the future?

In the latest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, we answer all your questions. Guests include Karen Ranus (of the National Alliance on Mental Illness) & Marisa Aguilar (of Integral Care).

Give it a listen! You can hear this episode on any of the following podcast services:

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