Connecting, Supporting and Empowering Maryland Families

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Volume 15 Issue 3

September 2019

This month we share:

Self-Care: Fall Reboot

5-Step Guide to Talk to Someone Considering Suicide

Michaela's Story: From Mental Illness and Drug Use to Recovery

Six Resources for Young Adults with Mental Health Needs

Be a Hero: Save a Life with Naloxone

Your Voice is Needed to Advance Services for Families

Also included: employment opportunities, trainings and events, and links to Support Groups around the state.

Self-Care: Fall Reboot

Just like computers, we all sometimes need to shut down for a short time so that we can “reboot.” Summer days are coming to an end and the hectic schedules of school, work and extracurricular activities are gearing up. In this transitional time, you may find it hard to take care of yourself and stay focused and motivated. Here are three tips to help you reboot, with useful resources that can help you put your good intentions into action.

Read More

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5-Step Guide to Talk to Someone Considering Suicide



Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people

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between ages 10 and 24. To acknowledge September as National Suicide Prevention Month, MCF has joined the movement #BeThe1To, which strives to increase awareness and offer information and tools that allow all of us to join in the effort to prevent suicide. As part of that effort, we want to share a quick and simple resource developed by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This is a five-step guide to help you talk to a friend or family member who you think may be having suicidal thoughts. Research shows that people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation. Learn the five steps here

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If you suspect that someone you know might be considering harming themselves, you can also reach out for help right away. Contact the Maryland Helpline by calling 211 press 1 or by texting 898-211 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Michaela's Story: From Mental Illness and Drug Use to Recovery

September is National Recovery Month – a time to bring increased awareness of mental illness and substance use as well as the

hope for recovery. This campaign promotes the benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders, celebrates people in recovery, lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible.



This brief, moving video

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chronicles Michaela Fissel’s journey through mental illness and drug use and her road to recovery. Michaela struggled with bi-polar disorder, which she says led to her substance use. Hers is an all too common story. Left untreated, mental illness can often lead to drug use and these co-occurring disorders can be particularly difficult to treat. Michaela says, “Recovery gave me the opportunity to live a meaningful life and now I am a contributing member of society with a purpose and a future.”

Six Resources for Young Adults with Mental Health Needs

The transition to adulthood can be lengthy and difficult for all young adults – not just those with mental health disabilities. As our society has become more complex, the adult milestones of completing high school and/or starting college, finding a job that pays a living wage, and leaving the family home often are not achieved until age 30 or later. For young adults with mental health disabilities, the transition to adulthood can be longer and more difficult. This blog post offers several key resources to help you navigate this critical time in your child’s life.

Read More

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Be a Hero: Save a Life with Naloxone

The Maryland Department of Health has created an electronic tool kit

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to spread information about Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and save lives when administered quickly and correctly. This kit will equip your home and/or your workplace with the needed resources to help someone experiencing an opioid overdose. Please consider downloading the information and sharing with others.

Your Voice Is Needed To Advance Services for Families

MCF is always supportive of families having a voice in policy and services. Here are two opportunities to share your thoughts with people and organizations that can actually make change happen.

1. The Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities National Training Center

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is conducting a needs assessment

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about services in the United States for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who have mental health concerns.

2. Researchers at the Catholic University of America are seeking kinship caregivers to complete a survey on kinship caregivers’ parenting experiences. The survey will take up to an hour, and you will receive a $40 gift card as a token of appreciation. If you are interested, please contact Associate Professor Eun Koh at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Kinship%20caregivers'%20parenting%20experiences%20survey

or 202-319-4779.

Also online:

Seven Parents Share Helpful Tips for Raising a Child with ADHD

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New Google Maps Tool Aims to Help Combat Opioid Addiction

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NHL Goalie Using Platform to Drive Conversation about Mental Health

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How a Proposed 3-digit Suicide Hotline Could Help Prevention Efforts

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MCF Employment Opportunities

MCF is growing, and we have employment opportunities that might be perfect for you or someone you know! We currently have job openings for:

Family Peer Support Specialist (DJS) - Positions available in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties

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Family Peer Support Outreach Specialist - Eastern Shore

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Manager of Marketing and Communications

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- Columbia, MD

Youth Engagement Specialist

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- Positions available in Columbia, MD and Eastern Shore

Click here for further information on employment opportunities

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Upcoming Trainings & Events

Maryland's 31st Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

Registration for Maryland's 31st Annual Suicide Prevention Conference is now open!

When: Wednesday October 2, 2019, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Where: Martin's West, 6817 Dogwood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244

Learn More and Register Here

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Parent & Caregiver Support Groups

Allegany County

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Baltimore County

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Baltimore County, Substance Use

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Calvert County

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Carroll County

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Cecil County

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Charles County

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Dorchester County

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Garrett County

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Harford County

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Howard County

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Lower Eastern Shore

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Mid-Shore

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Prince George's County - Bowie

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Prince George's County - Temple Hills

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Prince George's County - Upper Marlboro

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Southern Maryland

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Talbot County

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Washington County

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This smart phone app can save lives - download now!

The "There is Hope" app provides fast and easy access to crisis intervention and suicide prevention support.

This free app provides the next steps to help someone at risk of taking their life, or for those concerned about family members or friends who are having suicidal thoughts. The app also includes an immediate connection to crisis counselors who will deliver help and hope for preventing suicide.

Download the app from the Apple App Store

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or Android Google Play Store

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Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) helps families who care for someone with behavioral health needs. Using personal experience as parents, caregivers, youth and other loved ones, we connect, support and empower Maryland’s families. Our staff provide one-to-one support to parents and caregivers of young people with mental health issues and to any loved one who cares for someone with a substance use or gambling issue.



10632 Little Patuxent Pkwy Suite 234 | Columbia, MD 21044

Toll Free: (888) 607-3637 | Fax: (410) 730-8331

www.mdcoalition.org

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Maryland Coalition of Families

10632 Little Patuxent Parkway

Suite 234

Columbia, MD 21044

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