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Mental Health Month
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May was Mental Health Month.

A few updates on what TSF has been doing to prevent suicide, promote conversations to end stigma, and support mental health education in our Idaho and Utah communities. 
#Advocate
In 2015, TSF joined forces with other groups across the state of Idaho to create a statewide coalition to advocate for suicide prevention. Eventually, this came to be “The Idaho Suicide Prevention Coalition” whose mission is to have a concerted representation of public and private supporters throughout the state. After tireless efforts from the group, the legislative session wrapped and Governor Otter signed an appropriations bill directing $971,100 to be used to fund suicide prevention programs. This was a major victory in advocating for mental health and suicide prevention. 
(Click here for coalition list)
#Conversate
Thank you all those who attended the Bogus Basin Food Truck Rally and donated to us for Idaho Gives on May 5. Supporters contributed over $1,300 for Mental Health First Aid programing in Idaho. This funding will go far in advocating for mental health, ending the stigma surrounding it and supporting suicide prevention efforts. Idaho Gives was a great reminder that we are all in it together and the food truck rally was a great place to hold those vital conversations about mental health. 
#Educate
On Thursday, May 12th, we welcomed participants to Mental Health First Aid training course held at the Palmer Court Branch for missionaries serving with the Inner City Mission. It was one of several courses available throughout the year, at no cost to participants, through a partnership between Optum Salt Lake County and TSF to help families and individuals in the Salt Lake community recognize the warning signs of a mental health or emotional crisis, and educate the community about resources available to assist people in need.
Read more below that made headlines in the news.
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches people how to identify the most common signs of mental illness including depression, anxiety disorders and substance use. Participants learn an action plan to help someone in crisis, including how to assess the person for risk of harm or suicide, listen non-judgmentally, give reassurance, and encourage the person to seek professional help.

“People are often trained to know CPR or the Heimlich maneuver or first aid, but you’re just as likely to come in contact with someone who is suffering from a mental or emotional crisis,” said Julie Hardle, a certified Mental Health First Aid facilitator and the Recovery and Resiliency Manager for Optum Salt Lake County. “If people are trained to recognize and assist someone who might be facing a mental health or substance use crisis, it increases the chances that the person will access the professional care they need to reach recovery.”

The Speedy Foundation is dedicated to preventing suicide through education and outreach in the community, partnered with Optum in 2015 to deliver free Mental Health First Aid training courses throughout the Salt Lake and Park City communities. Optum manages Salt Lake County mental health and substance use services through a contract with the Division of Behavioral Health Services. The partnership provides qualified leadership, logistical support, printed course materials and awareness campaigns for the 8-hour courses.
“Signs of mental illness can be difficult to detect, and even when we know something is amiss, we may not know what steps to take to help someone get the support they need,” said Katie Flood, secretary of The Speedy Foundation. “We are committed to working with Optum to increase awareness about suicide prevention and assist people throughout the Salt Lake area who are affected by mental illness.”

“In the course of serving the poor and needy in Salt Lake City, our missionaries often encounter individuals struggling with a mental health or substance use issue,” said Allene Ross, Vice President for Inner City Mission.

“This training teaches them what to look for and how to respond when someone is in crisis, so they can help the person get the care they need to overcome personal challenges and get back on their feet.”

Mental Health First Aid training is especially good for teachers, social workers, religious leaders, first responders, coaches, law enforcement and other community partners. Local community members can get involved with Mental Health First Aid training by raising awareness and attending a future course at no charge.

For more information on upcoming courses to be held in the Salt Lake City area, contact Julie Hardle at julie.hardle@optum.com or call (801) 982-3217. For immediate assistance with a behavioral health crisis, call the Salt Lake County Crisis Line 24 hours/7 days a week at (801) 587-3000.
Mental Health First Aid Information
This Sunday is the 5th annual Run for Dunn. 

TSF is proud to be a BBQ sponsor at this event. The Run for Dunn is a race to support melanoma awareness, conduct annual skin checks and celebrate our memories of Amy Dunn.

We wanted to extend a note of gratitude to local organizations who have contributed to this year's feast, including: 

 

The last day to register is Thursday. Hope to see you there! 
1 day and just a little more than $1,000 to go! 
 
In 2011, when Jeret was killed by suicide, Jennifer Isenhart and her incredible team at WideEye Productions stepped in to create the most beautiful film as a tribute to Speedy's life. The team created the film at no cost to his family. We want to say THANK YOU and ask those who are interested in this project to please help them reach their goal. Idaho the Movie (1) was an incredible film. We are excited for the film's follow-up.

Kickstarter: Idaho the Movie 2

TSF Making News

CHECK YOUR HEALTH: MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

By Leslie Tillotson, KUTV2 
GROUPS OFFER FREE CLASSES IN UTAH ON ‘FIRST AID’ FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

By Danica Lawrence, Fox13
HOW YOU CAN BE TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND HELP

By Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News

#22KILL

22 pushups for 22 days to bring awareness to the 22 US Veterans who will be killed by suicide each day

22KILL is a global movement bridging the gap between veterans and civilians to build a community of support. 22KILL works to raise awareness to the suicide epidemic that is plaguing our country, and educate the public on mental health issues such as PTS.

In 2012, the VA released a Suicide Data Report that an average of 22 veterans are “KILLED By Suicide” everyday.  The name “22KILL” is meant to grab people’s attention. Suicide prevention is a very difficult task to undertake, especially when the general public is unaware of the issue in the first place. In order to prevent or “fix” a problem, one must first learn and understand the problem itself and its causes. By educating ourselves, we’ll be able to identify the triggers that can lead someone to thoughts of suicide, and confront those issues as they come, rather than letting them accumulate into something much worse.


#advocate #conversate #educate
Here's how it works: The Speedy Foundation is challenging YOU to film yourself doing 22 push-ups for 22 days. Each day you are challenged to share your video via social media. Copy and paste the text below:

I was challenged by The Speedy Foundation to do this challenge: Day (X) of 22, doing ‪#22PushUps‬ for ‪#22KILL‬. I (name), am pushing in an attempt to raise awareness to the fact that 22 AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS will commit suicide TODAY! I nominate (insert name) to take the #22KILL challenge. If you accept, copy and paste this status to each of your videos. Everyone has a purpose! Continue to find the emotional and physical strength you never thought existed! Please spread the word that suicide is not the answer! I will post a video each day for 22 days, each with someone new being challenged. For Help 24/7 call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. Online visit veteranscrisisline.net/chat, or send a text message to 838255. Help spread the word, save a life.

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