Hope for Tomorrow 2005-2006
Program: This is a three-part health program that represents the combined efforts and insights of health professionals, educators and other experts to help parents(through Parent Forums), teachers(through faculty training), and students(through facilitator led “In-class Assemblies and “health tips”) better understand illnesses of the brain.
Origin: This year-long education program about brain disorders was inspired because of a startling suicide rate at East High School in Salt Lake City. Statistics on brain disorders among adolescents are alarming;
- 13% of American children suffer from brain disorders.
- 70% of these children do not receive treatment
- In Utah, suicide is the leading cause of death among young men ages 15-24.(The Intermountain West, is the region with the highest rate of suicide in the nation)
- Stigma is the biggest obstacle in seeking treatment for brain/mood disorders.
Plan: 3 Parts
Part 1: Mental Health and Mood Disorders In-class Assembly
Tues. Nov.22nd at 10:00am, students will learn about mental health, brain chemistry, and mood disorders. These mood disorders include depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety
as well as thought disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and phobias. Not only are these disorders potentially deadly for children, left untreated, they condemn many young people to daily misery, involving poor school performance, problems with relationships, exhaustion, low self esteem, hopelessness, and the inability to feel joy. This is especially sad because these illnesses are treatable! Warning signs and symptoms are discussed as well as professional and community resources which can help those affected.
**Tues. Nov. 15th at 7:00pm in the OHS Art-space is our Parent Forum on Mood Disorders.
Part 2: Eating Disorders Assembly
Thurs., Jan. 19th at 10:10am, students will take an in-depth look at Eating Disorders with the focus on societal pressures of body image and the influence of the media. Discussions on healthy eating practices as well as how to recognize this seemingly harmless, but dangerous lifestyle, will be presented. Finally, professional resources, people, places, and ways to seek help for friends will be communicated.
**Thurs., Jan. 12th at 7:00pm in the OHS Art-space is our Parent Forum on Eating Disorders.
Part 3: Addictive Disorders: Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assembly
Mon., Apr. 10th at 10:10am, students will learn about healthy responses to problems and Dual diagnosis (the occurrence of two or more disorders at the same time such as a mental illness and substance abuse disorder) are given emphasis. Research indicates a high correlation between mental illness and substance abuse. When a psychiatric illness exists, it at least doubles the chance of developing a substance abuse disorder. Of course, warning signs and symptoms are discussed as well as how and where to get help.
**Tues., April 4th at 7:00pm in the OHS Art-space is our Parent Forum on Addictive Disorders
Symptoms:
(may only have a few, yet they persist for at least 2-3 weeks and do not go away)
Mood Disorders: Angry, irritable, never-ending sadness, cries a lot, sleeps a lot or unable to sleep, engages in risky behavior(sex, drugs, alcohol, theft, gangs, etc.), talks a lot(a non-stop party), or withdraws from family, friends, and activities once enjoyed, unable to concentrate, poor grades, difficulty maintaining good relationships, eating patterns change, you think about dying or death, feel worthless, or negative most of the time, giving away possessions, neglecting personal appearance, carelessness or accident prone, hostile behavior, running away from home.
Eating Disorders: repeated episodes of binging and purging of food, frequent dieting and preoccupation with weight, food, calories and fat grams, extreme concern with body weight and shape, loss of menstrual periods, feeling “fat” despite dramatic weight loss, intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”, refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level, excessive exercise, withdrawal from usual friends and activities, denial of hunger, weight loss, frequent comments about feeling “fat”, refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to whole categories (i.e. carbohydrates), dieting and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Substance Abuse (Drug or Alcohol): less self-discipline, forgetfulness, short attention span, trouble concentrating, slow or staggering walk, poor physical coordination, unusual laziness, awake at unusual times, inability to sleep, blank stare, watery eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual, cold, sweaty palms, shaking hands, puffy face, blushing or paleness, smell of substance on breath, body or clothes, extreme hyperactivity, excessive talkativeness, runny nose, hacking cough, needle marks on lower arm, leg or bottom of feet, nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating, tremors or shakes of hands, feet or head, changes in friends, new hang-outs, change in hobbies, drop in grades, skips school, loss of interest in family or activities, temper tantrums, irritability, nervousness, moodiness, silliness, paranoia, car accidents, chronic dishonesty, sullen, uncaring attitudes and behavior, unhealthy appearance, bloodshot eyes, changes in personal dress or grooming, unusually large appetite or loss of appetite, use of Visine or other eye drops, room deodorizers, incense, peculiar odors or butts, seeds, leaves in ashtrays or clothing pockets, isolation, stealing, heightened secrecy about actions or possessions, increased borrowing of money, evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, or butane lighters.
Help:
24 hour crisis Line, Salt Lake City |
261-1442 / 1-888-918-8500 / |
24 hour Substance Abuse Hope line |
1-801-587-HOPE |
Utah NAMI-Nat. Alliance for Mentally Ill |
323-9900 |
NAMI Holladay Group Leader (Claudine Gordon) |
272-7301 |
Valley Mental Health (Ann Foster) |
263-7100 |
Mental Health Assoc. of Utah |
963-7304 |
Twelve Step Program for addictions |
(801)359-HEAL |
Information and Referral SL County |
978-3333 |
Children’s Center, Salt Lake Referrals |
582-5534 |
Neuropsychiatric Institute at U of U (Mary Talboys) |
583-2500 |
Substance Abuse (Tom Foster) |
328-8817 |
Substance Abuse and Mental Hlth Services Admin. |
1-301-443-8956 |
Substance Abuse services (Tina Duncan) |
468-2052 |
Ut. Psychiatric Association (Paige DeMille) |
355-7477 |
Nat’l Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
1-(301) 443-4513 |
Center for Change(Eating Dis.)in Provo, UT |
1-801-224-8255 |
Nat’l Eating Disorders Screening Prog. |
781-239-0071 |
Healing Connections Inc. |
212-585-3450 |
Eating Disorders Awareness & Prevention |
1-800-931-2237 |
Websites:
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) = www.nami.org and www.namiut.org
- NIMH (Nat’l Inst. Of Mental Health)= www.nimh.nih.gov
- Teenage Depression= www.depressedteens.com
- Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention= www.edap.org
- Anorexia Nervosa & Related Disorders www.anred.com
- Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders www.something-fishy.org
- Eating Disorders Anonymous www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org
- UT. Div. of Substance Abuse = www.hsdsa.state.ut.us
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin.= www.samhsa.gov
- Surgeon General= www.surgeongeneral.gov
- Primary Children’s Med. Ctr.= www.primarychildrens.org
- Am. Acad. Of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry= www.aacap.org
- New Freedom Commission on Mental Health= www.mentalhealthcommission.gov
Note: Parent to Parent: Family Training on AD/HD is a series of 7 two-hour classes for anyone who wants to learn about ADHD. Call Melanie Hatch at 789-3952 for classes to be held Sept-May