Written by Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, CFNC – A deep passion for mental health and well-being. Using nutrition and lifestyle interventions to support mental wellness and help individuals achieve holistic health.
If you have a question or a nutrition subject you want Kathy to explore for you, send an email to ‘Ask Kathy’ at: BeYourBest344@gmail.com and she will share it to the NAMI Contra Costa Newsletter and Website.
Sugar! Sugar!
Let’s talk about sugar, we all know now that sugar isn’t good for us. It robs us of vital nutrients and speeds up the aging process, and it is one of the root causes of many illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and inflammation-related diseases.
With a bit of planning, creativity, and knowing that eating or drinking sugar steals your higher potential in your physical and mental health, being mindful and recognizing that YOU are more in control than you give yourself credit, and you have the power to make healthy choices.
So let’s first read the label and read the list of ingredients. When reading the list, recognize that sugar comes in many names, including high fructose corn syrup, and dehydrated cane sugar. If you don’t recognize the name and it is one of the first ingredients, Google it, this is where you educate yourself and learn better eating habits. Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic that can show you how to read nutrition labels How to read nutrition labels | Mayo Clinic Diet.
Practice reading what you have at home and start being intentional and choosing a better sweet treat. Dark chocolate is healthier and has less sugar than milk chocolate and sugar peas or a summer fruit like watermelon is a better choice. Carry your water, add your favorite fruit with some mint, and enjoy! I am sure you will notice less fatigue, less brain fog, better digestion, and probably lose some weight.
We regret to inform you that the NAMI Contra Costa (NAMI CC) Tagalog group is on hold indefinitely. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Please stay tuned for updates.
Advancing Our Innovation Efforts and Holding a Listening Session on What is Needed to Build an LGBTQ+ Mental Health Friendly Community in Contra Costa County and Beyond
Hi Spirituality and Faith Members/Leaders,
Please join and partner with us this upcoming Monday, June 24 @ 6 PM in Building Mental Health Friendly Communities in Contra Costa County and Beyond.
Topics May Include: The Unique Struggles of the LGBTQ+ Community, Intersectionality of Identities, and Stigma within Faith and Cultural Contexts
We are announcing that our website will skip its usual weekly maintenance from 5:30 AM – 8:30 AM PT.
Skipped Maintenance Date
Date: 6/21
What to Expect
The website will be accessible, and posts will be updated and published throughout the week instead of having a large volume published during the usual maintenance time.
How to Report Issues
If you have any questions or concerns about this skipped maintenance service, please contact webmaster@namicontracosta.org.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Join NAMI Contra Costa for our 2nd Annual “Healing Through Music” Event, a Mental Health Awareness Concert featuring Grammy Award Winner Erica Campbell!
Hosts of the Evening will be Steven Parker and Gigi Crowder.
Date, Time & Location
Saturday, July 27th at 5pm
New Destiny Church 1411 E. Leland Road Pittsburg, CA 94565
Thank you so much for your interest in beginning, or continuing, to volunteer with NAMI Contra Costa. You are cordially invited to attend the upcoming Summer 2024 5-Module Training! You’re helping improve outcomes for those impacted by mental illness.
When and How to Join
Begins Tuesday, July 9th.
A Five-Module Weekly Hybrid Class Held From 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m over the course of five weeks.
If you wish to attend in person, you may arrive at 5 PM to enjoy a light dinner at the office for each of the modules.
For those who miss a training module, there will be one Make-Up session on 8/13 that will also be held hybrid with a light dinner.
You must register for the Volunteer Training Module before joining.
7 PM: NAMI CC Announcements 7:15 PM: Presentation Begins
Speakers
John Gallagher
Teresa Pasquini
Lauren Rettagliata
Meeting Description
Following up on our discussion on Housing that Heals on November 18, 2021, we are pleased to introduce John Gallagher as our new NAMI CC Board member and Housing Advisory Committee Chair. John Gallagher is a Clinical Services Manager at Hope Solutions working with residents in permanent supportive housing at Garden Park Apartments in Pleasant Hill and at Hacienda Heights in Richmond. He has a Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University and in Business Administration from Saint Louis University.
John will provide an overview of our county’s homelessness-related Continuum of Care and share how a range of Hope Solutions’ programs focused on providing housing and critical support services fit into that continuum. He will also discuss recently funded expansions that will provide more housing opportunities for individuals affected by SMI. John will lead NAMI CC’s efforts to launch a Housing that Heals Advisory Committee.
John will also be joined by loving moms Teresa Pasquini and Lauren Rettagliata. They will provide updates on the progress made in Contra Costa County to move toward Housing that Heals.
The purpose of the Housing That Heals mission is to change the narrative and shatter the status quo by:
Defining the problem and forgotten population
Sharing solutions and strategies to reform systems
Educating and advocating for a shared action plan that will start building more housing that heals in order to stop the suffering. We are not analysts, clinicians, or administrators.
We do not know all the rules, regulations and fiscal/risk analyses that policymakers must navigate. But, we are two moms who do know what it is like to beg for help, hope, and housing for our adult sons living with SMI. We do know what it is like to be forced to drop private insurance in order to save our son’s life. We do know what it is like to call 911 in a mental health crisis. We do know that we have been forced to make our sons homeless in order for them to receive the medically necessary care needed for their stability, safety, and sobriety. We do know the pain of blame and shame. We do know the fatigue of fighting and the fear of dying and leaving our sons without a forever home. This is why we cannot wait any longer.
Join us for this important discussion that includes updates and actions that we must take now.
If you have Questions or Comments for our speakers during the presentation, you may contact Cri Campbell-Schine at cri@namicontracosta.org.
Closed Caption Translation
Closed Caption Translation is available in VARIOUS languages for any of NAMI CC’s General Meetings on ZOOM. Attendees can select the CC language of their choosing. RSVP to cri@namicontracosta.org by June 20, 2024 if you require audio language translation.
Please be informed that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa County) office will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in observance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a significant day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrates African American culture and achievements. We join the nation in recognizing this important holiday.
Our office will resume regular operations on Thursday, June 20, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
If you have any urgent concerns during this closure, please feel free to reach out via email at info@namicontracosta.org or contact our main office at (925) 942-0767.
On Thursday, May 30, NAMI Contra Costa held a first of its kind TransformACTIONal faith-based mental health awareness event. We invited a diverse group of Spiritual Leaders & Faith-Based Organizations to the launch of the newly MHSA Innovation funded, Building Mental Health Friendly Communities Together. This effort is a community defined approach that focuses on improving outcomes for BIPOC Communities by reducing both mental health stigma and ethnic and cultural disparities.
The Mental Health Friendly Communities curriculum, designed by NAMI CC Executive Director, Gigi R. Crowder and Pastor Horacio Jones,Senior Pastor of Family Bible Fellowship in Fremont California was first developed for the African American Community. Through this project we are enhancing and expanding to include AAPI, LGBTO+, and Latinx Faith Communities as part of the Innovation Grants awarded from Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Care. Innovation funds are meant for community-defined, not evidence based, practices to move away from one size fit all approaches that don’t always honor the lived experience of those most harmed.
Each cultural and ethnic group has a NAMI CC staff member serving as a Liaison who recognizes spirituality and faith is an essential ingredient for many, and can promote wellness, helping to improve relationships and connection. Many people we work with find that elevating their faith through purpose and belonging – knowing you don’t have to walk this journey alone, it’s important to them. Faith communities can learn strategies of acceptance for those impacted by mental health challenges making sure we are inclusive of all communities while approaching the medical condition of mental illness and thereby reducing disparities and stigma from a lived experience lens.
Mental Health Friendly Communities offers culturally and ethnically specific trainings. The Mental Health 101 curriculum will be offered throughout the count to provide the tools needed for faith leaders and providers to better understand the importance of delivering culturally responsive, people centered, equitable services and supports that ultimately builds mental health friendly communities for All.
In May, which is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI Contra Costa’s Chinese division held its annual mental health lecture. This year, we had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Philip Lowe, an esteemed psychologist, along with three young guest speakers – Yiwen, Michelle, and Leo. They joined us to discuss the pressing mental health issues faced by adolescents today.
Introduction
As an experienced mental health professional, Dr. Philip Lowe shared invaluable insights and practical advice on maintaining mental well-being. His compassion for the Asian community and dedication to supporting youth were evident throughout his talk. The personal stories shared by the three young speakers were both vivid and impactful, providing parents with a deeper understanding of the challenges their children face.
Youth Speakers’ Insights
Cultural Differences and Adaptation
Yiwen recounted her experiences moving to the US and adjusting to a predominantly white and Indian community. She highlighted the cultural challenges and the sense of isolation she initially felt due to language barriers and cultural differences. Through active participation in social activities, she gradually found her place and embraced her cultural identity.
Parental Expectations and Pressure
Michelle discussed the conflicts with her parents regarding their high expectations. She illustrated these tensions through her experience of raising a cat, showing the struggle between parental expectations and self-identity. Michelle emphasized that understanding and acceptance are crucial in family communication and highlighted the psychological stress caused by unrealistic parental expectations.
Social Challenges and Mental Health
Leo focused on the social pressures that adolescents face. He explained that the high expectations to quickly adapt to a new cultural environment can be overwhelming. His volunteer experience at NAMI taught him the importance of a sense of belonging and social support. Leo encouraged parents to be more attentive to their children’s social lives and to provide the necessary support.
Dr. Philip Lowe’s Professional Insights
After listening to the students, Dr. Philip Lowe delved into the mental health challenges from a professional perspective. He pointed out that cultural differences and language barriers are common issues for Asian American adolescents. He stressed that parents should give their children enough space and time to adapt to the new environment rather than solely focusing on academic achievements.
Dr. Philip Lowe highlighted the high expectations placed on children in many Asian families, which can lead to significant stress. He suggested that parents should pay more attention to their children’s overall development, including emotional and social skills, and understand the cultural shocks their children face in a new environment.
Cultural Challenges
Asian adolescents often face unique challenges growing up in the United States. While the country is a melting pot of cultures, integrating into mainstream culture can be challenging. Dr. Philip Lowe explained that these youths might experience identity confusion and a lack of belonging, especially with the dual pressures of language and cultural differences. Parents should support their children through this adjustment period and not just focus on academic performance.
Adolescent Mental Health Issues
Dr. Philip Lowe noted that adolescence is a peak period for mental health issues, including depression, autism, and ADHD. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues due to social isolation and uncertainty. He urged parents to recognize early signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, and to seek professional help promptly.
College Students’ Alcohol and Drug Issues
Dr. Philip Lowe discussed the problems of alcohol and drug use among college students, driven by social pressure and curiosity. He called on parents to pay close attention to their children’s daily lives, social circles, and activities to identify and address these issues early. Open communication channels are essential to help children develop healthy values and habits.
Family Communication and Support
Finally, Dr. Philip Lowe offered several recommendations to improve family communication and support. He advised parents to establish open dialogues with their children, pay attention to their emotional and mental states, and consider activities like pet ownership to help relieve stress. He emphasized the profound impact of a warm, understanding, and supportive family environment on children’s mental health.
This lecture provided invaluable insights and practical advice on mental health issues in the Asian community. Through the shared stories and discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding and learned effective strategies to address these challenges. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future to help more families grow and overcome challenges together.
Stay tuned to NAMI CC’s website and public WeChat account for more updates on our activities and articles on mental health.
Written by Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, CFNC – A deep passion for mental health and well-being. Using nutrition and lifestyle interventions to support mental wellness and help individuals achieve holistic health.
If you have a question or a nutrition subject you want Kathy to explore for you, send an email to ‘Ask Kathy’ at: BeYourBest344@gmail.com and she will share it to the NAMI Contra Costa Newsletter and Website.
How to Support Your Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in my opinion, it should be observed year-round. Therefore, I challenge you today to take a moment to detox for your mental health. If the first thing you do when you wake up is check what is happening on your social media app, I challenge you to refrain from doing so for one day. Simply take a mental break from social media and engage in activities that nourish your brain. Listen to music and dance, take a walk, try a new healthy recipe, call a friend, or engage in a creative pursuit. The objective is to do something that brings YOU joy, focusing on yourself instead of getting caught up in social media.
If you haven’t practiced mindful meditation before, that is my next challenge for you. Mindful meditation has been shown to offer numerous health benefits, including improved sleep, stress management, and anxiety reduction. Below is a brief article highlighting the benefits. I am including a link to a 5-minute guided mindful meditation that I found on YouTube to help you get started. Also, there are free meditation apps that are worth looking into.
