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APUS Active Minds
5th Annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Symposium

On this page you will find presentations about suicide prevention, mental health, and self-care. After the premiere you can access the presentations to watch on demand at any time that suits you best. Suicide can be a triggering topic please consider if it will negatively effect you and step away if you need to. Need Support Now? If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

Story of Survival, Loss, and Important Signs of Suicide

Listen to a story of survival, loss, and learning how important signs of suicide are as Rhiannon Brown shares her story. A survivor of the loss of her grandfather to death by suicide, Brown now serves as a mental health and suicide prevention awareness advocate. Losing a loved one to death was hard enough; losing her grandpa to his second suicide attempt weighed on her in a different way. Hear how she turned her loss into advocacy. 

Bipolar Disorder: a True Reflection

Twenty-four year old Graphic Design student at SNHU Melodie-Rose Joubert describes the ups and downs of Bipolar Disorder. This brave young woman offers a glimpse into how her life was before she was finally diagnosed and received the proper treatment. According to Ms. Joubert, asking for help and honesty with mental health professionals is the key to receiving a proper diagnosis and finally living a healthy full life.

Caregivers: One Mother’s Story

VP of Active Minds presents her and her daughter’s journey through bipolar disorder prior to diagnosis to their close bond today. Through a broken system, Patti searched for services for Melodie as her mental health declined. As Melodie fought through devastating medical diagnoses, she couldn’t understand the storm taking over her emotions and her thoughts. Finally, Christmas week 2018, fate brought Melodie to the right place at the right time, and she finally began the long journey to a healthy mental state, proper diagnosis, and close relationship with her parents. 

Covid-19 & Suicide Awareness

Faculty Advisor Dr. Cooper takes a look at the lasting effects of Covid-19 and suicide awareness. Have you wondered about the effects COVID-19 has had on us mentally? What has research shown so far concerning mental health and this virus? If you or someone you know are feeling these effects, know that you are not alone! Join this fascinating session to look at the current statistics,  research and observations that have been published and noted concerning: COVID & Mental Health.

Mission 22-The Stigma of Help

Veteran Michael Sugrue shares his story of seeking help and being supported by a good friend after spending years living with the effects of traumatic experiences. Made by Mission 22 and AO Films.

APUS Active Minds thanks Mission 22 for sharing this video with our members.

Suicide Awareness:
Community Approach

Suicide is a topic that is not widely discussed. It is important that we start conversations about suicide to raise awareness and break down the stigma. In this presentation we will discuss suicide further and explore the topic in depth including the community’s role in suicide. We will be looking at common reactions to suicide, the stigma surrounding suicide, warning signs, and how to help. 

Mental Health Aid Part 1

This self-guided presentation is an overview of the eight-hour mental health course, Mental Health First Aid. The power point presents the viewer with tools to understand the most common mental health disorders that are diagnosed within the fifteen to thirty year old age range and presents ALGEE an action plan to help them. Additionally, the presentation delves into Substance Use disorder involving alcohol and common drugs to college age adults. The goal of this presentation is to offer the overview as a starting point and the information where further training and information can be obtained.

V-A-R

V-A-R is a tool from Active Minds for everyday conversations about mental health. It includes 3 easy steps that allow you to listen and respond in a helpful and meaningful way. You start by validating the person's feelings and letting them know what they are feeling is valid. You then move on to appreciating the courage they show by openly sharing their struggles with you. Finally, you reach the refer step. This is where you have a conversation about some skills or support that may be helpful. This tool is for the moments you don't know what to say but you want to offer support. Using this tool allows you to utilize active listening skills and respond in a supportive manner. This is wonderful in non-crisis situations. You don't have to be an expert to help, you just have to be there.

Self-Care

Self-care goes beyond putting on a face mask or taking a walk. Self-care is about prioritizing your mental health and doing what you need to take care of it. Self-care has many benefits and there are various ways you can incorporate it into your daily routine. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress and lower your risk of illness. Join us as we look at why self-care is important for your mental health and share some ideas about how to implement it in your routine. 

Mental Health Aid Part 2

Suicide Prevention-This self-guided portion of the training jumps into recognizing when someone is suicidal and the proper steps to take to ensure that person’s safety and needs are addressed. Next the dangers of alcohol are addressed whereas 31% of all deaths by suicide involve alcohol or drugs. Lastly, aggressive behavior and how to deal with it is addressed. The objective of this presentation is offering the view practical information on how to give assistance to a friend or loved one who is suicidal and where they can go for further information.

Diversity Mental Health Session

Join us by viewing videos curated by the APUS Active Mind's team. We aim to amplify minority voices and there's no better way to learn than by hearing a first hand account. Take this opportunity to learn more about various communities and understanding the challenges faced by others. 

Digital Interventions
for Suicide Prevention

In this presentation digital interventions for suicide prevention amongst young adults will be discussed. The rates of suicide ideation and behaviors will be examined. There will be a discussion about how digital interventions including smartphone-based interventions could account for the treatment gap mentioned above. The effectiveness of digital interventions will also be discussed. 

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