World Mental Health Day 2022: Mental Health and Wellbeing for All
Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme this year is “Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Global Priority.” The World Health Organization now recognizes that global mental health is imperative to building healthier and more productive communities. To this end, they have now integrated mental health as part of their Sustainable Developmental Goals.
The pandemic, mass shootings, violent conflicts like the Ukraine War and the Uyghur genocide, political unrest, climate change events like Hurricane Ian, and other traumas of the human condition have left an indelible imprint on the world community. Unprecedented challenges with mental health affect every aspect of life including the ability to conduct the activities of daily living.
The World Health Organization reports that globally, depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions. In 2022, WHO launched the World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All.
Waking up to the news today to escalated shelling in Ukraine is illustrative of why more than ever, we need to work tirelessly to bring the wellness skills of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® and the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)® to professionals and natural leaders. Both models improve well-being and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and traumatic stress.
Treats brought to Sara and Oonough from the participants of their CRM Workshop in Romania.
TRI’s models are both trauma-informed and resiliency-informed. We acknowledge both the suffering while also remembering “what else is true?” — this is our message of hope. Sara Cook and Oonough Cullen, both CRM teachers, living in Northern Ireland just completed a CRM workshop in Romania. Sara sent us this message yesterday:
A group of Ukrainians traveled nine hours each way from the Transcarpathia region where they are supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs)…Here are some of the encouraging words from Ukrainian participants:
"[After using the resiliency skills,] I felt that I am alive and ready to act."
“Most trainings add work onto our shoulders. You take the work off us."
“I never realized that it can be difficult to feel joy and to dream [during the war]. This has helped me feel this again."
During the month of September, the Trauma Resource Institute completed two humanitarian Community Resiliency Model Teacher Trainings, for Ukrainians through our association with EdCamp Ukraine. We have connected our new Ukrainian CRM Teachers to the work Sara and Oonough have started in Romania. Nathalia, one of our newly trained CRM Teachers and others are now connected as part of our international network. Nathalia, shared with us this morning, the following message,
It is a tremendous opportunity (helping with CRM workshops) amid what's going on in Ukraine (you must have heard by now what a terror we all went through this morning, with a 5-hour long air raid alert, numerous hits across Ukraine, including downtown Kyiv where my daughter grew up before we moved, and Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk area as well, dozens dead, electricity shortages). I am really grateful to all of you for it (CRM). Looking forward to more opportunities for spreading resiliency across Ukraine.
We must acknowledge the suffering and lean into what is also truly, as exemplified by the words of our Ukrainian friends and colleagues during the hardest times. By doing this, we can reduce the impact of trauma, which continues to be a leading cause of worldwide mental health conditions.
We embrace all of our community who may be suffering at this moment. We remind you: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Learn the skills by downloading “iChill”, our free app for your smartphone, or by going to www.iChillapp.com.
You can learn more about the efforts of the World Health Organization at their website https://www.who.int