GFWC Maryland
gfwc

Project Overview

What is the 2024-2026 Special Project?  Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

Why is the General Federation of Women’s Club Maryland Federation focusing on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention?  All generations of Americans are impacted by mental health challenges due to common stressors of financial instability, family and social pressures, health challenges, and professional insecurity.  This is compounded by life changes, the economy, and social media.  The GFWC Maryland Federation has made mental health and suicide awareness it’s special project to provide its members the information and training to identify mental health issues among club women and take action to support mental health and suicide prevention initiatives in our Maryland communities. Our membership is dedicated to making a difference one person at a time.  

GFWC Mental Health Resolutions

170-120 Mental Health Parity (Convention 2004; Amended 2008; Amended 2012; Amended 2014; Amended 2016; Amended 2021)

WHEREAS, The National Institute of Mental Health:

  • Reports one in five adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder;

  • Estimates untreated mental illnesses cost more than $100 billion annually in lost productivity; and

WHEREAS, Significant barriers, including lack of mental health providers, higher out-of- pocket costs for mental healthcare, limited treatment options, and significant financial burdens for patients and families prevent many Americans from accessing mental health treatment; therefore

RESOLVED, That the General Federation of Women’s Clubs urges its member clubs to support:

  • Public awareness campaigns on available mental health counseling services in the community;

  • Efforts to provide resources for patients and families.

 

120-040 Youth Suicide Prevention (Formerly “Youth Suicide”; Convention 1986; Amended and Reaffirmed 1989; Reviewed 1993; Amended 1997; Amended 2001; Amended 2005; Amended 2009; Amended 2013; Reviewed 2017; Amended 2022)

 WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among youth ages 15 to 24 years old; and

 WHEREAS, Suicide attempts are the greatest predictor of death by suicide and major risk factors include abuse of alcohol and/or drugs, mental disorders, and self-destructive behaviors; and

 WHEREAS, Suicide is complex and tragic, but may be preventable; therefore

 RESOLVED, That the General Federation of Women’s Clubs urges its member clubs to support programs to:

  • Increase awareness of behavioral characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of at-risk youth to peer groups, parents, school personnel, and other concerned adults;

  • Offer treatment, counseling, and other services;

  • Build self-esteem and develop coping skills;

  • Provide support groups and networks for youth who have survived an attempted suicide, and for family and friends of suicide victims;

  • Fund and develop school plans to identify at-risk youth and provide staff training in recognizing risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behavior.

Our GFWC Maryland project framework will be outlined using the word REACH.  Our clubs will REACH out to make our communities stronger one clubwoman, one family, one community as a time.   

The REACH Acronym stands for the following:

RESILIENCY- Individual, Family, Club and Community 

Mental, physical, spiritual, social and financial –as these are all factors that contribute to mental health challenges and suicide. 

EDUCATION- Provide club women the information and education to identify and prevent mental health challenges and suicide in their families, club and community.  Provide information on local and national organizations, leverage those organizations for information, and keep informed of initiatives and opportunities.

ADVOCACY- Team with the GFWC Legislative Action Committee and National and State Mental Health Organizations Legislative Action Groups to support mental health resolutions, laws, and policies that affect our families and communities. 

COMMUNITY- Build connections in our communities that provide mental health education and awareness and support initiatives for our youth, young adults, families, adults, elderly, and veterans. This includes programs that support the mental health/suicide prevention of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence victims as this demographic is severely impacted by mental health challenges. 

HELP- Connect with organizations in your Maryland communities that support Mental Health and/or suicide awareness and prevention initiatives and partner with them to identify projects that support their mission.


Resiliency

What is Resiliency?  The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. Resiliency builds toughness in individuals through mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social.

Resilience: A Guide to Facing Life’s Challenges, Adversities, and Crises (everydayhealth.com)

How to be more resilient: 8 ways to build your resilience — Calm Blog

Why is it important to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention?  Resilience is a related concept that includes traits such as a positive self-concept and optimism in addition to life skills. Learning and applying life skills to increase the ability to adapt to stress and adversity.

To cultivate resilience in your life, it's important to apply the principles of the 7 Cs: competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping, and control.

Thriving Through Challenges: A Guide to the 7 Cs of Resilience (naluri.life)

Mental Resiliency- Resilience is your ability to cope with any difficult events and situations that happen in your life, and how you go about recovering from them

How to build Mental Resiliency?

  1. Be kind to yourself. Learning to be kinder to yourself can help with how you feel in different situations. ...

  2. Try to find time to relax. ...

  3. Develop your interests and hobbies. ...

  4. Spend time in nature. ...

  5. Look after your physical health.

Good Information on Mental Resiliency:

Everyday Mental Health Tips | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org)

10 Ways to Build Resilience After Adverse Childhood Experiences (greatkidsinc.org)

Neurodiversity and Mindfulness: Cultivating Mental Resilience and Well-being – ReGroup Foundation (regroupnow.org)

Subscribe to The Mental Health Minute (beehiiv.com)

Physical Resiliency- The body's ability to adapt to challenges, maintain stamina and strength, and recover quickly and efficiently. It's a person's ability to function and recover when faced with illness, accidents, or other physical demands.

How to build physical Resiliency?

  1. Better Manage Your Energy.

  2. Confidence in Physical Fitness.

  3. Deliberate Breathing.

  4. Effective Sleep.

  5. Train Your Mind at R2 Performance Centers.

Good Information on physical Resiliency:

How to develop physical resilience - Gill Mathias

Physical-Resilience_Digital-Kneeboard.pdf (af.mil)

Emotional Resiliency- Empowers individuals to face life's challenges, setbacks, and adversities with grace and fortitude.  It is the capacity to bounce back from difficult situations while maintaining emotional well-being. Rather than avoiding or suppressing emotions, emotional resilience is the art of acknowledging and processing them in a healthy and constructive manner. It provides the emotional stability to navigate through turbulent waters, making it a priceless skill in today's unpredictable world.

How to build Emotional Resiliency? 

  1. Set boundaries, practice being more assertive. ...

  2. Practice acceptance. ...

  3. Connect with others. ...

  4. Find balance in your life. ...

  5. Develop your self-awareness. ...

  6. Allow yourself to be imperfect. ...

  7. Allow others to be imperfect. ...

  8. Look after yourself – practice self-care.

Good Information on emotional Resiliency:

10 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Resilience, Backed by Research | TIME

Emotional Resilience: How to Build Emotional Resilience - 2024 - MasterClass

15 Ways to Cultivate Emotional Resilience (dayoneapp.com)

Spiritual Resiliency- The ability to sustain one's sense of self and purpose through a set of beliefs, principles or values while encountering adversity, stress, and trauma by using internal and external spiritual resources.

How to build Spiritual Resiliency?

  1. 6 Ways to Cultivate a Deeper Walk with the Lord. J.M. Troppello. ...

  2. Schedule Time for Spiritual Study. ...

  3. Connect with a Church Community. ...

  4. Learn to Become More Grateful. ...

  5. Diligently Focus on Personal Growth. ...

  6. Develop a Heart to Serve Others. ...

  7. Stay Open to Always Learning.

Good Information on spiritual Resiliency:

Spiritual Resilience - IBZ Coaching

The Role of Spirituality in Resilience and Coping with Life Challenges - (donovanlifecoach.co.za)

Social Resiliency- The capacity to foster, engage in, and sustain positive relationships and to endure and recover from life stressors and social isolation.

How to build Social Resiliency?

  1. Engage in Bystander Intervention.

  2. Find Your Character Strengths.

  3. Foster Respect.

  4. Handling Difficult Conversations.

  5. Help Others Seek the Right Help.

  6. Navigating Tough Conversations.

  7. Rebuilding Relationships.

  8. Strengthening Relationships.

Good Information on Social Resiliency: 

Build Your Social Resilience | Psychology Today

Four Ways Social Support Makes You More Resilient (berkeley.edu)

 

Education

Where do I get information and Training? 

Training – Suicide Prevention Resource Center (sprc.org)

Free online training from Zero Suicide Alliance

Pages - Maryland Suicide Prevention Program

NAMI Basics | NAMI

MHFA_One-Pager.pdf (mentalhealthfirstaid.org)

Good Information about Mental health for all ages/groups:

Adolescents:

Mental health of adolescents (who.int)

Pages - Primary Behavioral Health and Early Intervention (maryland.gov)

Get Education and Help for Children | MHMAD (mhamd.org)

Young adults:

Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults | SAMHSA

Kids, Teens and Young Adults | NAMI

Promoting-and-Caring-for-Young-Adult-Mental-Health-02-01-2023.pdf (ucsf.edu)

Adults:

Mental Health Conditions | NAMI

Aging Americans:

The State of Mental Health and Aging in America (cdc.gov)

Mental health of older adults (who.int)

Veterans:

Suicide Prevention/Governor’s Challenge (maryland.gov)

Veteran Mental Health Services | Wounded Warrior Project

Veterans & Active Duty | NAMI

Sexual assault and Domestic Violence Victims:

Trauma, Healing, and Mental Health - NCDVTMH 

Mental Health and Domestic Violence - Women's Advocates - Women's Advocates (wadvocates.org)

Effects of Sexual Violence | RAINN

Recovering from Rape and Sexual Trauma - HelpGuide.org

Resources for Help and Support (cdc.gov)

Advocacy

How can I advocate for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Laws and Policies? Support public policies and laws at the local, state and national level that enable support for mental health and suicide prevention of all humans regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, color, or national origin. 

Join Legislative Action Groups aligned to National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention organizations.  

Take Action | Advocacy | MHAMD

Advocate for suicide prevention | AFSP

Action Center | The National Council on Aging (ncoa.org)

NAMI | NAMI Advocacy Headquarters (quorum.us)

Community

Connect and Team with community Mental Health and Suicide prevention organization in your community to promote events and initiatives. The key is finding out how a club can connect with mental health/suicide prevention organizations and support their mission.

Mental Health Non-profits in Maryland  Maryland Nonprofits and Charities | Donate, Volunteer, and Review | GreatNonprofits

Mental Health Association of Maryland (mhamd.org)

211 Maryland | MD Health And Human Services | Get Help (211md.org)

Maryland | AFSP

Pages - Maryland Suicide Prevention Program

Help

How do you incorporate Mental Health and Suicide Awareness into the club schedule? Clubs should begin by reviewing their legacy/planned events and activities, discuss with club program leads how mental health and suicide awareness could be incorporated into projects.  Review local scheduled events sponsored by Mental Health and Suicide Prevention organizations, brainstorm how the club or clubwomen can support the event. Finally, create a specific fundraiser every year that will support a specific organization or program in your community.  

Top 10 Things Clubs Can Do to Promote Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

  1. Support and participate in the Maryland Special Events under Upcoming Events tab of the Maryland Special Projects webpage

  2. Appoint a MD Special Project Chair at the Club level to monitor special events and help promote topics into club activities and events. 

  3.  Add a monthly article highlighting a mental health/suicide awareness organization or healthy living topic related to the REACH to the club Newsletter 

  4. Schedule a guest speaker for a club meeting to increase clubwomen’s awareness of a mental health topic, offer a free training event on suicide prevention by looking at the training available under the Education tab of the Maryland Special Projects webpage

  5. Organize a walk team for a Mental Health/suicide prevention organization.  Out of the Darkness Walk (Out of the Darkness Walks (afsp.org)), Mental Health Awareness walk (Home (namiwalks.org)), Alzheimer's Association Walk (2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's | Alzheimer's Association |) etc. 

  6. Add 988 cards to hygiene bags for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or human trafficking victims (order material at orders.gpo.gov/SAMHSA988/Pubs.aspx#Stickers  to promote awareness of the resource. 

  7. Post 988 flyers and stickers in community areas and bulletin boards.  Add stickers to the club sponsored little library and food pantry doors, place 988 information in food donation bags for the homeless. 

  8. Ask clubwomen to register and support the Action Groups highlighted under the Advocacy tab of the Maryland Special Project webpage to influence Mental Health and Suicide Prevention laws and policy. 

  9. Acknowledge and support the Monthly Awareness Topics with a 5-minute talk on the topic area at club meetings, have club women wear the applicable color for the topic at a meeting, or have a clubwoman deliver a testimonial about a mental health topic that has affected their life. 

  10. Identify a local charity from the Maryland non-profit list Maryland Nonprofits and Charities | Donate, Volunteer, and Review | GreatNonprofits to connect with and support over the next two years. 

Monthly Awareness Topics

January- Mental Wellness Month

February- American Heart Month, ***Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil 17 Feb 2025***

March- Brain Injury Awareness Month (TBIs) 

April- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

May- National Mental Health/Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Older Adult Month. 

June-National PTSD Awareness Month

July- National Minority Mental Health Month

August- Self Awareness Month

September- National Suicide Prevention Month, ***988 Day- Sept 8th***

October- Depression Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ***National Mental Health Day- OCT 10th***

November- National Family Caregiver Month

December- Grief Awareness Month

Upcoming events

“World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2024”

World Mental Health Day – October 10th (wmhdofficial.com)

On 10 October 2024 we will be celebrating World Mental Health Day with the theme ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’ chosen by a global vote open to the public, including World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) members, stakeholders, and supporters.

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) was established in 1948, is the oldest mental health advocacy organization in special consultative status with the United Nations since 1963 and has been admitted into official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

From its inception, WFMH stressed the importance of mental health and world citizenship as a priority for all governments. WFMH’s role is in influencing how this can be achieved through collaboration with a range of different agencies such as the United Nations, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), WHO (World Health Organization), food and agricultural organizations, ILO (International Labor Office) and other organizations and institutions with an interest in promoting mental health and world citizenship. In 1992, in pursuit of these founding objectives, WFMH founded an annual World Mental Health Day on 10 October to expand education and advocacy about mental health.

The 2024 World Mental Health Day theme ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’ provides us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to promote global citizenship and mental health awareness by making our workplaces a healthier place, especially as 60% of the global population is in employment and employees spend 60% of their time in the workplace.

World Mental Health Day Tool Kit-

WMHD2024 - ‘It Is Time To Prioritise Mental Health In The Workplace’ (wmhdofficial.com)

Promote your event on social media:

#WFMHWorldMentalHealthDay

 #WMHD2024

 #WorkplaceMentalHealth

 #PrioritizeMentalHealthintheWorkplace 

#MentalHealthintheWorkplace

 #WorldMentalHealthDay2024

 #WorkplaceWellness

The History of World Mental Health Day

History of WFMH – World Mental Health Day (wmhdofficial.com)

back to top

Copyright © 2001-2014 GFWC Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs, Inc. - gfwcmdweb@gmail.com