1. Sign up for Mental Health First Aid.

"Help create community immunity! We can all learn more about the risks of self-harm, how to help prevent suicide, and how to help people who may be struggling, by taking one of our Mental Health First Aid courses," said Tisha Deeghan, Executive Director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB).

This course teaches participants how to help people who are in mental crisis, or potentially could be, and offers ways to:

• • Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
  • Listen nonjudgmentally.
  • Give reassurance and information.
  • Encourage appropriate professional help.
  • Encourage self-help and other supports.

2. Take a confidential online mental health screening.

3. Help reduce stigma of mental health conditions

Visit the Good Therapy Blog to learn more:
http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-matters-8-stigmatizing-phrases-to-stop-using-050715

4. Practice good self-care strategies.

A few examples include:

• • Share a smile with strangers; some people go all day without anyone acknowledging them.
  • Start a cycle of encouragement; tell others what you appreciate about them.
  • Listen to music that inspires and motivates you.
  • Write a poem on something you care about, or an article on something you feel is interesting.
  • Send a postcard to someone far away; reconnect.

5. Join the conversation.

• Sign up to receive the weekly CSB News.
• Follow CSB on Twitter.
• Follow CSB on Facebook.

Help is available, treatment works and people do recover! Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board for guidance and resources at 703-383-8500 (TTY 711). CSB Emergency Services are available 24/7 at 703-573-5679 (TTY 711). Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.