National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Virginia Media Contest 2013

In 2008, the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. To raise awareness of mental illness, prevention, treatment, and research in diverse communities during this month, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services - Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competence and the Statewide Cultural & Linguistic Competence Steering Committee are promoting a media contest for minority mental health awareness. Sponsor, participate in or host activities for a chance to win prizes and be highlighted in various publications. To read more about Bebe Moore Campbell go to http://tinyurl.com/6rf7dbf

Media Contest Rules:

How to participate: During the months of July - September, participate in, host, and/or sponsor an activity or product for youth or adults that promotes awareness of mental illness prevention, treatment or research in diverse communities (examples: fair, community service project, radio spot, video, poster, school event etc.). Share this activity or product through pictures, presentations, or video. 

Submit your media electronically to Cecily Rodriguez via email, mail or Google Docs. This contest is open to any group and/or organization in the state of Virginia. The deadline to submit media entries is September 30, 2013. Only media projects portraying mental illness awareness in the areas of prevention, treatment, recovery, or research in minority and traditionally underserved communities will be considered. Winning entries are subject to public distribution.  Media submissions will be reviewed and rated in two categories: Youth activities & Adult activities. Winners & Prizes will be announced during Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), October 7-13, 2013.

The top youth and adult activities will be selected to receive a prize and will have their media displayed and recognized throughout the state. 

Submit entries to via email, file sharing or mail:

Cecily Rodriguez, Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competence

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

1220 Bank St. • P. O Box 1797•

Richmond, VA 23218-1797

cecily.rodriguez@dbhds.virginia.gov                                                                                          

804.786.5872

El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de EE.UU. lanza recursos educativos para el Mercado de Seguros Médicos

Por favor acompañe al Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS) el 25 de junio a las 2:30 p.m. hora del este en un seminario en línea donde hablaremos sobre las nuevas herramientas educativas del mercado de seguros médicos. Hoy comenzamos la campaña educativa del mercado de seguros de salud en nuestros renovados sitios en línea, CuidadoDeSalud.gov en español y HealthCare.gov en inglés, enfocados en el consumidor. También lanzamos una línea telefónica abierta las 24 horas para que los estadounidenses se preparen para la inscripción abierta y contraten un seguro de salud médico. Las nuevas herramientas ayudarán a que los estadounidenses entiendan sus opciones y seleccionen la cobertura que mejor se adapte a sus necesidades cuando empiece la inscripción abierta en el nuevo mercado de seguro médico el 1 de octubre.

Número telefónico: 888-566-6154, código SALUD Webinar Link: https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/stakeholder2/  

Si tiene preguntas envíelas a: Latino@hhs.gov  or HHSIEA@hhs.gov .

Join us on the 13th Floor from 12-1pm for a summer diversion that also feeds your brain

June 5th- Darfur’s Skeleton- The rarely discussed topic of the affects of the Darfur conflict on the environment is the axis around which the 3 main stories of this documentary revolve. Life in the midst of a war zone, but also a celebration of a people's agency and the will to survive and move on. (52 min)

July 10th – Breaking the Silence: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Foster Youth Tell Their Stories - Powerful tales of both the successes and failures of the foster care system for a group of former foster youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ). (60 min)


July 31st – Burma- A Forgotten War- Armed with a spy camera and posing as a school teacher, filmmaker Lea Rekow secretly crosses the border of Thailand into Burma to document the startling resilience of the Burmese people who live under the rule of a corrupt junta. Burma: A Forgotten War documents the impact of landmines and the government's use of forced labor, torture, rape and drugs on the various ethnic minorities that continue to survive in the South East region of Burma. (40 min)

August 7th – Can- What does it take to heal from mental illness? Can Truong, a war refugee who was among the millions of boat people who fled Vietnam in the 1970's, was a model student, aspiring to become a doctor, when he was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. After years of unsuccessfully trying conventional medical treatments for his mental illnesses, Can becomes involved in the mental health consumer movement, a social and political effort by people labeled with mental illnesses who believe in recovery through self-determination and peer support. He embarks on a healing journey of a different kind — trying to reconcile cultural differences with his very traditional Confucian father and attempts to make sense of his childhood wounds. (59 min)


August 14th – Between Two Worlds – The Hmong Shaman in America- powerfully exposes the struggle of Hmong refugees in America. This classic documentary traces the lives of three Hmong families displaced thousands of miles from their villages in Northern Laos and alienated in American cities. (27 min)


For more information contact Cecily.rodriguez@dbhds.virginia.gov

Everyone is Welcome!

Advance Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the enhanced National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards April 24 in Washington, D.C., updating guidelines that were previously released by the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) in 2000. The National CLAS Standards provide a blueprint to help organizations reduce disparities and improve health care quality, while serving our nation's diverse communities.

http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=9630&lvl=3&lvlID=287