Heart is where the Home is.

As winter starts to creep in, let's showcase this incredible program that was launched last year. Overnight movie nights were hosted by First United Methodist church in Salt Lake City. In a joint effort with other local orgs, they opened their doors to unsheltered folks when temperatures dropped dangerously low. Providing warmth, food, clothes and most importantly community. The temperature is dipping once again and we are glad to know the movie nights will be back for a sequel this year. Find out more at https://curbsidecompassion.org/

September is Recovery Awareness Month.

A child sends a letter with a simple request.

To play with their Dad. Alcohol and substance use can take away parents and children alike.

Let's see if we can change the story by writing some wrongs

What is it they say? It's about the journey, not the destination.

Part of our Who What Where Why Mental Health Series, Steven graciously allows us along for the ride of a day in his life.

Even if we feel we are moving alone let's keep moving forward together.

#mentalhealth #underwater #forward #life

What is it they say? It's about the journey, not the destination.

Part of our Who What Where Why Mental Health Series, Steven graciously allows us along for the ride of a day in his life.

Even if we feel we are moving alone let's keep moving forward together.

#mentalhealth #underwater #forward #life

"HYPER ACTIVE"

All his life Cory knew he was different, it just took him a little longer to figure out why. As he faces his recent adult ADHD diagnosis, he embarks on a quest to learn how several friends with disabilities continue to cope and how their journeys might impact his own.

The film features several poignant sequences of introspection, immersive cinematography and editing as well as lively conversations with featured guests including actress Diana Elizabeth Jordan, screenwriter Marc Muszynski, model Natalie Oden and ADHD advocate Kamden Hainsworth.

Creating Space. What happens when...

We create together?

We connect together.

We build together.

We grow together.

In the summer of 2022, we got 3 artists to showcase their art in some parks across Salt Lake City. Why? we wanted to provide a stage for them. But also offer a place to create community around them. It was incredible to listen, to watch, to learn and be inspired. This is what Create Space and Parked Art is all about. Watch the video and get ready for our 2023 Spring program! Thanks to Salt Lake Arts Council for supporting the 2022 Creating Community through Diversity through the 2021-2022 Racial Equity and Inclusion Grant.

1 IN 5 PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES. LET’S MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE. See it THIS way 2023 (including Labeled Fest) will be held on May 3rd, 17th & 31st. With an incredible program of interactive content from around the world and right here in Salt Lake City. Featuring films, ideas and tips celebrating and educating issues around mental health, disability and recovery, with a goal of ending stigma. Including youth and all ages programs. Check out Seeitthisway.org for more info

Needs for a good foundation.

There is no denying that homelessness is on the rise. Whether in Salt Lake City, Boston or San Francisco, these stories are all similar across the world no matter the geographic location. The issues leading to these situations are varied but one thing is true, we need to come together as a communities from the top to the bottom to offer assistance to everybody and anybody.

We spent some time with advocates, community leaders, activists and some people who need a helping hand here and there to see what can and needs to be done to end homelessness. So pull up a chair and listen to some stories and lend a hand.

This program is by no means a direct path to ending the issues so many are facing. It is meant to be an open door to engage in conversations to ultimately build community through the stories of lived experience.

The series was filmed in Salt Lake City by Mental Healthy F.i.T. during the winter on 2022 and is comprised of (3) 10 minute episodes. The project is designed around the concept of telling stories to create change and all good stories have a beginning, middle and end.

Beginning - Ending Homelessness before it begins with youth education. Released for viewing in November 2022.

Middle - Resources for those in active homelessness. Released for viewing in December 2022.

End - Action plans for sustainable care. Released for viewing in January 2023.

Each episode provides insights and implementable actions plans that we can all follow to help impact those experiencing homelessness.

All opinions depicted within this video are those of the individual. Be sure to evaluate the safety of yourself and others before interacting with anyone you do not know.

Check out the full resources and impact ideas here. https://mentalhealthyfit.org/homeless

But what about those that are experiencing homelessness at the moment I hear you say?

Of course we need to focus a majority of care and resources towards this population. There are many reasons why someone may end up living an unsheltered life, including poverty, rising housing and rental markets, lack of retirement funds, unemployment and mental illness mixed with substance misuse. Whatever the reason, there is no shame if you or anyone else finds themselves in this situation.

Much like episode one, let’s look at how we can effect change within the MIDDLE of homelessness.

IMPACT IDEAS

How can communities help those in this predicament? RESOURCES!

Just as there are many roads that lead to homelessness, there are just as many ways to help those in need, such as…

Extended capacity in shelters.

Attraction and retention of caseworkers.

Simplified action plans to access resources.

Innovative facilities.

Tiny home villages and extended stay “hotels” are great pieces of the puzzle as long as they include wrap around services to help guests gain the medical, clinical and therapeutic tools needed to successfully maintain sustainable housing.

Sample Wrap Around Services:

Case management (service coordination)

Counseling (individual, family, group, youth, and vocational)

Crisis care and outreach

Education/special education services, tutoring

Family support, independent living supports, self-help or support groups

Psychiatric consultation, community-based in-patient psychiatric care

Health services

Legal services, protection and advocacy

Recreation therapy

Residential treatment, respite care

Small therapeutic group care, therapeutic foster care

Transportation

Remember the best plan of action to gain access and awareness of services is to call 211 or visit 211.org.

All opinions depicted within this video are those of the individual. Be sure to evaluate the safety of yourself and others before interacting with anyone you do not know.

#homeless #community #actionplan #films #ideas #tips #education

"Homeless Action Plans part 3"

We already investigated Beginning to End Homelessness with part one and two in the series by elevating education to impact homelessness progression. Part One (Beginning) can be viewed here and Part Two (middle) here. Now let’s delve into helping those continuing their success journey.

Now you’ve got sustainable housing, found and job and things are looking up. But this is not the end of the journey to end homelessness. We need to ensure that “aftercare” resources are available and accessible. If not, then it’s an easy slip and slide to find us right back where we started.

Whatever the reason, there is no shame if you or anyone else finds themselves in this situation. Much like episode one and two, let’s look at how we can effect change within the END of homelessness.

Check out the full resources and impact ideas here.

Remember the best plan of action to gain access and awareness of services is to call 211 or visit 211.org.

All opinions depicted within this video are those of the individual. Be sure to evaluate the safety of yourself and others before interacting with anyone you do not know.

"Halloween"

October is upon us, which not only means things that go bump in the night but also the beginning of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This is a very common issue in mental health but can be treated as long as we don't treat depression with shame by forcing people to wear masks instead of ask for help.

So let's celebrate mental health as well as Halloween this month.

RJ Walker brings one of his poems to us this month. RJ Walker is a Professional Presenter and Spoken Word artist on Salt Lake City, Utah. "What's a spoken word artist?" you may be thinking. Well, RJ Walker is proficient in multiple mediums of spoken word. Voice Over, Voice Acting, Creative Writing, Storytelling, Stand-Up Comedy, Performance (slam) Poetry. He also has experience as a Pitch Artist, and Product Demonstrator. Check out RJ's stuff at rjwalkerpoet.com

A mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. Seasonal affective disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. Treatment includes light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy, and medications. #mentalhealth #halloween #poem #poetry #sad #depression #mask

"Suicide Hotline"

Based on "I FINALLY Called The Suicide Hotline, Only To Have Them Put Me On Hold" by Davis Purtell. Yein Ji brings us Suicide Hotline for our September film in conjunction with Suicide Awareness Month. Yein says "I came across this story while browsing through articles. The title made me laugh, but after reading through the author's experience, it stayed with me for months. I found their Instagram and asked if I could tell it through a short film. As someone with depression, I wanted to make something about suicide prevention while still being comedic."

Although our character finds another hurdle in their mental health journey, with hindsight, it was just what they needed. Just be sure to keep trying to move forward. Call, text, talk and you too will experience hindsight. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 9-8-8. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. text TALK to 741741. Because your story's not finished yet and we need you here to tell it. #suicideawareness #survivor #forward #life #selfcare #mentalhealth

How long will you have the cast on? Can I sign it?

I heard the news about the cancer, it's terrible, how can I help?

Can I pick up anything for you?

Of course I can drive you to your appointment!

Just imagine if mental health was treated the same way as physical health. It's just as important and sometimes as life threatening.

So come on, let's help each other out and #breakthestigma in mental health.

Mental Healthy F.i.T.'s film for August screened at Labeled Fest 2022 and is a wonderful PSA by Madison Mackay. It is a short and sweet tale, switching the roles of how people treat Mental Health featuring a few conversations with an a poor fellow who has had a bit of an accident.

Have you tried some chamomile tea?

Maybe go for a walk?

How about a smile?

For more mental health films, ideas and tips, check out Mentalhealthyfit.org and subscribe to our channel.

#mentalhealth #films #ideas #tips #selfcare #smiles #vibes

This month, we are showcasing Sid Penrose. A wonderful film that screened at Labeled Fest 2022 in May. We are very honored to provide the film for your viewing pleasure but also in the hopes of the educational value that it can bring. Remember to subscribe to our channel and check out mentalhealthyfit.org for more Films, Ideas and Tips around mental health.

Suicidal is a difficult subject to approach but the film's creative team has expertly produced a compelling piece around an important subject.

Charlie is presented with an escape from his deep depression when the mysterious man that he has been drawing suddenly knocks on his door.

Starring Kyle Mac & Bill Kates, 2 East 8th Productions Presents SID PENROSE, a Twilight Zone-style mystery about depression, thoughts of suicide, and the search for the hope to go on.

Isolated and alone, Charlie has been obsessively drawing pictures of Sid Penrose, a man he's seen outside of his house. He knows this man isn't real until he finds himself sitting across from him and contemplating the solution that Sid Penrose is offering--a way out.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide, please call 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. Because your story's not finished yet and we need you here to tell it.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service.

Be sure to check out 2east8th for other productions at https://www.2east8th.com/

About 2 East 8th:

We are storytellers. As a Chicago video production house, our roots grew from the building we’re named after. Whether it’s a creative project or a video marketing campaign, our goal is to entertain, inspire, and ignite collaboration. We are your destination for creative collaboration on Short Films and Sketch Comedy Videos. We make movies 🎥 and have fun doing it. Join us!

#suicide #mentalhealth #twilightzone #july #art #films #ideas #tips #recovery

Continuing our conversations around difficult but important subjects that shouldn't get swept under the rug. Mental Healthy F.i.T. provided a space for LGBTQ youth to come together and tell their stories of hope, perseverance and resilience on the road to recovery.

Between March and May 2022, a group of 8 Utah based LGBTQ youth attended and completed an iteration or Mental Healthy F.i.T's Authentic Perspective Program developed and presented around LGBTQ Youth Suicide awareness. Made possible and presented by the BW Bastion Foundation.

According to the Trevor Project, more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth seriously consider

suicide each year in the US.

42 % of all LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year...

These rates increase among trans, non-binary, and queer youth of color.

LGBTQ youth experience higher instances of depression, bullying, sexual assault, and physical harm...and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

Top Risk Factors Include, LGBTQ-based victimization and anti LGBTQ rhetoric. Parental and

familial Rejection. Discrimination in Schools and Social Situations. LGBTQ-based victimization and

anti LGBTQ rhetoric.

Top Protective Factors Include, Safe/Affirming Spaces. Social and family Support. Supportive Policies and Practices. Respected Identities pronouns, etc. Positive Youth Development.

Having 1 supportive adult in life can reduce the risk of Suicide attempt by 40%!

Having Access to 1 LGBT0-affirming space reduces the risk by 35%!

National Resources

The Trevor Project

thetrevorproject.org

The Family Acceptance Project

familyproject.sfsu.edu

National Resources

LGBTQ National Help

Youth Talkline

lgbthotline.org/talkline

Suicide Prevention

Resource Center - sprc.org

Utah Resources

UT Suicide Prevention Coalition

liveonutah.org

HMHI Mental Health Crisis Line

1800 273 8255

801 587 3000

Utah Resources

The Suicide Prevention and Service Department UT Pride Center.

Utahpridecenter.org/prevention

Safe UT - safeut.org

#LGBTQ #suicide #selfcare #awareness #stigma #survive #live #films #ideas #tips #mentalhealth #pride

Recently we partnered with The Disabled Rights Action Committee (DRAC) to document lived experience and stories about disability in Utah. Check out the intro to the project here.

Finish up your experience with a visit to The DRAC Digital Museum. It is designed to inspire a new generation of community members to learn from the past when making policy decisions for the future. We couldn't be more proud to make this content available to a wider audience.

Utah Disability Museum

What is punk? Punk is a creative lifestyle of individual expression. What is recovery? Recovery is overcoming adversities. We presented a workshop based on Punk Flyers. These were quick forms of communications created using old magazines, pictures and drawings that were collaged together and photocopied to help get the word out for upcoming shows. As punk is usually fast, hard, to the point and with an agenda, we thought this would be a perfect form of expressive recovery to amalgamate our struggles and inspirations.

A song about how mental illness can look differently on the outside compared to the struggle within. Some people wear their heart on their sleeves while others internalize it with a positive outlook and appear happy, even confident.

“Bite the bullet that brought you down,” is the chorus line that sends a message of overcoming. We all have goals, dreams and destinations to get to and mental illness can really bog us down. What overcoming can look like, is leaving a bad situation or relationship, quitting alcohol or helping someone else during your darkest time." Singer-songwriter and Advocate Valerie Rose Sterrett

#WorldMentalHealthDay

Surviving Suicide - Hoan Alone, Personal Stories From The Bridge

Let’s on success stories around this difficult subject for many. Remember if someone seems different, find out why. If you feel different, ask for help.

This animated documentary explores the issues of suicide through three intimate animated interviews.

Like any 19-year old young adult Sarah is ready to move out on her own. Her only challenge is that she has autism. So Sarah can be independent but still close to home her family has decided to build a Tiny House.

4 reasons why a Tiny House may be a good choice for living with autism.

1 - Affordable 2 - Adaptable - 3 - Maintainable 4 - Location. But mostly due to the adaptability enable unique features such as a quiet nook, soothing wall colors, comfort items where needed. Also the ability to live independently on family property.

What is Autism?

From Autismspeaks.org There is no one type of autism, but many. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today.

We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.

Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues.

Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism.

Thanks to John Meier for making the film, Maximus Extreme Living for building the tiny home and wonderful thanks to Sarah for the vision to live independently!

#autism #mentalhealth #tinyhomes #endstigma #change #create #joy

Members of Alliance House help shine light on our experiences. While helping grow community around us. Check out how Alliance House can help you. Focusing on creative elements of living with mental health issues, Grassroots Growth sheds light on art, photography, music, cooking and communicating to enhance existing treatment plans. Remember to L.E.A.P. (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner®) to help gain and build relationships and better help people with mental illness issues. https://www.alliancehouse.org/ Find out more about Labeled here. https://labeledfest.org/