World Suicide Prevention Day

by | Sep 10, 2020 | Mental Health

Every year, September 10th is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day. This day is in conjunction with September serving as Suicide Prevention Month to create awareness about the mental health challenges that millions of people face every day. At Apportis, it is our goal for everyone to have access to mental health resources at all times.

The suicide statistics are extremely frightening in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017, suicide claimed over 47,000 lives, making it the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It is sad to see that those numbers have only increased since then. Furthermore, it was shown to be the second leading cause of death among the population age group of 10-34.

The the COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health awareness and suicide prevention discussions to become even more crucial. The United States is actively working to support the mental health needs of its citizens. Shockingly, the national suicide rates are now at the highest point since World War II. In effort of aiding United States’ citizens, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved “988” to be the official National Suicide Hotline number. The number becomes active on July 16, 2022. Until then, the current hotline number is 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Listed below are some tips from the World Health Organization (WHO) on how to look after your mental health:

  • Keep informed. Listen to advice and recommendations from your national and local authorities.
  • Have a routine. Keep up with daily routines as far as possible, or make new ones.
  • Minimize newsfeeds. Try to reduce how much you watch, read or listen to news that makes you feel anxious or distressed.
  • Social contact is important. If your movements are restricted, keep in regular contact with people close to you by telephone and online channels.
  • Alcohol and drug use. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink or don’t drink alcohol at all.
  • Screen time. Be aware of how much time you spend in front of a screen every day.
  • Social media. Use your social media accounts to promote positive and hopeful stories. Correct misinformation wherever you see it.
  • Help others. If you are able to, offer support to people in your community who may need it, such as helping them with food shopping.
  • Support health workers. Take opportunities online or through your community to thank your country’s health-care workers and all those working to respond to COVID-19.

We encourage our community to reach out to our company, their loved ones, other mental health advocates, etc. to discuss their mental health needs. There are many resources available to those struggling with mental health disparities. Please remember: Your Life Matters!

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

by | Jul 31, 2020 | Mental Health

July 31st, marks the end of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Any person of any race, culture, gender, identity, etc. can experience mental health challenges throughout their life. Despite this, minorities oftentimes encounter difficulty in receiving treatment. At Apportis, we ensure that everyone is treated equally as our number one goal is to support anyone in need of help.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there was an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts in America in 2018, and 48,344 of those resulted in fatality. The age-adjusted suicide rate for minorities including American Indians, Alaska Natives, African Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders in the United States in 2018 was 28.39 individuals for every 100,000 people. Additionally, a 2017 CDC study provided that suicide was the second leading cause of death for African Americans, ages 15 to 24.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is dedicated to creating awareness and appreciation for the mental health campaign “Strength Over Silence.” They have an ongoing docuseries comprised of the stories of those who have fought against and recovered from mental health challenges with an emphasis on community and culture. Apportis encourages you to view their docuseries to educate yourself on the importance of people’s backgrounds within the realm of mental health.

Unintended negative mental health disparities have become more prevalent amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that it is now even more important than it ever has been to address treatment options for physical and mental health management. Our community must engage in programs and practices that advocate for racial and minority groups in their home, work, and social environments. According to the CDC, some factors that contribute to an increased risk of contracting illnesses such as the Coronavirus for racial and ethnic minority groups include discrimination, limited healthcare access and utilization, occupation disparities, education/income/wealth gaps, and housing shortcomings. Visit the CDC website for further explanation into these factors.

The United States is actively working to support the mental health needs of its citizens, especially during the challenging times that COVID-19 has brought upon the nation (the national suicide rates are now at the highest point since World War II). The Federal Communications Commission approved “988” to be the official National Suicide Hotline number. The number becomes active on July 16, 2022. Until then, the current hotline number is 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

What Can You Do?
Contact us at Apportis about our tele-behavioral and case management platform, watch the National Alliance on Mental Illness “Strength Over Silence” docuseries, strive to be inclusive and appreciative towards racial and minority groups, share your support on social media, and so much more!