Contact: Isidro Torres, Executive Director
Email: itorres@namiep.org 
Phone: 915-316-5019

El Paso, TX – May 25, 2022 – NAMI El Paso sends our sympathies and condolences to the community of Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers tragically lost their lives yesterday. There is no reason for this senseless loss of life. Our community stands with Uvalde and offers our support along with our state organization, NAMI Texas. We also offer our support to the people of Buffalo, NY, who less than two weeks ago faced a hate crime that was all too familiar.

El Paso knows all too well the impact of mass shootings in our communities. The fear, distress, anger, and countless emotions that we undergo. With each passing tragedy, the public’s confidence in the safety of our schools, grocery stores, and other public spaces is eroded. For any El Pasoan who may need someone to talk to, we encourage reaching out to Emergence Health Network’s 24/7 Crisis Line at (915) 779-1800. Additional resources include the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990 and NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) — open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

Mental health programs are severely underfunded in this country, and access to needed care may not be readily available.  However, while mental health issues are a problem, they are not the problem with gun violence in America.  The American Psychiatric Association has stated that the overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and instead are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime.  We ask that any public officials be guarded in their rhetoric that argues otherwise, as it may further stigmatize and interfere with people accessing needed treatment. Mental illness is not a scapegoat. Mental illness impacts everyone worldwide, yet it is in our country where we see these mass shootings occur again and again. We cannot stand idly by for the next. It is time to look at the root cause and come up with meaningful and sensible solutions to end gun violence. 

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For more information on how you can support the communities of Uvalde and Buffalo visit Uvalde Strong Fund and Buffalo Together

NAMI Texas Statement

NAMI National Statement

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In this life, there is one thing that I have learned that is, we can pick our friends, but we cannot choose the family we are born or adopted into. With that being said, life looks a little different when you have a family member that has a mental illness.

Growing up in a home with a brother that is bipolar, there was a lot of responsibility placed upon myself and my other siblings to ensure that my brother was ok. No one discussed my brother’s mental health in our home, and it was something looked at as if it could be fixed. The lack of professional healthcare created a very unstable situation for everyone in the house. As an adult, I have become my brother’s sounding board and voice of reason. I am the one he calls when things do not feel right to him, and when the world looks a little complicated, this did not happen overnight. My family would tell my brother to pray about it, and God would fix it all.

Historically, the African American community has a lack of trust in healthcare professionals and secretly dealt with mental health issues. My views have always been different because of my mother. My mother believes in God; however, she also made sure that we understood the importance of proper healthcare and the seriousness of taking care of our mental health. Watching my brother and his struggles as a child, I decided to learn everything I could about what he was experiencing. I watched him as a fifteen-year-old start drinking to deal with the emotions he was experiencing.

As an adult, the few drinks he had as a teenager became a full blow alcohol addiction, and he was still being told to pray about it, and God would fix it. There came the point that my brother called not knowing what to do and if he would make it to the next day. As a family member to an individual with an untreated mental health disorder, it became my job to finally speak up and help him get the help he needed. No one tells you the pain that comes along with calling the police to do a well check on a family member. However, that well check saved my brother’s life. My brother is now receiving proper healthcare and is mentally in a good place. The important thing about caring for a family member with a mental health diagnosis is remembering to care for yourself. When we place all the focus on caring for others, we can easily forget that we need to make sure that we are taking care of our own healthcare needs and practicing self-care.

If we fail to take time out for ourselves eventually, we will not be there for our family members or anyone else. If you have ever taken a flight, you have heard the flight attendant say if air pressure drops, place the mask on yourself before assisting others. This is important to remember when caring for a family member. We love them and care for them, but it is critical to place our own health first to care for anyone else properly. If you find yourself unsure of what to do, look for a support group, and it is ok to find someone to talk to yourself. Seeing a therapist does not make you a weak individual; it actually takes a strong person to understand that they cannot do it alone and seek help.

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Sometimes we can find ourselves in a dark place feeling lost and alone, not knowing how to express the feelings and thoughts that we are having. Being in the middle of a pandemic does not help with feelings of loneliness or the idea of wanting to give up. For many of us, life has completely changed, and being away from the people who care about us has left many individuals with feelings that we do not matter, and no one would care if we cease to exist. The truth is if we sit down and talk to someone and work through those feelings, there will be several people who care about every one of us. The key is to reach out and receive the resources available to help guide us from that dark place in life. It is ok not always to be the strong friend. Even the strongest person needs someone to talk to. It is also for us to check on our friends and family sometimes a quick hello to let someone know we care, and someone loves them could save a life. 

The month of September is suicide awareness month. Within the United States, Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death. On average, 132 Americans die from suicide daily (Center for Disease Control, 2018). There are many reasons that an individual might have thoughts of suicide. However, it is essential to know the signs to look for and what resource are available if having suicidal thoughts. According to the Center for Disease Control, some warning signs of suicidal ideation are

• Increased substance use

• Looking for a way to access lethal means

• Expressing hopelessness

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Increased anxiety

• Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.

• Increased anger or rage

• Extreme mood swings

• Talking or posting about wanting to die

• Making plans for suicide

• Giving away personal belongings

While these are signs, not everyone will display them. If you know someone who shows signs of having suicidal thoughts, it is vital to ask the uncomfortable question of whether they are having thoughts of suicide. It is also important to know the myths associated with suicide and what the reality is to that myth.

Some myths according to TeenMentalHealth.org (2020), ” Myth: Someone smart and successful would never die by suicide.

REALITY: It does not matter who you are an individual’s education or income. Suicidal ideation is not limited to any racial or ethnic background. 

MYTH: People who attempt suicide are just looking for attention

REALITY:  A suicide attempt is a cry for help; this is not attention-seeking behavior and should not be labeled that way. 

MYTH: When a person decides to take his or her life, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.

REALITY: Individuals who attempt suicide may be suffering from a mental disorder that will respond to appropriate and effective treatment. Appropriate treatment of a mental disorder significantly reduces the risk of suicide. For example, suicidal thinking associated with depression usually resolves with effective treatment of Depressive Disorder.

MYTH: Antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) increase the risk for suicide among adolescents.

REALITY: contrary to much public opinion, the treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors does not increase but rather decreases youth suicide rates.” (Myths and Facts).

Many cultures believe that one should not talk about suicide, and merely asking about suicide can create the idea of suicide in our loved ones. Truthfully asking if they are having suicidal thoughts can open the door for conversation and allow them to express that they are having suicidal thoughts. Once the door is open, it is essential to help them get the resources that could save their life.

If you believe someone is in danger or a danger to themselves, please call 911 immediately. Other resources are 

EMERGENCE CRISIS HOTLINE (Mental Health Crisis) 24/7: 915.779.1800 

TEXAS 211 (211texas.org) 24/7: Information and Referral 211 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline : 1 (800) 273-TALK or (800) 784-2433 

Veterans Crisis Line: 1 (800) 273-8255, Press 1

It is important to understand that having suicidal thoughts does not mean that you are weak or broken. There are several Myths about suicide that can be dangerous if believed. 

 References:

Center for Disease Control. (2018). Suicide Facts & Figures:. Retrieved from https://www.datocms-assets.com/12810/1587128056-usfactsfiguresflyer-2.pdf

Center for Disease Control. (2018). Suicide rising across the US. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/pdf/vs-0618-suicide-H.pdf

 TeenMentalHealth.org . (2020).  Suicide. http://teenmentalhealth.org/suicide/

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I want you to take the time to really think about your mental health. Describe your mental health in 3 words.  Are you able to simplify how you are feeling in 3 words? If you were, that is amazing and you are one step closer to narrowing down the underlying issue. If you were not able to, you don’t have to. Emotions are a part of human nature.  As we become more skilled in understanding emotions, we can identify what we feel and put it into words. With time and practice, we get better at knowing what we are feeling and why. This skill is called emotional awareness.

“Emotional awareness helps us know what we need and want (or don’t want!). It helps us build better relationships. That’s because being aware of our emotions can help us talk about feelings more clearly, avoid or resolve conflicts better, and move past difficult feelings more easily” (kidshealth.org).

You shouldn’t feel forced to simplify your emotions because sometimes they are indescribable.  If you are feeling an array of emotions and don’t know what to do, this blog will give you some ideas and techniques to help you. The goal of this blog is to educate and connect individuals with resources and others that are dealing with a mental illness (i.e. self, your spouse/partner, parents, children, etc.).

Emotions 101

Here are a few basic things about emotions:

1. Emotions come and go. Most of us feel many different emotions throughout the day. Some last just a few seconds, while others might linger a while and become a mood.

2. Emotions can be mild, intense, or anywhere in between. The intensity of an emotion can depend on the situation as well as the person.

3. There are no good or bad emotions, but there are good and bad ways of expressing (or acting on) emotions. Learning how to express emotions in acceptable ways is a separate skill — managing emotions — that is built on a foundation of being able to understand emotions.

Building Emotional Awareness

Emotional awareness helps us know and accept ourselves. So how can you become more aware of your emotions? Start with these three simple steps:

1. Make a habit of tuning in to how you feel in different situations throughout the day. You might notice that you feel excited after making plans to go somewhere with a friend. Or that you feel nervous before an exam. Simply notice whatever emotion you feel, then name that emotion in your mind. It only takes a second to do this, but it’s great practice. Notice that when each emotion passes, it makes room for the next experience.

2. Rate how strong the feeling is. After you notice and name an emotion, take it a step further: Rate how strongly you feel the emotion on a scale of 1–10, with 1 being the mildest feeling and 10 the most intense.

3. Share your feelings with the people closest to you. This is the best way to practice putting emotions into words. Make it a daily practice to share feelings with someone. You could share something that’s quite personal or something that’s simply an everyday emotion.

Just like anything else in life, when it comes to emotions, practice makes perfect! Remind yourself there are no good or bad emotions. Don’t judge your feelings — just keep noticing and naming them.

We are here to listen. We are here to educate. We are here to connect and support. We are judgement FREE!!!

(NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Illness Help Line
1-800-950-6264 or info@nami.org

Emergence Health Network Crisis Hotline- 24/7
915-779-1800                                                                                    

Toll free Crisis Hotline
1-877-562-6467

Crisis Text Line
Text 741741, free 24/7

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255(TALK)
Español: 1-888-628-9454

The post Mightier Than You Think appeared first on NAMI El Paso.

Selfcare is an essential part of everyday life that helps reduce stress and maintain or improve your health.

During a pandemic self-care is vital to one’s physical and mental health. Self-care doesn’t look the same for everyone selfcare care can be as simple as taking time out to read a book, taking time to pamper oneself with a spa day, a nice bath or just sitting outside and looking at the world around you.

It is important to try an eat properly, get the adequate amount of rest and when possible remove unnecessary stressors from your life. Sometimes we become so consumed with life that we forget to take care of ourselves while taking care of everyone and everything around us. Monitor the amount of negative information you consume and remember it is ok to detox from social media and take time away from our phone so that we can recharge. Learning that there will be times that what we normally would do for selfcare will not adequately suffice and it is ok to seek professional help when the world around us has become too stressful.

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