#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Black #Pastors, #Church Leaders Invited To #MentalHealth And #SuicidePrevention Training

By Ginny McCabe, contributing writer

#Mentalhealthprofessionals and faith leaders that serve #blackcommunities are partnering to raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention with a training and educational event in April.

“There will be a great deal of activity, learning and support that’s going to be provided,” said Dr. Quinton Moss, MD, #psychiatrist and CEO at Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, LLC.

The Taskforce to Improve #MentalHealth in the #AfricanAmerican Community has created a new, one-day program that will raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention.

“We were able to partner with Miami Regionals, Interact for Health, Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, Kettering Ministry Care Line, Saving Grace Community #Church, and the Butler County #SuicidePrevention Coalition as well as the #AmericanPsychiatricAssociation Foundation,” Moss said. “They all had a part in pulling this all together, to be able to have the training and resources for this great event.”

Restoring Connections: Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative will be April 21 at Miami University Voice of America Learning Center. The program is offered at no cost to participants and includes breakfast and lunch. Guests can register to attend at https://envisionpartnerships.org/what-we-do/prevention-coalitions/bcspc.

“The #AfricanAmerican community has had significant challenges in regard to engaging in #mentalhealthcare. Also, we’ve had increased prevalence of certain conditions and incidents, most notably, we’ve had a dramatic increase in the number of people who have attempted and completed #suicides over the past five years,” Moss said. “So, there’s a need in this community to provide greater support, access, education, and reducing #stigma.”

For generations, the #black #church, or churches in general, have been an informal way that people have received #mentalhealthcare, he said.

Additionally, #pastors and #church leaders often have their own #mentalhealth needs, Moss said.

This is the first event offered by the Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative. In an on-going effort, the collaborative was formed to raise awareness about #mentalhealth, reduce #suicide, increase access to #mentalhealthservices, and to provide education and on-going support for leaders in the #black faith-based community.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

“We’re hoping that people who serve #AfricanAmericans in their communities and their #churches all would participate,” Moss said.

Topics covered throughout the day will include #mentalhealth in #blackcommunities, #depression, #suicide, and how to refer community members for treatment.

“This meeting is focusing more on #depression and #suicide, and we think in subsequent meetings, because we hope to have this at least a couple of times a year, we’ll talk about things like #trauma, #anxiety, and #substanceabusedisorders,” Moss said. “We hope this will be an on-going supportive and learning opportunity for #pastors and #church leaders.”

He said there is a schedule of events planned, beginning with registration and breakfast. There will also be #QuestionPersuadeRefer/#QPR Training offered in small groups. #QPR is a #suicideprevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of #suicide and question, persuade, and refer people at risk for #suicide for help. The day will conclude with lunch.

“#Pastors and #church leaders can leave there with some tools to be able to help and start to support the folks in their #churches who do come to crisis and how to get them to care,” Moss said.

Other highlights will include talks from Dr. Daniella Johnson, #psychiatrist and chief medical officer at the Lindner Center for HOPE, who will speak to the status of #mentalhealth in the #AfricanAmerican community, Dr. Moss will address #depression and #suicideprevention, and Senior #Pastor Eric Hollie of New Jerusalem Apostolic Temple will help lead a discussion about pastoral #self-care.

“Another important component of this is looking at pastoral #self-care. One out of ten #pastors contemplate #suicide. So, our goal is to provide #pastors with some support. That’s where Kettering has been very helpful in providing access to their Kettering Ministry Care Line, which is a support specifically for #pastors and their families when they are in the midst of crisis,” Moss said.

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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.

James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.

In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.

He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.

James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!

For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:

www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)

James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.

If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org