Module 5

Living Balanced: Spiritual & Mental Health

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Session I: Alcohol and Substance AbuseWorkshop Objectives and Aims 1. To become familiar with issues

related to alcohol and substance abuse2. To become familiar with health

problems associated with alcohol and substance abuse

3. To become familiar with preventing and treating alcohol and substance abuse

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Let’s Talk About It

• What is alcohol and substance abuse? • What are the signs of alcohol or

substance abuse?• How can alcohol or substance abuse be

treated?• What role does spirituality play in

preventing or treating alcohol or substance abuse?

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Sharing the Knowledge• More than one in four adults experience a

mental health or substance abuse disorder in any given year.

• African American men have death rates that are at least twice as high as those for women for suicide, cirrhosis of the liver, and homicide. Much of this is the direct result of alcohol and substance abuse.

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Sharing the Knowledge• Alcohol and substance abuse is defined as the

uncontrollable craving, physical dependence and loss of control related to illicit and prescription drugs and drinking alcohol in binges or in large quantities over extended periods.

• This behavior can lead to legal troubles, social and personal turmoil, and emotional degeneration.

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Sharing the KnowledgeAlcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence,

is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:

– Craving--A strong need, or urge, to drink. – Loss of control--Not being able to stop drinking once

drinking has begun. – Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as

nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.

– Tolerance--The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high."

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Did You Know?

• Over the past 15 years, the suicide rate for African American male youth (ages 15-19) increased by 146%. Among African American males aged 15-19 years, firearms were used in 72% of suicides, while strangulation was used in 20% of suicides.

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• What is Spirituality?

• Does it Have Meaning to You?

• Is it Relevant in the World Today?

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Spirituality

Spiritual life coping strategies are defined as either external supports, for example support from a religious advisor (e.g. pastor or priest); or Internal supports such as private prayer, personal retreats for introspection, reading inspirational words, and reflection on one's beliefs and values.

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Your Opinion Matters—Connecting the Knowledge Inside• How can spirituality help prevent

alcohol or substance abuse?• Can spirituality health one deal with

pressures in life?

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Did You Know?

Recent medical studies have shown that persons with strong devotional practices and sacred beliefs cope better with stress and problems than those that do not have such practices and beliefs.

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Wrap-Up

• Quiz / Main Messages

LIVE WELL!

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Session II: Depression

Workshop Objectives and Aims1. To become familiar with issues

related to depression2. To become familiar with health

problems associated with depression3. To become familiar with preventing

and treating depression

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Let’s Talk About It

• What is depression? • What are the signs of depression?• How can depression be treated?

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Sharing the Knowledge Mental health is often a taboo subject

for African American men. In general, there is strong stigma associated with mental health problems and illnesses.

Issues related to culture, masculinity, and family history and one’s own social environment keeps men (and others) from addressing problems related to mental health.

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Sharing the Knowledge• It is estimated that between 7-10% of African

American men will develop depression during their lifetime. This may be an underestimate due to lack of screening and treatment services often sought by or offered to African-American men.

• If untreated depression can lead to loss of job, family and home. One can become isolated from others and eventually cause oneself, and even others, harm.

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Your Opinion Matters—Connecting the Knowledge Inside• Have you or someone you know ever

been depressed or “blue” for an extended period?– If so, what did you do? Did you share how

you felt with anyone else? – Did you get professional help?

• What stigmas or stereotypes have you heard about depression?

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Your Opinion Matters—Connecting the Knowledge Inside• Have You Ever Heard of “SLOW

SUICIDE?”

This is other self- destructive behavior that can accompany depression. This includes drug addiction, alcohol addiction, gang involvement, and other high-risk behaviors.

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Did You Know?

Depression is a serious, but treatable, mental health problem.

It is a medical problem not a personal weakness. It is also very common, affecting 10% of the U.S. population at any given time.

Be Lifted—Lift Up Others!

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Wrap-Up

• Quiz / Main Messages

LIVE WELL!