This month PU4P has chosen to highlight Minority Mental Health Awareness. July is associated with freedom and independence, however for many in our community that has not felt true. 2020 has been a watershed year for understanding how intergenerational racial inequity and historic trauma impacts our BIPOC community. In 2018, we felt the impact of the shooting at MSD. We rushed in to support and care for those acutely affected. We quickly realized that many of the students, teachers, parents and community members had been touched by violence, grief or loss before. This compounding effect of trauma upon trauma puts so many of our community at risk of mental, physical and emotional health issues.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ~ Maya Angelou POET, DANCER, PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, AUTHOR
What we learned was that a more inclusive view of support was needed. 44% of MSD students are Black, Indigenous, People of Color. In a study from 2017, 41.5% of students 12-17 years old received care for a major depressive episode, however only 35.1% of Black youth and 32.7% of Hispanic youth received any treatment (SAMHSA).
PU4P understands that many of our community who are BIPOC deal with more stigma regarding mental health issues. On top of that, sometimes non-existent mental health coverage and lack of access to high quality services ensures that healing is hobbled. For this reason, PU4P was born. We actively ensure that our community has quality, evidenced based, low cost or pro bono services available for those affected by MSD. PU4P is made up of a diverse community of professionals. We stand firm in embracing all who come to us for help, no matter the color of their skin, the religion they follow, or their political beliefs. We align with the communities around our country in working towards a society where all people are treated equally. If you would like to learn more about supporting your client's unique culture, click here for a free training by HHS. Please continue to check our Facebook page for updates and let us know if you have any questions. If you would like to join our therapist directory, apply here. We look forward to continuing to serve our community with you.
Honoring the 17
Make Our Schools Safe was founded by Lori and Ilan Alhadeff to create laws and protocols to ensure school safety. From the website: "Make Our Schools Safe is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting students and teachers at school. Our mission is to empower students and staff to help create and maintain a culture of safety and vigilance in a secure school environment. Our foundation collaborates with high-level security advisors to offer survival information for protection in emergencies. We are focused on bringing these skills to schools so teachers feel confident to protect their students and themselves." For more information, visit the website Make Our Schools Safe.
PU4P Updates Interested in joining our trauma trained therapists (licensed only) - please take a few moments of your time and join the PU4P referral directory. The MSD community will need services for the long run. PU4P links those in need with a vetted list of trauma therapists. We ask for a commitment of 2 pro-bono clients a year. For more information or questions, please contact info@pu4p.org. Please support PU4P by designating it as your charity with The AmazonSmile Foundation. They will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible smile.amazon.com purchases. Don't forget to check our Facebook page for the most current events, updates, and information about PU4P! Thank you for your support of PU4P and your dedication to the Parkland community.