May is Mental Health Awareness Month In Every Story, There is Strength
Illustration for Mental Health Awareness Month featuring a gold and black ribbon in the center surrounded by diverse outstretched hands. Text reads: ‘May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Get involved and make a difference!

Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services, which includes Student Disability Services, joins the movement in solidarity and partnership with Human Resources with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together, indeed, we are stronger together when we embrace and support mental health.

#In Every Story There is Strength is this year's motto from NAMI:  more information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), including promotional material, is linked here.

NAMI shares information about identity and cultural aspects that influence individual journeys, including people living with a disability.  They also link to this article on why having mental health professionals with disabilities is important.

In addition to UMBC's NAMI student organization's outreach, to  end the stigma toward mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorders - On Our Own of Maryland's Distorted Perceptions/Refocus Look Again Campaign is a local Anti-Stigma initiative that supports mental health with local outreach to end stigma.  More information on their campaign is linked here.

In addition to the information above, UMBC has many resources and opportunities outlined here:


Student Resources for undergraduate and graduate students include:

UMBC Retriever Integrated Heath has counseling and related services (Link) which includes

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include:
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student employee job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!
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Creating a disability-friendly campus is a collaborative effort that benefits everyone, fostering inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities campus wide.  By doing our part and working together, we create a campus environment where people with disabilities feel supported, respected, and empowered.  This post may be a gentle reminder of resources and departments for some, and create new awareness for others, as accessibility is everyone's responsibility. 

Everyone:

Read up on UMBC's Style Guide on Inclusive and Affirming Language to communicate well about disability 

Sign up for Accessibility and Disability Services myUMBC page

Go on UMBC's Accessibility Tour to better support your role as an accessibility ambassador.

Report Accessibility Concerns online via the ADS website.

Students (Undergraduate and Graduate):

Check out Student Disability Services Student (SDS) Resource Pages.
  • Getting Started: Registering with SDS for Accommodations
  • Returning students may complete a semester request in Accommodate to communicate approved accommodations to their new classes
  • Look over syllabi and schedule accommodated tests early.
  • If a need for accommodation has changed, or there is a new request - reach out for an update via Accommodate.
  • Get busy with student organizations that are welcoming and inclusive for students with disabilities.  UMBC has the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society for Students with Disabilities - join an upcoming meeting.
  • Find and use an accessibility checker on documents, presentations, and digital content to assure that all that you are sharing socially, academically and vocationally has ideal accessibility.

Faculty:

Check out Student Disability Services' Faculty Resources Page

As course syllabi are updated, add or confirm UMBC's recommended Disability Syllabus Statement 

Take advantage of all that Instructional Technology and Blackboard (via Ally) have to offer for course accessibility:

Whether through accessible facilities, inclusive policies, or awareness initiatives, each step we take brings us closer to a campus that celebrates diversity and offers a welcoming space for everyone to thrive. Let's embark on this journey together, co-creating a community that values accessibility, dignity, and mutual respect.

A photo of a woman with dreadlocks and noise-canceling headphones sitting at home with a laptop accompanies this post.  Credit: Surface via Unsplash.

Enjoy some of the excellence from this year's Paralympic Games in Paris (they always follow the Olympics)
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Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services, in solidarity with Student Disability Services, joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together, indeed, we are stronger together for mental health.

#Take a Mental Health Moment is this year's motto from NAMI:  more information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), including promotional material, is linked here.

NAMI shares information about identity and cultural aspects that influence individual journeys, including people living with a disability.  They also link to this article on why having mental health professionals with disabilities is important.

In addition to UMBC's NAMI student organization's outreach, to  end the stigma toward mental health, behavioral health or substance use disorders - On Our Own of Maryland's Distorted Perceptions/Refocus Look Again Campaign is a local Anti-Stigma initiative that supports mental health with local outreach to end stigma.  More information on their campaign is linked here.

In addition to the information above, UMBC has many resources and opportunities outlined here:


Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC Retriever Integrated Heath has counseling and related services (Link) which includes

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include:
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student employee job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!

A thumbnail photo credit Marcel Straub via  Unsplash
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Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services, in solidarity with Student Disability Services, joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together, indeed, we are stronger together for mental health.

#More Than Enough is this year's motto from NAMI:  more information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), including promotional material, is linked here.

NAMI shares information about identity and cultural aspects that influence individual journeys, including people living with a disability.  They also link to this article on why having mental health professionals with disabilities is important.

One challenging area is ending the stigma toward mental health, behavioral health or substance use disorders - On Our Own of Maryland's Distorted Perceptions/Refocus Look Again Campaign is a local Anti-Stigma initiative that support mental health by working to end stigma.  More information on their campaign is linked here.

In addition to the information above, UMBC has many resources and opportunities outlined here:


Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC Retriever Integrated Heath has counseling and related services (Link) which includes

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include:
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!

Photo of tiles spelling out  MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS is displayed; credit Marcel Straub via  Unsplash
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Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services, in solidarity with Student Disability Services, joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together, indeed, we are stronger together for mental health.



One challenging area is ending the stigma toward mental health, behavioral health or substance use disorders - On Our Own of Maryland's Distorted Perceptions/Refocus Look Again Campaign is a local Anti-Stigma initiative that support mental health by working to end stigma.  More information on their campaign (beyond some of the swag on campus) is linked here.

In addition to the above resources and information, UMBC has many resources and opportunities outlined below.


Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!

Photo person wearing a black shirt with MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS in white capital letters displayed credit Matthew Ball via  Unsplash
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Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together.

You are not alone - is more than a tagline:  more information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) is linked here.

Community Conversations are locally-hosted series of webinars that support mental health as we shift toward a more-vaccinated future.

NAMI's Strength over Silence series features stories of courage, culture and community to share lived experiences, resilience and recovery from African American, Latinx and other under-represented communities in anticipation of National Minority Mental Health Month in July.

In addition to the above resources and information, UMBC Fitness and Wellness has many activities that boost mental health - check out their myUMBC page here.  Other local resources are outlined below.


Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC Counseling Center (Link) which includes
University Health Services (link)
Wellness Initiative (link)
UMBC NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Student Group

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include:
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!

Photo person wearing a black shirt with MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS in white capital letters displayed credit Matthew Ball via  Unsplash
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Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together.

More information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) is linked here.

While more people are on campus now we are sharing,  NAMI's Strength over Silence series  which provides stories of courage, culture and community to share lived experiences, resilience and recovery from African American and Latinx communities in anticipation of National Minority Mental Health Month in July.

Mindfulness and meditation practices can boost mental health - look into these apps to engage in this practice at a time that works best for you:

Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/
Smiling Mind:  https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
Calm: https://www.calm.com/
Head Space: https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
UCLA Mindful: https://www.uclahealth.org/ucla-mindful
Stop, Breathe, Think: https://www.stopbreathethink.com/

Being physically active also boosts mental health. If you would like to do more than walk around your neighborhood, see what classes UMBC's Recreation Department offers for remote participation via this link to their website.


While Accessibility & Disability Services works with faculty, staff, and student employee work accommodations and campus accessibility, and Student Disability Services manage academic accommodation requests, the following links for campus and community-based information and resources offer more depth:

Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Group

UMBC Counseling Center (Link) which includes
University Health Services (link)
Wellness Initiative (link)

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include

UMBC's Wellness Initiative
Connecting with mental health providers and wellness coaches through employee health benefits, as well as
24/7 free confidential counseling via the Employee Assistance Program (link)

If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help at any time, including:


Have a safe and healthy month!

Photo illuminated neon "Open" sign by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash
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Want to be in synch with the flashmob?   WATCH THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/Xlqkd99qlO4

There will also be a student panel sharing their experiences at 4:00p in UC 312, followed by community discussion and refreshments.  It promises to be a powerful and illuminating event, we hope to see you there.  Doors open at 3:40.
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