When we suspect relationships are mentally, emotionally or physically violent or abusive, why do we all of a sudden feel like "it's none of our business?" 

Good question! Is it ever REALLY our business to get involved when we suspect that someone we know is in a relationship that is unhealthy? Maybe we are asking the wrong question. The REAL question is, How can we support people that we care about, when we believe that they are in a relationship that is hurting them? Wouldn't we want someone to show up for us if we were struggling? 

More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the U.S. will experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Overall the percentages of Trans and LGBTQ+ individuals who are affected byintimate partner violence are estimated to be even higher than their cisgender counterparts. 

Based on these statistics, the chances are you've known someone, will know someone or will be someone who will experience a relationship that is mentally, emotionally or physically abusive. 

So what do you say? Where do you start? 

Consider these tips: 

1. Start by initiating a conversation that lets your friend know that you care about them and are concerned: Start this conversation with an affirmative statement like, "You're always so fun to be around. I've missed you!"
2. Avoid being Accusatory: If you know your friend's relationship is unhealthy, it's okay to say, "I've noticed you're always on your phone. Is there anything going on that you want to talk about?" Instead of, "Stop answering that. Just tell them you're busy." 
3. Be Supportive: Listen to your friend and let them open up about the situation on their own terms. Don't be forceful with the conversation and remind them that you want tohelp. 
4. Focus on the Behavior: Instead of labeling their partner as "abusive" or "bad," focus on the unhealthy behaviors you've seen and provide your friend with a safe space to talk about it. (https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/i-did-a-thing-is-my-friend-in-an-abusive-relationship/) 

Resources here on campus that provide emotional and mental health support. Both resourcesoffer individual and group counseling and can help refer students to outside resources. 

• UMBC Retriever Integrated Health
• UMBC Women's Center
• TurnAround Rape Crisis Center
• National Domestic Violence Hotline

Retriever Integrated Health is excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!  To kick things off, staff shared information about the significance of celebrating the month beginning on the 15th and held a fun discussion about their favorite dishes from Hispanic countries, like Cuban coffee made in a colador, Dominican mofongo, chicken ropa vieja, and tamales!  Celebrating the wide variety of cultures, food, art, music, dance, traditions, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic and Latine people and countries is an important part of celebrating the people who make up the UMBC community!

As the campus center for medical and mental health needs, RIH also recognizes the importance of acknowledging the many barriers that Hispanic and Latine people face when trying to access services, leading to disparities in health and healthcare.

• Stigma within Hispanic and Latine communities can create a reluctance to access mental health services and increases feelings of shame for those who want to seek help.  

• The rates of suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts are rising among Hispanic and Latine young adults, though they remain lower than the overall rates for young adults in the U.S.  

• In 2022, Hispanic and Latine folx had the highest uninsured rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S., leading to 10% of Hispanic and Latine adults reporting an inability to get needed medical care due to cost.

It is with this in mind that RIH encourages Hispanic and Latine students to reach out to schedule needed medical and mental health appointments! RIH medical services include sick care as well as preventative care (including immunizations).  RIH counseling services are free and confidential for students.  For students who have questions about insurance, RIH has specialists to support students who need to enroll in the UMBC plan or Medicaid. There are also a number of community organizations in the Baltimore area that provide bilingual medical and mental health resources and community outreach such as CentroSOL and Latino Providers Network.  These resources can be accessed by not just UMBC students but also the greater community.  

We are excited to offer the UMBC community a 1-day skills-based training course designed to teach participants how to:

**recognize signs of mental health or substance use disorders.

**identify community resources.

**link people in crisis to the proper resources.

The course will consist of a 2-hour self-paced introduction course online, followed by a 6-hour virtual skills session with Mental Health First Aid instructors. ­You will learn a 5­-step action plan and practice applying it throughout the skills section of the course.

Space is limited! You must register NO LATER than one week prior to the date of the training.

To learn more and register:

**Oct. 23- 9- 5 pm (virtual)

**Nov. 14- 9- 5 pm (virtual)

**Dec. 8 - 9-5 pm (virtual)

September is National Recovery Month. The purpose of this month is to "promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation's strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible."

Having a mental health or substance use disorder can be incredibly isolating despite how common these concerns are. Support for recovery is crucial, and you can find that support at UMBC. So often, we consume the harrowing tales of addiction, but rarely do we hear the stories of recovery. A study published in 2020 by the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that "3 out of 4 people who experience addiction are in recovery." Mental health and substance use disorders are treatable. Having worked in the recovery field, I have witnessed the positive reality of recovery. I have also witnessed that seeking and accepting help can be hard. UMBC students are incredibly intelligent and tough and typically try to solve their own problems independently. A person in recovery needs community support, and there are many ways to access this. By embracing recovery, one can improve mental and physical health and form stronger relationships with friends, family, and classmates. Recovery is possible. Help is available. RIH celebrates that hope and honors Recovery Month. We urge all community members to join this celebration by reducing the stigma of mental health or substance use disorders and approaching someone considering or active in recovery with acceptance, support, and inclusion. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, know that free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day through SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). RIH providers are also happy to support you with this concern. You can make an appointment by calling 410-455-2542 during business hours.