{"id":409084,"date":"2024-05-06T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=409084"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"May-declared-Mental-Health-Awareness-National-Adolescent-Health-Month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/May-declared-Mental-Health-Awareness-National-Adolescent-Health-Month\/","title":{"rendered":"May declared Mental Health Awareness, National Adolescent Health Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

May is all about community awareness, decreasing stigma, and showing support for those who may suffer from mental health and a reminder that they are not alone.<\/p>\n

To this end, acting governor David M. Apatang designated the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.<\/p>\n

Joining Apatang in the proclamation were Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Camacho along with Public School System officials and students and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Esther Muna along with other staff from CHCC, Community Guidance Center, and Haligi Aware program.<\/p>\n

The proclamation itself highlighted that not only is mental health an issue in the community, but it also has quite an effect on the young generation, noting a 2021 CNMI Youth Risk Behavior Survey which showed that 35.6% of middle school youth and 26.9% of high school youth have seriously considered suicide, with 14.7% middle school and 17.6% high school students actually attempting the suicide.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many of us, especially those navigating the circular waters of high school, mental health is still an issue. Something that happens to others, or something we\u2019re told to ignore and put your own. But the truth is, mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more so,\u201d said Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.\/Sr. High School student Jacey Charfauros.<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cIt affects how we think, feel, and act, changing our experiences and relationships in profound ways. From the pressures of academics to the complexity of social dynamics, high school can be a breeding ground for stress, anxiety, and depression. As a student, I experienced first-hand the toll that depression can take on our mental well-being. We\u2019re expected to excel in our studies, excel in extracurricular activities, and excel in our social life, all while navigating the tough journey of adolescence. It\u2019s no wonder that so many of us struggle to keep our heads above water. But here\u2019s the thing, it\u2019s okay to not be okay. It\u2019s okay to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. What\u2019s not okay is suffering in silence, pretending that everything is fine, when it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charfauros urged the community to create a culture of openness and understanding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is help and support available, whether it\u2019s through friends, family, teachers, or mental health professionals. By picking up and seeking help when we need it, we can break the cycle of violence and stigma surrounding mental illness. To the adults here today, I urge you to lead by example when it comes to mental health\u2026Your actions and attitude toward mental health can have a profound impact on the young people in your life. Let\u2019s create an environment where mental health is prioritized and supported not swept under the rug or dismissed as insignificant. By showing compassion understanding and empathy you can create a safer and more nurturing environment for all of us,\u201d she said,<\/p>\n

Charfauros also reminded everyone that, \u201cTogether we can break down barriers that prevent so many from seeking help\u2026 together we can make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apatang in his address said that depression and mental illness affects anyone,<\/p>\n

\u201cDepression can happen to anyone at any age. As we become older, we face new social relationships, new pressures from academic, athletic, and other activities. Many of us may not know how to cope with all these overwhelming emotions, which could lead to many factors in our struggles with mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shared that whether from one age spectrum to another, \u201cLiving with mental illnesses is not easy, but finding the meaning in life, and gaining the feeling of being valued, will give us the strength to drive through any mental health struggles. As part of the older generation, it is my duty, or our duty, to help our youth grow, and help them become a force to be reckoned with. If we are mentally healthy, we can lead a positive quality of life. And that\u2019s for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camacho stated, \u201cIt\u2019s great to hear from the students\u2019 perspective as a call for action. And we as a community need to heed to that call for action and actually do something about it\u2026Each of us have our whys or inner whys of why we do what we do and why we\u2019re here present today. And I can just say to look from within because every one individual on this planet has his or her own inner demon that sometimes can be part of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then added, \u201cBut then if we create an environment around each other, we create a healthier environment so that our inner demons don\u2019t come up to the point where now we\u2019re needing some help. As a community, we need to thrive together. But then when there\u2019s help that is needed by any one of our team members in the community, in this society, we all need to also get up and take up to bat the role of being a responsible citizen to help the community. Within all these agencies, I think we all have the right agencies. So that the support is there. We just need to make sure that we guide the individuals in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharing her gratitude to her CHCC team, Muna said, \u201cWe have public health and mental health. And that\u2019s the approach that we want to take moving forward, is that mental health is public health. It\u2019s a concern of all of us to make sure that we have the education, the outreach, for services for all of you. Don\u2019t feel like just confined within your walls and that\u2019s all the people that you can reach out to. We are here. So again, I really appreciate the recognition of this month. But it shouldn\u2019t be just this month. All of us should think about mental health as a problem throughout our lives. And from children to adulthood, we all experience it the same way too. We always feel like we\u2019re blocked and everything. But again, there\u2019s always somebody there and we\u2019re definitely here to support you all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CHCC-CGC suicide prevention program is available Monday-Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm, and can be reached at:<\/p>\n

(670) 664-LIFE (5433)<\/p>\n

(670) 664-LIVE (5483)<\/p>\n

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, especially if you believe someone\u2019s life is in danger, call 911. You can also call the National Suicide prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which provides 24\/7, free and confidential support for people in distress.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jacey Charfauros of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.\/Sr. High School speaks during the Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month proclamation signing last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Acting governor David M. Apatang designated May as Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month proclamation last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Hundreds packed the Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month proclamation signing last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Showing mental health is important, hundreds joined acting governor David M. Apatang as he designated May as Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.<\/p>\n

-NMC
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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