Statement: Mental Health Awareness Month 2021

by Shubhra Endley, LCSW-S, CIS of Houston Director of Mental Health & Wellness

Suhbhra Endley, LCSW-S

During this Mental Health Awareness Month, let us take the time to recognize the impact and the stigma often faced by our students and families who are affected by mental illness and other conditions affecting their personal well-being.  Navigating this past year of living through a worldwide pandemic, our lives changed in multiple ways (for some through loss of family members, the threat and fear of contracting the illness, loss of income by household members, and the overall disruption of our way of living).

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, our CIS campus-based teams continue to work diligently to build and maintain connections with our students and their families.  We were able to provide safe spaces for students and families to receive support either in-person and/or virtual.  This support varied according to need to include either a referral for supportive counseling with one of our Mobile Mental Health Specialists, or a school-based mental health partner, or an online support group offered through a community partner.

Along with our education partners, CIS campus-based teams work tirelessly to ensure that our students not only survive but have access to resources needed to thrive through this global crisis. 

In this Mental Health Awareness Month, we choose to celebrate RESILIENCY.  And acknowledge that in order to continue to the finish line strong we must continue to grow our resiliency. Each week we will share resilience-building processes that we utilize to support the well-being of individuals within each campus community.  Resiliency is a critical asset for all of us now and for life after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Resource: Mental Health America 2021 -The #Tools2Thrive.