Module 5

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Module 5

• Living Balanced Spiritual Mental Health

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Session I Alcohol and Substance Abuse

• Workshop Objectives and Aims
• 1. To become familiar with issues related to
  alcohol and substance abuse
• 2. To become familiar with health problems
  associated with alcohol and substance abuse
• 3. To become familiar with preventing and
  treating alcohol and substance abuse

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Lets Talk About It

• What is alcohol and substance abuse?
• What are the signs of alcohol or substance abuse?
• How can alcohol or substance abuse be treated?
• What role does spirituality play in preventing or
  treating alcohol or substance abuse?

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Sharing the Knowledge

• More than one in four adults experience a mental
  health or substance abuse disorder in any given
  year.
• African American men have death rates that are at
  least twice as high as those for women for
  suicide, cirrhosis of the liver, and homicide.
  Much of this is the direct result of alcohol and
  substance abuse.

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Sharing the Knowledge

• Alcohol and substance abuse is defined as the
  uncontrollable craving, physical dependence and
  loss of control related to illicit and
  prescription drugs and drinking alcohol in binges
  or in large quantities over extended periods.
• This behavior can lead to legal troubles, social
  and personal turmoil, and emotional degeneration.
  

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Sharing the Knowledge

• Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is
  a disease that includes the following four
  symptoms
• Craving--A strong need, or urge, to drink.
• Loss of control--Not being able to stop drinking
  once drinking has begun.
• Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as
  nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after
  stopping drinking.
• Tolerance--The need to drink greater amounts of
  alcohol to get "high."

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Did You Know?

• Over the past 15 years, the suicide rate for
  African American male youth (ages 15-19)
  increased by 146. Among African American males
  aged 15-19 years, firearms were used in 72 of
  suicides, while strangulation was used in 20 of
  suicides.

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• What is Spirituality?
• Does it Have Meaning to You?
• Is it Relevant in the World Today?

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Spirituality

• Spiritual life coping strategies are defined as
  either external supports, for example support
  from a religious advisor (e.g. pastor or priest)
  or Internal supports such as private prayer,
  personal retreats for introspection, reading
  inspirational words, and reflection on one's
  beliefs and values.

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Your Opinion MattersConnecting the Knowledge
Inside

• How can spirituality help prevent alcohol or
  substance abuse?
• Can spirituality health one deal with pressures
  in life?

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Did You Know?

• Recent medical studies have shown that persons
  with strong devotional practices and sacred
  beliefs cope better with stress and problems than
  those that do not have such practices and
  beliefs.

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Wrap-Up

• Quiz / Main Messages
• LIVE WELL!

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Session II Depression

• Workshop Objectives and Aims
• To become familiar with issues related to
  depression
• To become familiar with health problems
  associated with depression
• To become familiar with preventing and treating
  depression

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Lets Talk About It

• What is depression?
• What are the signs of depression?
• How can depression be treated?

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Sharing the Knowledge

• Mental health is often a taboo subject for
  African American men. In general, there is strong
  stigma associated with mental health problems and
  illnesses.
• Issues related to culture, masculinity, and
  family history and ones own social environment
  keeps men (and others) from addressing problems
  related to mental health.

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Sharing the Knowledge

• It is estimated that between 7-10 of African
  American men will develop depression during their
  lifetime. This may be an underestimate due to
  lack of screening and treatment services often
  sought by or offered to African-American men.
• If untreated depression can lead to loss of job,
  family and home. One can become isolated from
  others and eventually cause oneself, and even
  others, harm.

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Your Opinion MattersConnecting the Knowledge
Inside

• Have you or someone you know ever been depressed
  or blue for an extended period?
• If so, what did you do? Did you share how you
  felt with anyone else?
• Did you get professional help?
• What stigmas or stereotypes have you heard about
  depression?

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Your Opinion MattersConnecting the Knowledge
Inside

• Have You Ever Heard of SLOW SUICIDE?
• This is other self- destructive behavior that can
  accompany depression. This includes drug
  addiction, alcohol addiction, gang involvement,
  and other high-risk behaviors.

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Did You Know?

• Depression is a serious, but treatable, mental
  health problem.
• It is a medical problem not a personal weakness.
  It is also very common, affecting 10 of the U.S.
  population at any given time.
• Be LiftedLift Up Others!

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Wrap-Up

• Quiz / Main Messages
• LIVE WELL!