-----Forwarded Message-----
From: BernCo Neighborhood Coordination
Sent: May 19, 2016 10:21 AM
To:
Subject: BernCo News Release: DSAP Mental Health Month, Week 3 -- BernCo Encourages Children to Be "Above the Influence".

 

For Immediate Release May 18, 2016

www.bernco.gov

Contact: Larry Gallegos lagallegos@bernco.gov O. (505) 468-1273 C. 505) 228-6668

BernCo Encourages Children to Be “Above the Influence”

 

UNM Student-athletes share time and message with young people 

 

Bernalillo County – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a campaign organized since 1949 to recognize the nearly 44 million American adults and millions of American children who live with numerous conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, each year.

 

During Mental Health Awareness Month 2016, Bernalillo County is highlighting a number of its existing support programs, which already provide residents with resources, services and care year-round.

 

Incoming UNM student-athletes, many who are coming here from around the U.S. and from all over the world, are taught about the Be “Above the Influence” program, local and state DWI laws and the effects of drunk driving on the community.  

 

Also, as part of the program, UNM student-athletes share their time with children from elementary, middle and high schools to let them know how they can begin to use the goals listed below to change their lives.

 

To BE “ABOVE THE INFLUENCE” is to BE:

·         Above pressure to use alcohol and drugs.

·         Above pressure to fit in.

·         Above pressure to look a certain way.

·         Above pressure to act a certain way.

·         Above the influence of using alcohol and drugs to make your problems temporarily go away.

·         Above the influence of thinking that drugs and alcohol are the answer to making you feel good.

·         Above the influence of thinking the only way to have fun is using alcohol and drugs.

·         Above pressure to take harmful risks.

·         Above pressure that it is not cool to hang out with your parents.

·         Above the influence of media and pop culture that tries to tell you who you should be.

·         Above the influence of picking on others because of who they are.

·         Above the influence of having others pressure you to pick on someone.

·         Above all the negative influences that hinder your goals and dreams.

·         Above the influence of doing things that will harm you and others.

·         Above the influence of doing what is easy but harmful.

·         Above the influence of thinking culture is not important.

·         Above the influence of suicidal thoughts.

·         Above the influence of thinking there is nothing to do.

·         Above the influence of not taking care of your health.

 

Bernalillo County Health and Wellness and their partners the City of Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico Lobos, Albuquerque Public Schools and the ABC Community School Partnership are all a part of the Be ”Above the Influence" Campaign.

 

The Be “Above the Influence” campaign is a local social marketing campaign modeled after the national “Above the Influence” program from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy. It is strategically planned, operated, implemented, and evaluated by the Bernalillo County Department of Substance Abuse Programs.

 

The Bernalillo County Behavioral Health Initiative is a significant step forward in local efforts toward addressing mental health, substance abuse, addiction, and homelessness crises faced by our own residents in the Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and middle Rio Grande region of New Mexico. The initiative, a collaboration between Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, University Hospital and other organizations, is charged with expanding programs in Bernalillo County, improving accessibility, and promoting public awareness of care and support options.

 

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About Bernalillo County

Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 674,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras and the 111,000 residents who live outside the village and city limits in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget and capital investments of more than $500 million. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.