Blog Archives

Back-to-School: Mental Health Awareness

9/12/2022

Back-to-School: Mental Health Awareness

Buckle up for a new school year!

It’s time to change gears after an action-packed or re-energizing summer. Whether you are bummed that the carefree days of summer are over, or ready to slow down with a cup of pumpkin-spiced coffee, the time is here. Let’s make it as seamless as possible for ourselves and our kiddos. Here are some reminders to tuck away as we get ready to speed through another year.

First: Have you heard of the new Suicide and Crisis Hotline 9-8-8? It is a nationwide number that rolled out this summer for mental health crises and is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365. By calling or texting 9-8-8, you will be connected to trained crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This does not replace 1-800-273-TALK (8255), it is in addition to it- either option works. There is even an option for Spanish speakers as well as 250 other languages, deaf, hard of hearing, and TTY users, as well as veterans and service members.

Printable Resources:
988 America's Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fact Sheet
988 Poster 2 (samhsa.gov)
988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Line poster in Spanish (samhsa.gov)

Second: As we change gears, let’s try to strengthen our kids' Protective Factors as we go into a new school year. We don’t know yet what challenges may arise at home or in the world. Protective Factors help to promote resilience and connectedness with others, therefore they're less likely to engage in suicidal behavior. Here are some examples from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration):

Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance use disorders
Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide
Strong connections to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
Skills in problem solving, coping, conflict resolution, and handling problems in a non-violent way
Personal, cultural, and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation
Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life

Third: We should practice self-compassion and care for ourselves! You take REALLY good care of your kids, right? Well, who is taking care of you? You MUST take time to care for yourself in order to be fully present and effective for your kiddos and family. This means taking care of yourself physically (your body), mentally (your mind), and emotionally (your soul). Take little (or big!) bits of time to replenish your energy, promote your well-being, and reduce stress. This will help your whole family. You are very important and worth it!

Additional Resources:

Mental Health School Supplies:
Crisis Text Line's 2021 Toolkit

Teachers Edition: Give at teacher prep days!

CTL21 B2S Toolkit.pdf - Google Drive

Student Edition:

CTL21 B2S Toolkit_Student.pdf - Google Drive

Suicide Prevention Resources | The Mighty

SAVE: Suicide Prevention, Information, and Awareness

Find Help Resources – TWLOHA

Resources | Mental Health Information for Teens (mhiteens.org)

This article was brought to you by Northshore Council PTSA's Mental Health Committee.

For past articles and more resources, please visit our Mental Health Awareness page.

WSPTA's 44th Annual Legislative Assembly 2022

9/12/2022

WSPTA Legislative Assembly 2022

Registration is NOW OPEN for WSPTA's Legislative Assembly!

WSPTA's 44th Annual Legislative Assembly
When: Saturday, October 15th & Sunday, October 16th
Where: Hybrid - Bellevue College / Remote

PTA delegates from across the state will come together to update the WSPTA legislative platform. At legislative assembly, discover the power PTA has to advocate for the success of every child – the whole child. In PTA every member has an equal voice, and your input matters a great deal to the success of PTA's grassroots member-driven platform. PTA is needed more than ever right now, and you can help!

Be a part of the process and help direct the course for WSPTA advocacy by serving as a delegate for your PTA!
If you are interested in attending Legislative Assembly as a delegate for your local PTA, contact your local PTA president.

Key Things to Note:

This year, WSPTA is planning for legislative assembly to be a hybrid event for more inclusive participation. Delegates will be able to attend and vote in person at Bellevue College or remotely.
Tickets are $165/person for in person or remote. Sales end on October 6th, 2022 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Subsidized rate of $75/person is available to help members who may need a little assistance
Student ticket price is $75/student, which gives a student an all-access pass to classes, education sessions, and caucusing
Voting delegate registration closes on October 6th, 12:00 pm. Voting delegates must be registered by this time to fully participate in debate and voting.
Voting delegates may self-declare their delegate status on the online event registration form. This is as simple as checking a box on the online form. But before you register, please note:
- You should review your PTA’s standing rules to understand how your PTA’s voting delegates are selected: are delegates approved at a board of directors meeting or are they approved at a membership meeting?
  Discuss with your president the process and timing of these approvals so you can plan when to register.
Your PTA president will receive an email on October 10th, 2022 with a list of self-declared delegates for your PTA. Your president will then confirm the list of delegates and email [email protected] with any changes by noon on October 12th, 2022. No response will be treated as implicit confirmation of the list.
Every school can send a minimum of 4 delegates. We highly encourage sending more than one or two delegates/attendees this year since we are voting on WSPTA's 2022-2024 legislative platform and ranking the top five.
Consider adding a budget line for Advocacy to reimburse your members who attend.
Delegates must be a paid member of the PTA. The PTA must be in good standing.

Voting Delegates:
During the 44th annual Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly, delegates will decide the public policy positions that guide state and local advocacy work for WSPTA and its associated local PTAs and councils. To learn more about being a voting delegate, visit WSPTA's Legislative Assembly Voting Information page which includes the 2022 Voters’ Guide that has been created to help delegates prepare for the caucusing and general sessions.

About Legislative Assembly:
The Washington State PTA legislative platform is a two-year platform to mirror the Washington state legislative cycle. On the even-numbered years, the new platform is voted on by members at the legislative assembly in the fall. The top five issues become our short-term platform and consist of our priority issues when advocating throughout the year. Other issues are placed on an “also supported” list. Learn about WSPTA's current legislative priorities and other supported issues by clicking here.

Check out the Legislative Assembly web page to learn more about this year's event.

More on Advocacy:

Council's blog post PTA Advocacy 101
Council's Advocacy Page
Questions? Contact Council's VP of Advocacy, Jennifer Drury

Second Notice of Election

9/10/2022

Northshore Council PTSA will be holding a virtual election for its open board position of Secretary on September 19, 2022. The slated candidate is as follows:

Secretary: Claudine Miller
VP of Events: No nominations were received

Council will continue to seek volunteers for VP of Events with the goal of holding an election for it at a future General Membership Meeting.

Virtual nominations for these positions closed on Friday, September 9, 2022.

Brief Job Descriptions:

Secretary: Keeps an accurate record of meetings, which become part of the permanent history of the PTA. Also responsible for taking attendance and monitoring quorum at meetings.
VP of Events: Plans and coordinates Council's yearly events including Presidents and Principals Brunch, Reflections Celebration and Spring Recognition Event.

Qualification Requirements:
Per the 2021-2022 Council Standing Rules:

Any position may be held jointly by two (2) people, except the role of Treasurer.
Nominees must be at least 18 years of age.
Nominees must be a current member of at least one local PTA that falls within the Northshore Council PTSA membership area.

Election Information:
Since position of Secretary was not contested, the election will be by voice vote at the next General Meeting on Monday, September 19, 2022, at 7PM:

Join Zoom Meeting*
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84425995147?

Meeting ID: 844 2599 5147
Passcode: *Available upon request*.

Please contact VP of Communications, Jenn Snyder for the meeting password.

Questions? Email Co-Presidents Rachel Fitzgerald and Mary Khouzam

PTA Back-to-School Checklist

9/7/2022

Download by clicking image

This is a busy time of year for PTA Leaders with so many things to get done in order to run your PTA, plan programming for students, and provide support to your school community. Here at Council, we want to make sure a few key "to-do" items don't get overlooked so we've created the checklist below. We've included links and resources for these items, but remember, Council is always here to help and support our local Northshore PTA Leaders! Visit our Contact Page to connect with a Council officer.

PTA Back-to-School Checklist for 2022-2023
Download and Print

Complete Council’s Contact Form

Each member of your PTA/PTSA should complete this including positions such as the executive committee (aka: elected positions), board members, committee chairs, etc.

Update Leaders in memberplanet

Requirement of the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation
Resources and a How to Guide

Enter 25 Members into memberplanet by October 31st, 2022

Any membership received must be entered into memberplanet no more than 30 days after the person joins.
Membership Updates & Tips to help with your campaign

Update your PTA’s Website

This is often the first place new families, current members, and those in your school community go to learn about your PTA. Make sure that contact information is up-to-date as well as your calendar and that your front page highlights membership. Learn about the importance of having online join.

Hold a General Membership Meeting

The first Membership Meeting of the year includes important items of business. Check out Council’s blog with more tips & resources to help plan yours.

Attend Council’s September 19th General Membership Meeting

Council meetings will build your PTA knowledge, give you the opportunity to network with other PTA, school district and community leaders, and they can be a lot of fun, too. Each PTA may send up to 4 voting representatives - but we encourage ALL who are interested to attend.

backtoschool_ptachecklist_2022.pdf
File Size:	136 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Reflections Roundtables: Get Your Questions Answered

9/7/2022

Join us for one or both of these Reflections Roundtables!

Join us for one or both of these roundtables which are designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders with any questions they may have about the 2022-2023 Reflections Program.

Monday, September 26, 2022 \| 7PM	Monday, October 10, 2022 \| 1PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85473634452? Meeting ID: 854 7363 4452 Password: Available Upon Request	Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81445488641? Meeting ID: 814 4548 8641 Password: Available Upon Request

Can't make it to the roundtable but still have questions? Check out these additional resources for help!

Email Jasmine Lee Fry (Council Reflections Chair) - [email protected]
Check out Council's Reflection page, WSPTA Reflections Site, and National PTA Reflections Site
Connect on Facebook by joining the WSPTA Reflections group and Council's Reflections group
Sign up for Council's "Almost Weekly" PTA Reflections Communications with everything you need to know:
- Sign Up HERE
- Read Past Issues HERE

September 22, 2022 • Office Hours

9/7/2022

Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next Office Hours.

Council will be holding Office Hours on Thursday, September 22nd, from 12:30PM to 1:30PM. This is the perfect time to connect with Council, ask questions, or even just stop in to say hello!

This time is designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as you begin to navigate membership, programs, and managing your organization for the upcoming year. We hope you will join us!

If you have questions and need to connect with Council before this, please visit our Contact Page for a list of Council Officers and their emails.

*Please see calendar for future Office Hours dates and times.

Date: Thursday, September 22, 2022
Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83648300815?

Meeting ID: 836 4830 0815
Passcode: *available upon request*

Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program: 2022-2023

9/6/2022

Applications are now being accepted for Northshore Council PTSA's
2022-2023 Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program!

Apply for a Grant Today!

Is there a speaker your PTA would like to bring in to talk to your membership about a hot parenting topic, but you don't have enough budget for it? Does your PTA have a great community event you would like to put on, but need help getting the word out and covering some of the cost? Apply for a partnership grant through Northshore PTSA's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program!

There are three grant application deadlines throughout the school year, and the first deadline is Friday, September 23, 2022!

Download Form and Apply Here

Please make sure to read Northshore Council PTSA's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants Program Policy before submitting your application.

Grants are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis where applications will be reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA or until the Council Programs budget is used in its entirety.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Click here to learn more about Northshore PTSA's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program.

Reflections Theme Search for 2024 - 2025

9/6/2022

The search is on for a future Reflections theme! Each year, National PTA seeks a theme for the Reflections program that will be held two years from now. This year students are asked to submit a theme for the 2024-2025 program year. Students are encouraged to submit theme ideas that spark fun and creativity! In response to the winning theme, students from Pre-K through 12th grade will create original works of art in one or all the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and/or Visual Arts.

The due date for submitting a theme search entry to Washington State PTA is November 1, 2022. The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100 and their theme will be presented at the annual National PTA Convention in June 2023. Repeat themes will not be considered. Click here for a list of past themes.

How to Enter:
Complete Online Entry form

Entries due:
Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Send questions to [email protected].

For more information about the Reflections program, please visit our Reflections Program page.

Suicide Prevention - How You Can Help

9/5/2022

“Are you thinking about suicide?”
This could be one of the most important questions you ever ask.

September is Suicide Awareness month.

Many of us are unaware that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 and was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States in 2019. Among high school students, 1 in 5 has seriously thought about suicide, and nearly 9% have attempted. Four out of five teens who attempted suicide have given clear warning signs.

These statistics are scary, but there is hope! We can prevent this tragedy by identifying and supporting young people who are struggling with mental health symptoms, including thinking about suicide. Some individuals and communities are more at risk than others, including people of color, indigenous peoples, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Creating a caring community lets those in need know that they are not alone and that there is hope. Remember, silence hurts us all.

It has been proven that asking the tough question, "Are you thinking of hurting yourself?" does NOT lead to suicidal tendencies. In fact, it can reduce ideations and attempts. We should encourage everyone to become comfortable talking about suicide and make sure to check on friends and loved ones. The more we talk about it and provide support and understanding, the more lives we can save.

If you suspect someone is struggling, ask them or tell someone who is in a position to help. Don't be afraid to reach out to the parents of your child's friends or the student’s school counselor about their struggles or warning signs you see. This could save a child’s life! Kids need to learn how to spot signs in their friends, too, and feel impowered to speak up when necessary. If your student needs advice or assistance, their school counselor is always a good place to start.

Signs to Look For & Steps to Take
There are quite a few things that have been associated with increased risk for suicide. It is important to be aware of these signs:
• Prior suicide attempts
• Family history of suicide
• History of mental health conditions
• Substance misuse
• Impulsivity or aggressiveness
• Serious family problems
• Breakups or other major relationship losses
• Access to means for self-harm
• Social isolation
• History of traumatic experiences

There are also several things that might indicate that the person’s thoughts of suicide are escalating or that there is more acute risk, including:
• Talking, joking, or posting online about dying or life not being worth living
• Feelings of hopelessness, shame or of being a burden to others
• Extreme sadness, anger, or irritability
• Planning or researching ways to die
• Withdrawal from others, saying or posting “goodbye” messages, giving away possessions
• Erratic or disorganized behavior
• Seeking means to self-harm

If you have observed any of these signs or risk factors, and are concerned about someone, here's 5 steps you can take:
► Start by offering compassion (not advice), avoid judgment, acknowledge their suffering, and just listen.
► After that, ask them if they are thinking of suicide. Be calm and direct. Asking will NOT put the idea into their mind.
► If you are confident that they are not in immediate danger, and they have a mental health treatment provider, contact them for next steps. If they do not have a mental health provider, contact the person's primary doctor or pediatrician.
► If you feel their life, or someone else’s life is in danger, then take away all objects that could pose a danger (medications, firearms, knives, ropes, chemicals).
► Next, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or any other resource listed. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency or last resort. Let the operator know that this is a mental health crisis.

Call, text. or chat 988. It is confidential, free, & available 24/7/365.

Phone Numbers to Save
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL): (800) 273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: text ‘HEAL’ to 741-741
Washington Listens: (833) 681-0211
Recovery Helpline: (866) 789-1511
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
Trevor Project - LGBTQ: (866) 488-7386
Trevor Text: text ‘START’ to 678-678

988 rolled out this summer- which connects you to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is important. It does not replace any of the current crisis centers in Washington, it is in addition to them. The other hotline number is still in use: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 988 services will be available in Spanish, along with interpretation services in over 250 languages.

Additional Resources & Helpful Websites

NSD website for Mental Health
NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Seattle Children Mental Health Resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Washington State Department of Health
Forefront Suicide Prevention
National Institute of Mental Health
Mental Health America
The Child Mind Institute
Active Minds
The Jason Foundation

Each Mind Matters: Covid-19 - Self Care Card
in English | en español
The Trevor Project: Printable flyer with how to connect to services
NAMI: Printable flyer with how to connect to services
NAMI: Supporting Back to School Wellness printable flyer
Forefront: LEARN Saves Lives - Suicide Prevention Tips
The Jason Foundation: "A Friend Asks" App

This article was brought to you by Northshore Council PTSA's Mental Health Committee.

For past articles and more resources, please visit our Mental Health Awareness page.

Forward>>

Buckle up for a new school year! ​

Additional Resources:

​Join us for one or both of these Reflections Roundtables!

​Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next Office Hours.

​Applications are now being accepted for Northshore Council PTSA's​2022-2023 Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program!

“Are you thinking about suicide?”This could be one of the most important questions you ever ask.

Additional Resources & Helpful Websites

Archives

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Buckle up for a new school year!

Join us for one or both of these Reflections Roundtables!

Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next Office Hours.

Applications are now being accepted for Northshore Council PTSA's
2022-2023 Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program!

“Are you thinking about suicide?”
This could be one of the most important questions you ever ask.