Mental Health Resource Toolkit by Katherine Mullins

kmullins217 — 2023-02-14 04:27:02 UTC

Hey guys! My name is Katherine Mullins, but you can call me Kat! I live in Austin with my boyfriend, our two cats, and our three-month-old puppy. We’re both from Rockdale, which is a small town about an hour away, and we graduated with a whopping 91 people, so Austin has been a welcome change over the past few years! I graduated from Texas State with my B.A. in Psychology in May of ‘21 and am currently in my first year of the Mental Health and Wellness Counseling program where I’m working towards my master’s. I am hoping to build a better foundation before moving forward with my Doctor of Psychology and eventually becoming a Perinatal Psychologist!
One professional goal that I have for this course is to learn more about the specific concerns that effect my future client population of perinatal women and start to gather resources that may be helpful in that role. I think this will aid me enormously as a Perinatal Psychologist, because it will provide a solid foundation of knowledge surrounding these mental health issues and a plethora of materials that will be extremely beneficial in my pursuit of helping these women.
One personal goal I have for this term is to sharpen my time management skills.

kmullins217 — 2023-02-14 04:37:25 UTC

As a future perinatal psychologist, I will need to know this like the back of my hand! It is imperative to be up to date on all ethical concerns in order to avoid conflict and offer the best possible care.

Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

kmullins217 — 2023-02-15 03:17:00 UTC

The Unit 1 Section 1 assignment, Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge, was a great way to kick off the term. I enjoyed introducing myself, getting to know my classmates, and testing my knowledge of mental health! I chose to take all three of the quizzes and was proud of my results. I also learned a great deal through the resources and was quite surprised to learn that only <1% of the US population has schizophrenia. However, it is probable that many people in our country who suffer from this, and other mental health issues, go undiagnosed and untreated (Quick Facts and Statistics About Mental Health n.d.).

Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

kmullins217 — 2023-02-15 03:17:10 UTC

The Unit 1 Section 2 assignment, Reflection for Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders, was time-consuming but well worth it. I enjoyed diving deeply into each disorder and specific type as well as finding interesting and helpful resources for each. I learned a lot about depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, and substance abuse. It is extraordinary how much you can learn about a subject, even when you think you are well-versed! One thing I had never heard of before this assignment was “Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified” or “EDNOS” which is a category that encompasses those individuals who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for anorexia or bulimia but still have an eating disorder (Other specified feeding or eating disorder 2018).

Developmental Discussion on Trauma

kmullins217 — 2023-02-15 03:17:18 UTC

The Unit 2 Section 2 assignment, Reflection for Developmental Discussion on Trauma, was a very enjoyable one! I not only liked being able to participate in discussion boards and share with my classmates but also enjoyed the documentary and reading about those my peers watched as well! I chose to watch We Are Columbine and was blown away by the firsthand accounts told by the survivors. I learned a great deal about trauma and how everyone reacts differently, even to the same event. I found it interesting to consider that everyone experiences a different version of the same tragedy. Some students did not even know what was happening. Some left and were watching everything unfold on the news. Some were locked in classrooms and heard everything but saw nothing. Some were firsthand witnesses to the atrocities. This was a new concept for me and shifted my perspective when considering these events (We Are Columbine, 2019).

kmullins217 — 2023-02-15 03:33:17 UTC

Other specified feeding or eating disorder. National Eating Disorders Association. (2018, July 30). Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/osfed

Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online. NCTSN Learning Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://learn.nctsn.org/mod/scorm/view.php?id=12151

Quick Facts and Statistics About Mental Health. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2023, from https://www.mhanational.org/mentalhealthfacts

Responding to a mass casualty event at a school: General guidance for the first stage of recovery. National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/responding-to-a-mass-casualty-event-at-a-school-general-guidance-for-the-first-stage-of-recovery

(2019, March 26). We Are Columbine (J. Stanger, Ed.) [Movie We Are Columbine]. Pluto TV.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Psychiatry.org - What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Why is cultural competence important in mental health care? Fountain House. (2022, October 14). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.fountainhouse.org/news/why-is-cultural-competence-important-in-mental-health-care

Psychological First Aid Online Certificate

kmullins217 — 2023-02-26 22:38:08 UTC

The Unit 3 Section 1 assignment, Psychological First Aid Online Certificate, was a pleasant change-up. I enjoyed going through the different modules of the course and learning more about PFA. The interactive nature of the lessons was a great way to stay engaged while learning vital information on being prepared if tragedy strikes. There were examples and case studies that were helpful in applying what was learned, and knowledge checks along the way to ensure the information was sinking in. This course provided critical information on “contact and engagement, safety and comfort, stabilization, information gathering and prioritizing assistance, practical assistance, connection with social supports, information on coping, and linkage with collaborative services” (Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online n.d.).

Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment

kmullins217 — 2023-02-26 22:54:25 UTC

The Unit 3 Section 2 assignment, Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment, was a great way to collaborate with my peers! I really enjoyed getting to work with a group of like-minded individuals with similar goals as my own and learning more about mental health and threat assessments to prevent school violence. I learned quite a bit about the types of school violence, at-risk behaviors and academic, physical, and emotional/behavioral indicators, Threat Assessment Teams or “TATs,” Behavioral Intervention Teams or “BITs,” and much more. It was also highly beneficial to learn about the screening tools, multi-agency collaboration, and legal requirement as well. The most profound thing I learned through this assignment was that “prior planning and coordination is essential for recovery” (Responding to a mass casualty event at a school: General guidance for the first stage of recovery 2021).

Crisis and Trauma Resource Padlet

kmullins217 — 2023-03-08 01:03:44 UTC

The Unit 4 Section 1 assignment, Crisis and Trauma Resource Padlet, was very informative and will definitely be helpful in the future. I really appreciated this assignment and liked the fact that it was over the entire term and “buildable.” Reflecting on each assignment was a great way to wrap up the section and look back on what I had learned. The additional resources added, such as the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and local support services, will absolutely be beneficial in my future role and on the rest of my journey toward becoming a perinatal psychologist. Having a reminder of the importance of cultural competence and referral processes will also be valuable. The Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders was probably the assignment in which I learned the most and I gathered a plethora of helpful resources; I have attached one here as well (What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? n.d.).

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ABC Model of Crisis Intervention

kmullins217 — 2023-03-09 02:51:01 UTC

The Unit 3 Section 3 assignment, ABC Model of Crisis Intervention, was incredibly helpful. I learn best working through things physically rather than seeing or reading about them, so being able to go through the case study myself was excellent. I enjoyed identifying the phrases that pointed to physical, emotional, social/relational, and cognitive/mental areas (I love highlighting!) and found this to be a great way to dissect the reading. Putting myself in the shoes of the counselor and addressing needs and/or issues in the aforementioned areas, as well as creating next steps, was a creative and effective way to learn the ABC model (“A” – achieving a relationship, “B” – breaking down the problem, and “C” – commitment to action) for crisis intervention. The attached handout is a great cheat sheet!

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kmullins217 — 2023-03-09 03:13:16 UTC

“Cultural competency means that, as a provider, you are able to interact effectively with people of different cultures, by incorporating their unique beliefs, behaviors, and needs into their diagnosis and treatment plan” (Why is cultural competence important in mental health care? 2022). Cultural competence is an essential aspect of providing effective and responsive mental health services. As a mental health professional, it is crucial to understand and respect the cultural background and beliefs of the clients we serve. This includes being aware of cultural differences in attitudes toward mental health, approaches to treatment, and communication styles. Failure to consider these factors can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and ultimately, ineffective treatment. Additionally, cultural competence promotes a more inclusive and welcoming environment, which can help reduce stigma and improve engagement in mental health services. By practicing cultural competence, mental health professionals can ensure that clients receive the highest quality of care that is tailored to their unique needs and cultural backgrounds. “A culturally competent mental health care provider is able to consider how someone’s culture, race, and ethnicity may influence their mental health and the best way to treat them” (Why is cultural competence important in mental health care? 2022).