Mental Health Resources & Tools
Mental health is one of Phi Gamma Delta’s priorities, and we believe it is important to provide programs and resources to our brothers and volunteers.
Behind Happy Faces
Behind Happy Faces (BHF) is a mental health curriculum designed to give young men the tools needed to address their mental health. There are nine lessons which define mental health, break down the stigmas surrounding it, open doors for more discussions, teach about effective coping, and help participants support friends who are experiencing mental health challenges.
BHF is available at no cost to chapters and can be facilitated by a chapter member, graduate advisor or volunteer. Review all lesson content and evaluate what will be beneficial to your members (PowerPoint presentations and facilitation guides are linked under the sessions listed below).
Examples When You Can Use the BHF Sessions Strategically
1: Understanding Mental Health
Understanding Mental Health: Facilitate as a “Welcome back” program to start the year with conversations on mental health (August).
Your Mental Health: Facilitate as a “Welcome back” program to start the year with conversations on mental health (August).
3: Changing Ineffective Coping
Changing Ineffective Coping: Host program prior to breaks (March).
Talk to a Brother: The program relates to their relationship with each other (February).
Before the Breakdown: Host program to help with stress prior to finals (April).
6: Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress
Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress: Facilitate program to help with stress prior to mid-terms (September).
7: Good Stress & Stopping Procrastination
Good Stress & Stopping Procrastination: Facilitate program to help with finalizing the semester academically (October).
8: Sympathy, Empathy & Compassion
Sympathy, Empathy & Compassion: Host program to help open dialogue about going “home” for those who may not have a strong home environment and those who may not know some people do not have a strong home environment (November).
Neuroscience of Happiness: Facilitate any time.
Additional Phi Gamma Delta Resources
Mental Wellness Guide
We partnered with Archie Messersmith-Bunting to develop a Mental Wellness Guide. Chapter leaders and volunteers should review the guide as a team to discuss their approach to supporting themselves and members.
Wellness Resource Contact List
Chapter leadership should also utilize the Wellness Resource Contact List to identify local resources available, and share the list with chapter members.
Resources for Volunteers & Graduate Brothers
Advisor’s Mental Health Workshop: This series is facilitated by Ross Szabo, creator of Behind Happy Faces, to provide training on mental health basics for advisors.
External Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Resources from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides information and data to showcase why mental health is important.
- Mental Health By the Numbers – statistics and facts related to the impact mental health has on society.
- Review the Warning Signs & Symptoms for mental health so you can support and enable others to get the help they need. This doesn’t mean serving as a mental health expert.
- Identity & Cultural Dimensions – learn how mental health impacts identities and cultures differently.
Organizations Helping with Specific Types of Mental Health Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: www.adaa.org
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
www.chadd.org
Autism
- Autism Speaks:
www.autismspeaks.org
Bipolar Disorder & Depression
- The Balanced Mind Foundation:
www.thebalancedmind.org - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: www.dbsalliance.org
- International Bipolar Foundation: www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org
Borderline Personality Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder Research Center:
www.bpdresourcecenter.org
Eating Disorders
- National Eating Disorders Association:
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org - Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders: www.renfrewcenter.com
Schizophrenia
- Brain & Behavior Research Center:
www.bbrfoundation.org
Substance Abuse
- Alcoholics Anonymous:
www.aa.org - Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: www.niaaa.nih.gov
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: www.drugabuse.gov
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov
Suicide
- American Association of Suicidology:
www.suicidology.org - America Foundation for Suicide Prevention: www.afsp.org
- Kristin Brooks Hope Center: www.hopeline.com
- The Jed Foundation: www.jedfoundation.org
- National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide: www.nopcas.org
- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education: www.save.org