INTRODUCTION

Exposure to violence, particularly greater exposure to violence and trauma, complicate adolescent and adult development among young men and boys of color (YMBOC) aged 12-25. Relative to white boys and men in the state, Californian YMBOC aged 12-25 are more likely to have PTSD, lack access to health care, be exposed to many forms of violence, be arrested or in custody as a juvenile, be in institutional settings or under state or court-ordered care as an adult, live in unhealthy physical environments, have an incarcerated parent or relative or experience a firearm-related/homicide-related death. These conditions, coupled with over-exposure to injury, violence and trauma (hereafter, IVT) - especially IVT associated with gang culture and gang violence (hereafter GCGV), may significantly impact the mental health of YMBOC aged 12-25. The goal of this workshop is to discuss the mental health impact of injury, violence, trauma and unhealthy physical environments on YMBOC aged 12-25 in Los Angeles County, California - especially South Los Angeles and the surrounding south LA County communities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lennox, Inglewood, Gardena, Watts and Compton.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, Community Intelligence and the Violence Prevention Coalition (VPC) will convene practitioners, policy-makers, funders, artists, community advocates, law enforcement/probation, health/mental health professionals, school personnel, a local elected official and youth to explore opportunities, actions and strategies that can be implemented to uplift men/boys and women/girls of color and accomplish My Brothers' Keeper objectives in California. We expect a group of up to 50 participants/organizations convening to to discuss the impact of violence and trauma on health, mental health and community well-being among men/boys of color.

WORKSHOP TOPIC:

The Mental Health Impact of Violence and Trauma on Men and Boys of Color

WORKSHOP ABSTRACT:

Many people in the U.S. are living in daily chronic stress. Higher levels of uncertainty and danger are characterized by anxiety over increased environmental threats including climate change, political upheaval, local, regional and global conflicts including the threat of terrorism and perceived heightened dangers from a misconception that rates of crime and violence are on the rise. Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15-44. Men are less likely to seek support and services for major depression. Schizophrenia is also a major problem in the U.S. About 2.4 million American adults (1.1% of the adult population) have schizophrenia. Men and woman are affected at a similar rate About 18.1 % of the U.S. adult population, or about 40 million Americans, have some anxiety disorder, including panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a phobia. Approximately 7.7 million American adults, or about 3.5 %, in each year, have PTSD. In 2006, 33,300 (approximately 11 per 100,000) people died by suicide in the U.S. In most of these cases, people who died by suicide had a mental illness, most commonly depression or some form of substance abuse disorder. This session will discuss the intersection of Mental Health and Wellbeing and Men/Boys of Color. Speakers will share learnings from a national study of mental health and wellbeing. Participants will learn about key mental health issues faced by Men/Boys of Color and discuss community-level strategies that can be adopted and implemented to improve mental health and wellbeing among people of color. Together with participants, speakers will explore ways that people working in violence prevention, public health, mental health, land use, transportation, food policy, education, housing, and other sectors can more effectively collaborate to support mental health, wellbeing and community safety. Learning objectives include: reviewing and discussing mental health data to increase familiarity and knowledge of mental health data; discussion and prioritization of key mental health issues faced by men of color; identification and listing of steps and strategies that can de developed and implemented to improve mental health and wellbeing among people of color.

Description of Community Intelligence University of Violence Prevention Workshops:

This interactive workshop - The Mental Health Impact of Violence and Trauma on Men and Boys of Color Workshop - is part of the Community Intelligence University of Violence Prevention (CI-UVP) Elevating Mental Health and Wellbeing in Communities of Color program. This workshop will introduce participants to key mental health concepts, important issues impacting mental health and community wellbeing and involve them in a discussion of opportunities to elevate mental health and wellbeing in communities of color.

Key Learning Components…

This workshop is for people and organizations that want to increase their capacity to address the impact of injury, violence and trauma (hereafter, IVT) on underserved communities. During this workshop, attendees will have an opportunity to:

• Discuss Key Concepts: Injury, Violence, Trauma, Mental Health and Community Wellbeing

• Review Mental Health Data

• Compare Mental Health Outcomes in Diverse Communities

• Discuss opportunities to elevate Mental Health and Wellbeing in communities of color

Key Learning Objectives...

After participating in this workshop, attendees will be able to:

1. Discuss the status of mental health and wellbeing in communities of color

2. Define/describe key concepts like ACE’s, Community-ACE’s, TIA, Restorative Justice, etc...

3. Describe how injury, violence and trauma impact mental health and wellbeing in communities of color

4. Identify/prioritize opportunities to elevate mental health and wellbeing in communities of color

Disclaimer: By participating in this event you are granting permission for your voice, image and likeness to be filmed, recorded, photographed, edited, copied, exhibited, published or distributed by Community Intelligence. If you do not wish to recorded, photographed or filmed, please inform Community intelligence staff on the day of or prior to the workshop. Thank you.

PRESENTER:

• Dr. Randal Henry, Founder/CEO, Community Intelligence; Board Member, Echo Parenting and Education; Project Director, Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Project

• Special Guest/Mental Health Professional - To be announced

LUNCH:

A sandwich bar will be open during the lunch break and iced tea will be available.

WORKSHOP COST:

$25. Lunch is included.

Event Location

The California Endowment Los Angeles Conference Center 1000 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Date

Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

Who Should Attend

People and organizations (everyone) who support and/or are working to uplift Men and Boys & Women and Girls of Color in California are welcome to attend the event. Mental health professionals and those who work in public health mental health and/or community wellbeing are strongly encouraged to attend. Students and youth of color are strongly encouraged to attend, welcome to participate in discussions. Also, adults who work with, or whose work impacts/is intended to impact, MBOC/WGOC are also strongly encouraged to attend including: Advocates, Coalition members, Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence, Educators, Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force participants, Mental Health professionals, My Brother's Keeper (MBK) projects, Public Health professionals, Researchers, School District personnel, Students, Teachers, Trauma Prevention, Violence Prevention experts, Youth Development,

Amenities

A sandwich bar and iced tea will be available to registered attendees during the lunch break.