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In May 2010 (Mental Health Awareness Month), MEE released its research report, "Moving Beyond Survival Mode: Promoting Mental Wellness and Resiliency as a Way to Cope with Urban Trauma" with a preview screening of the video documentary and a press conference with top staff from Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health. Based on 14 focus groups and several expert interviews, the report offers sobering insights on the stresses and trauma of unrelenting poverty and violence; what it's like to live in "survival mode;" and the major barriers that inhibit access to community mental health services.
Later in 2010, MEE conducted four workshops with service providers in Philadelphia and Chicago and organized additional screenings of the documentary to targeted audiences in the Mid-Atlantic region. MEE convened high-level executives at specific service providers, selected members of the media and Community Network members to attend these events and participate in panel discussions with key experts and members of MEE's project team.
MEE then turned its focus on solutions and developed a customized
Community Wellness Toolkit and Website to share information with the community
about key protective factors that can leverage the inherent resiliency of youth
and immediately support young people in dealing with the complex emotional
issues they face. The Toolkit and Website help mental health providers across
the country--or anyone working "on the frontlines" in low-income urban communities--offer
the culturally-relevant services that underserved communities need most. These
tools can help increase the engagement of community-based organizations in
helping to decrease stigmas, so that people will be more likely to seek out
services.
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