Glen Koh, MPH, CHES’ Post

🎓 Exciting Milestone Ahead: Reflecting on My 4-Year Master’s Journey 🌟 As I approach the culmination of my four-year journey as a Master’s student in Clinical Mental Health , specializing in childhood and adolescence disorders, I find myself both reflective and invigorated by the experiences that have shaped my professional path. 🔍 Academic Exploration: From delving into the intricacies of childhood and adolescence disorders to exploring innovative therapeutic approaches, every course has been a stepping stone in my academic journey. The depth of knowledge gained has equipped me to understand and address the nuanced mental health needs of young individuals. 🤝 Hands-On Engagement: Beyond the classroom, my journey has been enriched by hands-on experiences. Working with individuals with disabilities and refugees with special needs has been an eye-opening and humbling aspect of my education. Each interaction has underscored the importance of tailored, empathetic care, reinforcing my commitment to inclusivity in mental health services. 🌍 Global Perspective: Engaging with refugees facing unique mental health challenges has provided me with a global perspective. Navigating cultural nuances and advocating for the mental well-being of those who have experienced displacement has been a transformative aspect of my journey. 👩🎓 Upcoming Graduation: As I look ahead to May 2025, I am filled with gratitude for the knowledge gained, the lives touched, and the growth experienced. Graduating with an emphasis in childhood and adolescence disorders is not just a personal achievement but a commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of young individuals facing mental health challenges. 🚀 Next Chapter: This journey has prepared me for the next chapter in my professional life. I am eager to leverage my education, experiences, and passion to contribute meaningfully to the field of clinical mental health counseling. The learning doesn’t end here; it’s a foundation for a lifetime of making a difference. 🙏 Thank You: To mentors, colleagues, and everyone who has been part of this journey, thank you for your support and encouragement. Here’s to the next adventure, the next challenge, and the continued pursuit of excellence in mental health advocacy. #ClinicalMentalHealth #GraduationJourney #InclusivityInMentalHealth #futuretherapist 🎓

📢 **Exciting News! Our 4th Paper Published!! 📢 In a pioneering global Mental Health Education intitiative sponsored by ORLANDO MAGIC YOUTH FOUNDATION ( NBA, https://lnkd.in/eRk_M9R5), we conducted personalized mental health education sessions by Master's level psychologists to children across the USA and India. We then gathered valuable feedback from parents about the sessions and their impact. We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest study on this program titled: "Evaluating the Effectiveness of One-on-One Mental Health Education Sessions for Children: Parental Perspectives." **Does Parents' Perspective Matter? Absolutely!** **Key Findings:** 🌟 Positive responses from parents. 🌟 Notable improvements in children's emotion regulation, problem-solving skills, and overall mental well-being. 🌟 Increased willingness of parents to endorse continued participation in the program. **Why This Matters:** Integrating one-on-one mental health education sessions into primary prevention strategies can promote early intervention and resilience-building. By equipping children with essential coping skills and emotional literacy, these interventions can lead to positive long-term mental health outcomes and mitigate the risks of future mental health issues. We are excited about the opportunities for further research, especially exploring the scalability of these programs and their potential to address broader mental health challenges among young people. **Want to know more?** Check out the full paper for detailed insights! Paper is attached. Together, let's make a difference in children's mental health! 🌈 We are offering free 1:1 sessions to children across USA ( Funded by Orlando Magic Youth Foundation ✨️) Schedule Sessions for yourself and your child or any child you know on this link: https://lnkd.in/ezhNMCen #MentalHealth #ChildrensWellbeing #ParentalPerspectives #MentalHealthEducation #Research #GlobalStudy #PositiveOutcomes

Can you guess what students came up with when they presented their perspective on how the Model Minority Myth shows up in schools (at the ASEA 2024 conference)? - Unrealistic expectations - Difficulty seeking and receiving help - Shame and silence When sharing their ideas for solutions, students called for actions such as: 1. Dismantling the myth and normalizing help-deeking 2. Addressing and destigmatizing mental health needs 3. Normalizing academic assistance 4. Partnering with Asian American mental health professionals 5. Equipping educators so they are able to create a safe space We know that bridging the gap between good intentions to intentional action takes effort and it can be harder when we don't have access to helpful resources. This is why we created the AANHPI Speaker Series at Learning Specialist LLC. 👉 Register at the link below and join us for our first free educational speaker ONLINE event, that aims to openly discuss and share resources for addressing issues students highlighted, such as destigmatizing mental health, normalizing assistance, and equipping educators for creating safe spaces. You are invited to this **FREE educational event** called: Mental Health + Disability Stigma in APIDA Communities  📅 Date: May 9, Thursday  ⏰ Time: 5-6:00 pm PST / 8-9:00 pm EST 👉 Register below to receive **zoom link** Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Dr. Soundhari, a clinical psychologist and founder of Integrated SEL. Dr. Soundhari and I will share our perspectives on topics including the impact of racial trauma on APIDA communities, stigma around seeking help, and pathways to treatment and healing. Be sure to attend so you can hear the conversation and get all the resources we are planning to share! #aanhpi #apida #education #learning #mentalhealth #personaldevelopment

📢 New Publication Alert! What are the perceived barriers for building and maintaining a culture of mental health support in Australian competitive youth sport?🧠🏆 published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 🧑🤝🧑 Our new study explores the perspectives of parents, coaches, club leaders, and young athletes on the capacity of youth sporting clubs to promote mental health. 🗣️ 🚧 We uncovered three major phases in establishing a culture of mental health support in youth sport: 1️⃣ INITIAL RESISTANCE (minimalistic attitudes, cultural resistance to change, deferred responsibility, post-stigma); 2️⃣ FOUNDATIONAL CHALLENGES: TEETHING ISSUES (concerns about longevity, identifying gaps, needs and preferences, mixed attitudes about mental health first aid training); 3️⃣ LONG-TERM TURBULENCE (overreliance on voluntary professional skills, tailored support needs, and a fading emphasis on caring coaching. 🌪️ 💡 While sports can be a promising avenue for positive mental health, our research highlights the importance of addressing various forms of club-based resistance to make a lasting impact. 💪 Thanks to Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and the Para Hills Football Club for funding this vital research, and to my collaborators and co-authors Jasmine Petersen Murray Drummond Ivanka Prichard Claire Drummond Sarah Crossman and Olivia Bramley 🤗 Read the full paper here [free access for first 50 readers]: https://lnkd.in/ejuRKbqJ Flinders University SHAPE Research Centre #YouthSport #MentalHealth #Research #PositiveChange #Community #YouthDevelopment #Support #Education

July is national minority mental health awareness month. It is imperative that we not only acknowledge minority student-athletes but celebrate all of their gifts that they have shared with us through the art of sport. Established in 2008, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month honors the legacy of Bebe Moore Campbell, an accomplished author, advocate, and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority groups. Why It Matters: Mental health is a critical component of overall health, yet minority student-athletes can often face additional barriers that can impact their mental well-being. Factors such as cultural stigma, lack of access to quality healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and discrimination can all contribute to the mental health challenges experienced by minority populations. How can organizations become better and more culturally responsive? Look below! How Sports Organizations Can Be Better: - Educate: Learn about the specific mental health issues that affect minority communities. Share this knowledge with friends, family, and colleagues to foster understanding and empathy. - Practice Inclusivity: Ensure that workplaces, communities, teams, staff’s and social circles are inclusive and have supportive environments for individuals of all backgrounds. - Embrace Differences: Acknowledge and embrace the differences among each other, but remember that, despite those differences, everyone shares the common bond of the human experience. #Athletementalhealth #wellbeing #Onrise #MentalWellness #MentalHealthAwareness #JulyMinorityMentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MinorityMentalHealthAwareness #MinorityAthletes #MentalHealth #Wellness

This has not been the relaxing, sparkling summer I planned for—that's life. One thing always on my mind is my second master's at Southern New Hampshire University as I see more and more what a huge undertaking it has been to run a business and a life while in school, turning 40, and all the things that entails in my day-to-day. And everything is about the same topic—#psychology - it is a lot! After next spring, there will be no more school and more sparkly things in my life again, yet for now... This semester was tough, and I got some of my worst grades because I couldn't focus as I usually can. I eventually enacted my #accommodations so I could have a little extra time to take care of myself AND concentrate on my work (about anxiety, no less!) I came off a busy spring, and while I had a self-care plan, life had other ideas. I have made changes to take care of myself for the rest of the summer and to listen to my body and mind differently. Thanks to those accommodations, I am relieved to have produced quality work and finished strong. I have one class left and then two final sessions that will allow me to continue to focus on what I want my place in the #psychology space to look like, and I should finish up later next winter. WOW! #disabilityrights #disabiloty #anxiety #ptsd #mentalhealth #advocacy

Growing up in Asia, I felt like mental health wasn't really something that was talked about. I had no idea what it was. Until suddenly I did. Suddenly I was lost in overwhelming emotion, unsure what it was, and what to do. I was living away from family at the time, studying abroad when I hit breaking point, and I was experiencing all those challenges on top of culture shock and being away from home. For me, I learnt tools to survive from years of lived experience. From finding support from online communities, hours and hours of looking up resources on Healthline and WebMD, to what felt like being pushed and bounced around support services. Over the years, I learnt that mental health was normal, but it also wasn't? That my experience was unique and individual to me, but so is everyone else's and maybe that makes it okay. There's somehow this magical idea of "perfection normal" in society that doesn't exist, but yet something media tells us we should strive for. A box that defines our existence, that we're meant to tick and follow in stereotypical traditional footsteps. But people don't belong in boxes, and not everyone wants to be defined by labels. 💭 So maybe I'm someone with a mental health condition and maybe that means that I experience different challenges to some others. But in no way does a label tell me what I am or am not capable of. How can we thrive, if we're never given the chance to try? For young people, it starts with a seat at the table. It starts with creating access to opportunity. It starts with an inclusive and equitable education that fosters accessibility and flourishing. Because what can we do, if we don't know how to stay resilient against the challenges life throws our way? I'm so excited to share that my NGO Helping Our Planet Earth will soon be launching our virtual School Partnerships program to give young people their start. Our vision is to implement self-sustaining wellness ecosystems through community-specific mental health education, peer support and empowering youth leadership training. 💡 Comment below your thoughts about mental health education in the school system or would like to connect us with a school! Would love to hear what you think 💛 #SchoolPartnership #MentalHealthForAll #Accessibility

  Calling all Lambton College International Students (Sarnia - Main Campus)! You’re invited to share your feedback about accessing mental health supports by completing this anonymous online survey.     This survey should only take 3-5 minutes of your time. By completing the survey, you can help Lambton College understand what unique barriers International Students might face when trying to access mental health supports within our community.      This survey is completely anonymous and confidential. We hope that providing students with an anonymous and confidential way to provide feedback will help us and other post-secondary educational institutions improve access to supports for International Students.  You can scan the QR code to access the survey. #ResearchInnovation #LambtonCollege #LCPride #MentalHealth

Actions do speak louder than words! Often, there's a belief that talking about traumatic experiences is the key to processing them. And yes, talking is important in doing so. However, taking action can be more impactful. Research indicates that engaging in shared activities is often more effective than just verbal communication. Consistent research underscores the significantly reduced likelihood of health issues when individuals have a support network that believes in them, listens, and fosters a sense of belonging. With the majority of children and youth growing up in the informal settlements of South Africa facing at least 4 adverse childhood experiences (ACE), many of them chronic in nature, the potential for long-term emotional, behavioral, physical, and social consequences is evident. But how do you go about it? How do you take action? Our training programs are packed with practical exercises that we practice with trainees, enabling them to implement them in their work with children the very next day. We teach them how to connect with children and make them feel safe in simple ways. These small gestures can have a significant impact, such as personally greeting each child, checking in with them interactively to understand their emotions, and learning about the associated physical responses. We use tools like emotion cards, physical games, or dancing to help them identify and express emotions. Simple activities like taking a walk together or drawing can also create a conducive environment for initiating a safe conversation with a child, demonstrating genuine interest. And yes, besides these activities we also practice how to have meaningful conversations, guiding trainees on what is helpful to say and also what is not so helpful or even harmful to say. In a country like South Africa, where there's a significant shortage of child psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, these skills are invaluable. The take away message? Not everyone needs to be a psychologist to help children cope with unsafe situations. Anyone (!) can be a crucial support system for children and youth facing overwhelming experiences. This is particularly relevant for the role models in the informal settlements of South Africa, whom we aim to empower with these skills and knowledge. And so can you! Join us in making a difference. Let's empower communities and create a network of support! #TrainForChange #Empowerment #Mentalhealth #trauma #support #SouthAfrica #ImpactfulChange

🌟 We are starting the European Mental Health Week! 🌍 This initiative, co-funded by the European Commission, aims to co-create the future of mental health by calling for action to develop and implement policies, services, programmes, and communications that promote positive mental health using a psychosocial model and a human rights-based approach. At NESET we encourage researchers, practitioners, policymakers and everyone to engage in this exchange on all aspects of mental health. We also invite experts to share knowledge that can bridge the gap between policy and academia on relevant issues such as mental health in education. 📘 The latest NESET report on Student and Staff Mental Wellbeing in European Higher Education Institutions, authored by experts Elena Riva, Kate Lister, and Wiki Jeglinska, serves as a valuable resource to advance these goals. This report provides an overview of the main barriers that affect the declining mental health and well-being of students and staff in Higher Education across the European Union. It also offers key policy recommendations for the successful implementation of ‘whole institution’ approaches in these institutions. We invite you to: 🔍 Explore the full report via this link: https://shorturl.at/txzX2 🔗 Dive into the report one-pager here: https://shorturl.at/dkTV9 🗣️ Explore the event on Mental Health Europe and contribute to the debate during this awareness week! #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek #BetterTogether #NESET #mentalhealth #wellbeing #HigherEducation #StudentAndStaffWellbeing #Europe