Learning Life long learning is important to mental health and to wellness for everyone. Lots of community centers have classes on all sorts of topics, from learning basic Spanish to basket weaving. These classes are available to the public. Check out this link to find your local neighborhood and community centers.
Keeping your mind and your brain sharp and engaged with activities like reading, puzzles, games and other activities can be helpful, too. Ask at your local library about opportunities for reading groups and other activities. EducationFor people who have had mental health challenges, these illnesses often show up in late adolescence and early adulthood, critical years when important decisions concerning education and careers are made. People whose education was interrupted by serious mental illnesses must be able to reconnect and continue with their educational development. Through supported education, people receive help to define their educational objectives, such as getting their high school GED (Graduate Equivalency Degree) or going to college. If you were not able to finish high school and want to get your GED, tell your mental health worker or case manager and add that to your mental health recovery plan. He or she will help you find a GED program. There are also some high school programs now on-line. If you do that and complete the program, you get a high school diploma. Ask about that option, too. If you go onto the Internet, use a search engine such as Yahoo or Google and look up GED programs in King County. Many people find, as they continue on their recovery journeys, that they can participate in formal training programs and/or go to college and can succeed in making their dreams happen. Two federal statutes--the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Carl D. Perkins Education Applied Technology Education Act--include language about the coordination of educational planning for people with disabilities. Colleges are required to have an Office of Disabled Student Services (ODSS), which handles issues related to accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can be a valuable partner in helping you succeed. ODSS often has contact information for mental health treatment services, as well as for counseling services to help with adjusting to college life. These offices also work with academic staff to raise awareness about disabilities and provide support and accommodations to help students meet classroom requirements. If you want to go back to school, let your mental health worker know and put it on your mental health recovery plan as a goal. The challenge is to coordinate all the applications and funds needed to pay tuition, get the support you need while in school, and have a safe, affordable place to stay and, of course, study! Identify what the small steps are that you can take, one at a time, to reach your goal. Ask your friends and family to support you, too. | 