Overview

The SEIU HCII’s Mental Health Initiative aims to empower our members to foster a healthy, supportive, and stigma-free environment that is conscious of our mental health. We recognize that mental health is as important as physical health and essential for overall well-being. This psychoeducation component is designed to equip members with knowledge, skills, and a shared understanding of mental health topics to enhance community support and collective wellness.

Goals

1. De-Stigmatize Mental Health:
   • Normalize Conversations: Facilitate open dialogue about mental health challenges and well-being.
   • Psychoeducation: Address common mental health considerations (e.g., healing, grief, trauma and stress) and their impact on daily life.
   • Challenge Stigma: Break down barriers and misconceptions around mental health in our communities, and beyond.
2. Increase Understanding of Mental Health:
   • Provide Foundational Knowledge: Offer workshops and resources covering topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, trauma, and self-care.
   • Clarify Options: Educate on available resources and demystify the mental health care system.
   • Develop Resilience: Teach coping strategies and resilience-building tools to manage mental health effectively.
3. Create Supportive Community Mechanisms:
   • Peer Support Networks: Foster peer-led groups and forums for members to share experiences, offer support, and create a sense of belonging.
   • Wellness Champions: Train and designate wellness champions within workplaces to promote mental health awareness and support efforts.
   • Resource Sharing: Ensure accessible mental health resources (hotlines, counseling services, webinars) are readily available to members and networks.

Amalia Salmeron– Program Coordinator

Email: amalia.salmeron@seiuhcil.org

Program Offerings

Workshops & Webinars:

Interactive sessions covering mental health literacy, managing stress, and coping strategies for challenging times.

Support Circles:

Safe spaces where members can connect, share their experiences, and support each other through facilitated discussions.

Mental Health Resource Hub

Online portal offering 24/7 access to articles, videos, and professional resources to guide members in managing their mental health.

Mental Health Initiative Program Coordinator

Amalia Salmeron, LCSW (she/they)

Amalia is the Program Coordinator for SEIU Healthcare’s Mental Health Initiative, that aims to create spaces of psychoeducation and support for healthcare, homecare and childcare workers in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas. Amalia holds a Masters in Social Work at the University of Chicago and a Masters in Women’s and Gender Studies from DePaul University. Their work employs anti-racist, feminist, queer, and trauma-informed strategies of community building to prevent, interrupt and end violence, de-stigmatize mental health, and interlocking systems of oppression. Her interests center communities and coalitions’ ability to form intentionally and actively transform systems of oppression and harm. She pays particular attention to the ways in which these groups create self-sufficient spaces for community healing, accountability, and social cha