The Arc Oregon

There's still time to sign up for next week's Mental Health First Aid! This month only, get 50% off with the code MHFA50.

Did you know that LGBTQIA+ people are twice as likely to suffer from mental illness than everyone else?

Mental Health First Aid can help someone in crisis stay safe until they can get professional help. Join us July 6-7 and get half off with the code MHFA50! Register now at vist.ly/3n52w46

We stand in solidarity with all lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic people in our shared struggle for equal rights, dignity, and community, and are proud to say:

Gay rights are human rights.
Trans rights are human rights.
Queer rights are human rights.

Happy Pride Month!

From increased threats to rights and access to services, to a decades-long history of activism and civil disobedience, to the many, many people with intersectional identities, the LGBTQIA+ and disability communities share a lot in common.

#Pride #Intersectionality #LGBTQIA+

As #MentalHealthAwareness Month ends and LGBTQIA+ Pride begins, remember that our struggles are connected. We face many of the same challenges: discrimination, access to housing, poverty, and stigma among them.

Take care of yourself. Take a breath. Then join us in making tomorrow better.

#MHAM2025

#MentalHealthAwareness Month is coming to a close, but the need for self-care isn't. Especially if you're involved in advocacy, please take care of your mind. Prioritize your mental well-being so that you can help work towards a better future.

#MHAM2025 #SelfCare #MentalHealth

The voices of self-advocates matter! The only way to break the stigma of mental health challenges or IDD is to center the voices of those with lived experiences. Join us in lifting up these stories for #MentalHealthAwareness Month

#MHAM2025 #MentalHealth #IDD #Disability #SelfAdvocacy

Mike Johnson Insists It's 'Moral' to Throw People Off Medicaid House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed adding a Medicaid work requirement to the Republican spending bill has a "moral component."

Medicaid advocates lose when we adopt MAGA's "work requirement" disinformation frame

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

How Deaf Advocates Won the Battle for Closed Captioning Whenever people "watch captions in noisy environments such as gyms and bars, they have the deaf community to thank."

(She would like us to add that Technology Connection's video on closed captioning is both very interesting to her particular flavor of nerd and shows what the disability community and allies can accomplish through advocacy! This article talks more about the advocates who made it happen.)

One of our team members shared this excellent video with us, which shows two things:

1. Accessibility needs to be considered from the start! If it's an afterthought, you'll have situations like this where new technology takes a step backwards.

2. She's an even bigger nerd than we realized.

Managing a physical condition can be stressful, but small mental health check-ins—like deep breathing, 🧘 journaling, 📒 or reaching out to a friend📞can bring balance. Your well-being matters.

#MHAM2025 #MentalhealthAwareness #SelfCare #Wellness

Facing a serious illness—mental or physical—can stir up a range of emotions. It’s crucial to seek support to navigate these challenges. If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call or text #988Lifeline. They can help. 988lifeline.org

#MHAM2025 #MentalHealthAwareness

Do you know how to respond to a family member, coworker, or loved one facing a mental health challenge? This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, consider signing up for a Mental Health First Aid training. Sign up at https://thearcoregon.org/event/mental-health-first-aid-adult-2/

Never doubt the power of your story! The disability rights movement has made enormous progress thanks to brave advocates talking about their lives, their disabilities, and the struggles and injustices they face.

Now more than ever we need fierce advocates! This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, share your story. Breaking silence breaks stigma.

#MHAM2025 #MentalHealthMatters #SupportMatters

Tell Congress: No Medicaid or SNAP Cuts! We need Congress to support Medicaid & SNAP for people with disabilities and their families! [@campaign]

Congress is making big decisions right now about our nation’s priorities. They are voting on policies that will take away funding from Medicaid healths and SNAP benefits—services that people with disabilities rely on to live healthy lives.

Act now: https://action.thearc.org/hMKcUkd
#ProtectMedicaid

Health challenges in friends and family—including IDD, chronic illness, and other disabilities—can impact their mental well-being. This #MHAM2025, show up—share a meal, take a walk together, or simply listen. 💖 samhsa.gov/find-support/helping-someone

Serious mental illness (#SMI) affects millions, yet stigma keeps many from seeking help. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Let’s make sure everyone gets support. Learn more: samhsa.gov/mental-health/serious-mental-illness/managing-life #EndtheStigma #MHAM2025

This is a correction of a previous post that incorrectly gave the date as July 23. We apologize for any confusion this caused.

Thank you, @AdvocateAccessNW, for your support of the 2025 Self-Advocacy Convention! Thanks to their sponsorship, on the first night of the convention, June 11, we will be having a bingo night!

If you haven't registered yet, click here: vist.ly/3n4jzmz

Thank you, @AdvocateAccessNW, for your support of the 2025 Self-Advocacy Convention! Thanks to their sponsorship, on the first night of the convention, July 23, we will be having a bingo night!

If you haven't registered yet, click here: vist.ly/3n4gsbj

It is Mental Health Awareness Month and we're very proud to be part of the fight to reduce stigma, increase access to care, and provide accurate information about mental health and mental illness. This May look out for more posts from us and others by following #MHAM2025!
#MentalHealthMatters

Thank you, @cognitopia, for your support of the 2025 Self-Advocacy Convention! Thanks to their sponsorship, the 2025 Self-Advocacy Convention will have a photobooth where you can get your picture taken and sent to you.

If you haven't registered yet, click here: https://thearcoregon.org/convention/

Are you subscribed to our newsletter? If not, you're missing out on some awesome content like a discussion about compassion fatigue with one of our trainers, Lindsay.

Don't worry! You can still read it all here: https://conta.cc/3GUWW6j
Click on the link at the top to receive future newsletters!

Did you know that the Oregon Special Needs Trust allows you to save money while maintaining benefits? Learn about starting a trust by visiting https://oregonsnt.org/how-it-works/beneficiary-funded-trust/ today!