Get Fit Grand Prairie

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One in five adults experience mental illness each year in the U.S. As the holiday season continues, it becomes crucial for people to take care of their mental health by prioritizing their self-care. Take the time to relax and do something you enjoy with yourself or with loved ones around you. 

December: Mental Health Awareness (Click Here)

Fact and Myths about Mental Health 

Myth: Children don't experience mental health issues. 

Fact: Early warning indicators of mental health issues can be seen in even the youngest children. These mental health issues can result from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social variables and are frequently diagnosable clinically.  

Three-quarters of mental health illnesses start before the age of 24, and half of all mental health disorders emerge before a person turns 14 years old.  

Myth: Mental health issues can't affect me. 

Fact: Mental health issues can affect anyone. In 2020, about: 

  • One in 5 American adults experienced a mental health condition in a given year
  • One in 6 young people have experienced a major depressive episode
  • One in 20 Americans have lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression

Suicide is also one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. In 2020, it was the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-24. In 2020, suicide claimed the lives of over 45,979 Americans, almost twice as many as homicide. 

Myth: People with mental health needs, even those who are managing their mental health conditions, cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job. 

Fact: Employees with mental health issues can be just as productive as those without them, particularly if they are able to effectively manage their illness. Employers frequently are unaware of mental health issues in their workforce, but when they do, they frequently hear about strong performance, motivation, and employment duration that is on par with or longer than that of other employees. 

Myth: I can't do anything for a person with a mental health issue. 

Fact: Just 20% of adults in 2020 reported having gotten mental health treatment in the previous year, with 10% of those individuals receiving professional counseling or therapy. Family and friends can play a significant role in assisting someone in receiving the care and services they require by: 

  • Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
  • Helping them access mental health services
  • Help them learn self-care and coping techniques
  • Learning and sharing facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn't true
  • Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else
  • Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as "crazy", instead use person-first language

Myth: It is impossible to prevent a mental health condition. 

Fact: The goal of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorder prevention is to address established risk factors, such as trauma exposure, which can influence a person's likelihood of developing mental health issues as a child, adolescent, or young adult. Encouraging an individual's social-emotional health results in: 

  • Higher overall productivity
  • Better educational outcomes
  • Lower crime rates
  • Stronger economies
  • Improved quality of life
  • Increased lifespan
  • Improved family life

Source: Mental Health Myths & Facts

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Join us as a Get Fit GP Partner!

Community organizations and businesses are invited to partner with the City of Grand Prairie's health initiative to help educate and encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle. Get Fit Grand Prairie is a community-wide wellness initiative that focuses on decreasing childhood obesity and increasing the health of all residents through physical fitness and healthy food options.

Each month the City encourages residents to participate in a healthy activity, such as a community walk, run, or sporting event. Your participation in one or more of these events can boost the level of success for the Get Fit Grand Prairie initiative.

Partnerships will be acknowledged in program brochures, as well as on our Get Fit Grand Prairie website.

Sign up your business/organization to become Get Fit GP partner

If you have any questions, please feel free to email ygomez@gptx.org, or call 972-237-7594. We thank you for your time and continued support.

Get Fit Community Partners

*Disclaimer: The City of Grand Prairie is pleased to partner with these businesses; however, these companies are separate entities than the City, and participating with them in this project does not necessarily indicate that the City fully endorses their business or product, nor does the City intend to disparage any other similar businesses or products that may not participate in the Get Fit GP program.

Mental Health: C.O.P.E.

The Grand Prairie Police Department’s COPE initiative stands for Community Outreach Partnership and Education. This information-sharing program allows first responders to have immediate access to helpful information that would assist them in a crisis. Our first responders are dedicated to partnering with our citizens with disabilities, and it is our proactive goal to have a program in place to assist. In the event a person is unable to properly identify themselves, or becomes lost/disoriented, or might act in a manner that could be misinterpreted by first responders, this information could be accessed rapidly.

Learn more

Diabetes Prevention Program

PreventT2 classes are offered by Dallas County Health & Human Services. The National Diabetes Prevention Program of the CDC has created the PreventT2 program for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention.  

As part of a PreventT2 group, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes for better health. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. Being part of a group provides support from other people who are facing similar challenges. Together you can celebrate successes and find ways to overcome obstacles.

For more information, view Dallas County's Diabetes Prevention Program information page.

Contact Info

Phone: 972-237-8055
Fax: 972-237-8228

Address
Public Health & Environmental Quality
300 W Main St
2nd Floor
Grand Prairie, TX 75050

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