Mental Health

Mental Health Facts in America

• 43.8 million adults experience mental illness in a given year.
• 1 in 5 Adults in America experience a mental illness.  
• Nearly 1 in 25 (million) adults in America live with a serious mental illness.  
• One-half of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14; three-quarters by the age of 24.

Below is a video series that addresses different aspects of library patrons affected by mental illness and how library staff can best respond.  
Published on Sep 27, 2017 by California Library Services


Episode 1 - Welcome to the Mental Health Initiative Video Series
https://youtu.be/JnHH_EDRlZg

Episode 2 - Establishing a Positive Staff Culture Around Mental Health
https://youtu.be/Jpkh41BL0oY

Episode 3 - The Do's and Dont's of Interacting with Patrons Affected by Mental Illness
https://youtu.be/P99gdETQ1fU

Episode 4 - How to Establish Positive Relationships with Disruptive Patrons
https://youtu.be/RiSU9OdtoHg

Episode 5 - Exploring Compassion Fatigue
https://youtu.be/UvPz1BTCBfA

Episode 6 - Successfully Addressing Customer Complaints About Patrons Affected by Mental Illness
https://youtu.be/cfetzKVVoY4

Mental Health Resources:

Mental Health America
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
https://www.nami.org/

National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Rowan Public Library Food Policy

Rowan Public Library Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement
#9. no consumption of food, except in designated areas;

Q. What is considered a designated area for Patrons?

A. Stanback Auditorium, Hurley Room and Outside Areas

Q. What is considered a designated area for Staff?

A. Staff Areas Only (out of sight of patrons) 

We should always conceal food when we are walking through public areas of the library while the library is open.

Q. Why should we conceal food from Patrons?

A. Patrons may not be aware that food consumption is not allowed inside the library, if they see staff with food they could assume that they to can bring food into the library.

  
Call Security if you witness a patron eating in a undesignated area of the library, or approach the patron and politely say, "Excuse me, but you probably didn't know that food isn't allowed inside the library." Inform the patron that they are more than welcome to finish eating their food outside. (we should not send patrons to the meeting area to eat.)

If the Security Officer is not on duty and you do not feel comfortable approaching the patron inform your Supervisor.

The Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement is not only for our patrons.

We must lead by example. It makes it very difficult to enforce policies when Patrons see us breaking them.
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