RAGMHI
The Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives (RAGMHI) is a global community of Rotary members and friends with expertise in or a deep commitment to helping people improve their mental health.
Through its website and team of experts, RAGMHI provides a wealth of resources to members and clubs which individually and collectively targets the three priority objectives in Rotary regarding mental health:
Available resources via RAGMHI include:
- Access to expert speakers on mental health topics
- Reference documents from across the globe
- Links to multiple websites addressing mental health
- Reputable data and statistics on suicide
RAGMHI Toolkits
Rotary members have proven effective in overcoming stigma in order to bring polio vaccinations into all communities by dispelling the myths that had for decades prevented this medical resource from reaching every child.
Rotary members are now proving effective not only overcoming stigma around mental health but also introducing resources to raise awareness and to increase access. This latter occurs by increasing capacity for prevention and earlier treatment.
Additional resources in the form of toolkits that every Rotary member can introduce locally, include:
- Break stigma
- Raise awareness
- Increase access and capacity for prevention and early treatment
RAGMHI Memberships
Rotarians, Rotaractors and clubs can become members of RAHMHI by signing up online and contributing the respective annual fee.
RAGMHI Membership is open to the following:
- Individual Rotarian/Rotaractor - US $25/year
- Individual non-Rotarian/Rotaractor - US $35/year
- Rotaract club (up to 5 individuals) - US $25/year
- Interact club (up to 5 individuals) - US $25/year
- District/Country Chapter (up to 10 individuals) - US $50/year
Country Chapters in District 7030
For Rotary and Rotaract members in District 7030 who are interested in breaking stigma, raising awareness, and increasing access to prevention and treatment of mental disorders, there is now the option to form a Country Chapter of the RAGMHI and formalize a relationship between your country/territory and the global Rotary Action Group to better communicate needs, access and share resources and to provide assistance with projects and activities.
Similar to the formation of District Chapters (elsewhere around the world), Rotary members from a single country/territory in District 7030 can create a Country Chapter - Mental Health Initiatives Rotary Action Group by:
✔ forming a country committee to promote mental health and wellness among members as well as the community
✔ editing the example Vision and Mission statements as desired by your country committee
✔ obtaining signatures from the District Governor line (current, Elect, and Nominee) committing ongoing support
✔ adopting the bylaws as provided by Rotary International for Action Groups
✔ submitting the completed documents
✔ editing the example Vision and Mission statements as desired by your country committee
✔ obtaining signatures from the District Governor line (current, Elect, and Nominee) committing ongoing support
✔ adopting the bylaws as provided by Rotary International for Action Groups
✔ submitting the completed documents
After a country chapter application is approved and respective payment is accepted, a country chapter will receive:
- the official country chapter logo to be used
- instructions how to edit new Country Chapter pages within the RAGMHI website
- an additional board director assigned by the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives
Recommended Responsibilities of a Country Chapter
- recruit mental health professionals from the community and members from the country who are experienced in relevant projects to assist clubs in community needs assessment and projects
- address the community needs identified in the assessment (perhaps as a club or multi-club project)
- identify local resources and best practices and make them known in the local communities by publishing on the Country Chapter webpage
- provide materials for events in the country/territory and, if desired, speakers
Benefits of a Country Chapter
- action groups are inclusive to non-Rotarians/Rotaractors
- joint activities among members and chapters
- country chapter website provided within the global website with all functions plus your content
- assistance with Community Needs Assessment or grants
- assistance with localizing toolkit materials
- guidance on loading local resources (examples: referral; looking inward to self or club)
- coaching on projects by a RAG Board Member or proven project mentor