| Suicide Prevention Program |
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Attempted suicide rates, risk groups essentially unchanged, new study shows
Science Daily
December 1, 2016
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Johns Hopkins investigators report that their analysis of a national database representing more than 1 billion emergency department visits shows that over a recent eight-year period, nothing much has changed in the rates of unsuccessful suicide attempts, or in the age, gender, seasonal timing or means used by those who tried to take their lives in the United States.
The findings, published in
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences on Nov. 17, also affirm that a significant majority of those who attempted suicide had a concurrent mental disorder, that the attempts as documented in emergency department visits were more frequent during the late spring, that more females attempted suicide than males and that males were more likely than females to employ violent methods, such as hanging or use of a firearm, in their attempts.
"What stood out to us the most is that while the rate of fatal suicide has increased, the overall rate of nonfatal suicide attempts has not changed much over the years, nor have the patterns -- age, sex, seasonality, mechanism, etc. -- changed much," says Joseph Canner, M.H.S., interim co-director of the Johns Hopkins Surgery Center for Outcomes Research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the paper's first author.
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Big questions around Facebook's suicide-prevention tools
Rachel Metz
MIT Technology Review
March 1, 2017
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It's been almost a year since the general rollout of Facebook Live, which lets you broadcast live video to followers, and in that time
several people have killed themselves while sharing video of themselves-including a 14-year-old Florida girl who hanged herself in a bathroom in a foster home in January.
Facebook wants to avoid these tragedies, and on Wednesday it
rolled out a handful of tools that it thinks may help. These include allowing viewers to report friends who are broadcasting via Facebook Live that appear to be veering toward self-injury or a suicide attempt; the broadcaster will then see a message-while still shooting the live video-that offers resources like the opportunity to contact a help line or talk with a friend. These are the same kinds of tools Facebook
already offers to users when a friend on the site reports one of their status updates for similar concerns.
Can such an intervention be helpful, though?
Joe Franklin, an assistant professor at Florida State University who runs the school's
Technology and Psychopathology Lab, says it's a move in the right direction, but there's no great scientific evidence that such things are particularly helpful.
"I don't think it's a bad thing and I think we should study it," he says. "But I would immediately have questions-I would not assume it would be effective."
Willa Casstevens, an associate professor at North Carolina State University whose work includes studying suicide prevention, is hopeful that such intervention might be positively received by younger people in particular, since they're used to interacting via social media.
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A suicide attempt in an Army unit can lead to more, study finds
Jacqueline Howard
CNN
July 26, 2017
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Marc Raciti had the tree picked out.
Positioned on a rolling Hawaiian hillside along the North Shore in Oahu, where the now-retired United States Army major was stationed, that tree was where Raciti said he planned to take his last breath. He planned to hang himself.
As a physician assistant, Raciti had been deployed five times, twice to Iraq, and mourned the suicide deaths of three medics who served with him. He suffered
post-traumatic stress disorder and often fantasized about suicide.
"I did lose three medics after coming back from Iraq to suicide, which exasperated my PTSD, but mine is of survivor's guilt for the ones I could not save," Raciti
said.
The US Department of Defense has continued to investigate what factors might influence a military member's risk of suicide attempt, and a new study suggests that previous suicide attempts in a particular unit of members can play a significant role.
Within Army units, the risk of suicide attempts among soldiers increases as the number of attempts made within the past year in their unit rises, according to the study, published in the journal
JAMA Psychiatry
on Wednesday.
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How Childhood Trauma Affects Health
Caroline Lester
WGBH Innovation Hub
July 13, 2017
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Vincent Felitti first made the connection between childhood abuse and adult health during an obesity research study he ran in the 1980s. During a routine checkup with one of his patients, she mentioned that the year after she was raped, she gained 105 pounds. Felitti recalled what happened next: "She looked down at the carpet and muttered to herself, 'Overweight is overlooked. And, that's the way I needed to be.'"
Felitti started asking all of his patients about sexual abuse. The results were shocking. "It seemed every other patient in the program was acknowledging a history of childhood sexual abuse," he said. In the end, 55 percent of his patients disclosed that they had been abused.
Three Takeaways:
(1) Adverse Childhood Experience -- or ACE -- scores are a series of questions that ask about the ten most common categories of childhood abuse.
(2) High ACE scores can lead to a number of illnesses: "Heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes, fractures, cancer, and a number of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma," explains Felitti. The effects are so high that a person who had experienced six or more types adverse childhood experiences will, on average, reduce their life expectancy by 20 years.
(3) At first, Felitti was so surprised by his results that he almost didn't believe them: "Somebody would have told me [if this sort of linkage existed]. That's what medical school was for." And even though he tested thousands of patients, it took years for doctors to start accepting his data.
More Reading:
To listen to the entire interview
click here.
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Pressure Cooker: Stress, long hours, and a macho culture are pushing chefs to the brink
Charlotte Cuthbertson
Epoch Times
January 25, 2017
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The world was Chef Michael Young's oyster. He was sous chef at Aqua, a fine dining seafood establishment in San Francisco in the late 1990s. At one point, the restaurant had two Michelin stars.
But Young was an alcoholic, a cocaine addict, and partying like a rockstar.
"It was acceptable to go out and drink every night. There are not a lot of professions where that's OK," he said. "As long as I was producing really good food, no one cared."
But it caught up with him eventually, and he was fired.
"It was when it got to the point that it was really impacting my performance and I was inconsistent in an environment where you had to be perfect every day," he said.
Already predisposed to alcoholism, Young found that the restaurant culture fueled his addictions. From the dizzying highs of a perfectly executed evening of service, to the crushing lows of negative customer feedback, along with relentless hours and rampant substance abuse-it was a recipe for disaster.
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| Suicide Prevention Providers |
September 2017 |
As we enter September, the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program would like to share several articles and events which may be of interest to you. Thank you for submitting your upcoming events, trainings, workshops, recent media coverage and funding opportunities. Please consider forwarding these announcements to any of your colleagues that may be interested in attending any of these great events and trainings.
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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Grief and Loss Support Services in Western Massachusetts
Greater Springfield in East Longmeadow -
Survivors of Suicide Loss
Contact Name
: Diana & Paul Lewis; 413-525-7752 or
dprof52@aol.com
Meeting Place
: Forestiere-Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St
East Longmeadow, MA
Meeting Day(s)/Time
: 3rd Mondays every month 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Peer facilitated, No Fee, Group does not meet on major holidays
Northampton - Surviving a Suicide Loss
Contact Name
: Geraldine Unger, 413-203-1200 or
sas4healing@gmail.com
Meeting Place
: Forbes Library (Watson Room), 20 West Street,
Northampton, MA
Meeting Day(s)/Time
: 2nd Tuesday every month 1:00 - 2:30pm
Greenfield - Surviving the Loss of a Teenage or Adult Child
Contact Name: John Kick, 413-253-9523 or
jkick1@comcast.net
Meeting Place: Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High Street, Conference Room A, Greenfield, MA
Meeting Day(s)/Time: 1st and 3rd Monday every month 6:00 - 7:30pm
Pittsfield - Healing After Suicide Loss
Contact Name: Peggy Morse, 413-441-6316 or
peggyf@verizon.net
Meeting Place: Berkshire Children & Family, Family Resource Center, 480 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Meeting Day(s)/Time: 1st Thursday of every month 6:00 - 7:30pm
Peer (Survivor) Facilitated, No Fee
Out of Darkness Walks
September - November 2017
Department of Public Health
Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk: Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 8:00am - 5:00pm (registration from 8:00am - 8:30am)
Location: Beechwood Hotel, 363 Plantation Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
Registration fee: $25.00
Registration Deadline: September 22, 2017 (or when workshop reaches capacity)
Continuing Education Credits: 7.0
Click below to learn more information on this workshop and to register.
Massachusetts is Standing Together to Prevent Falls
Date: September 19, 2017 at 10:00am
Location: Great Hall and the Grand Staircase, State House, Boston
In Massachusetts, within one year over one in four community-dwelling older adults will fall and of those who fall, over one in three will be injured. However, through some very simple lifestyle changes-most falls can be prevented. Falls Prevention Day is a great opportunity for everyone to learn how to reduce risks for falls and fall injuries and more importantly how to prevent falls from happening. Event highlights:
- Discover the Steps to Prevention
- Receive helpful information, free giveaways and Watch Live Demos
- Meet legislators
- Enjoy light refreshment
For more information about the event and MA Falls Prevention Coalition, contact Helen Magliozzi at 617-558-0202 or
hmagliozzi@maseniorcare.org
Mental Health Wellness Blog
Our bodies are made up of mostly water, so when our water supply gets too low, the effects can be far reaching. Dehydration upsets the body's natural balance and can affect our physical, mental, and emotional health. Did you know that being dehydrated can affect your mood? Read the full post
here and learn how drinking water can literally calm your nerves!
Families for Depression Awareness
Teen Depression-What Schools and Parents Can Do When Help is Refused webinar
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 7:00pm EST
We want to believe teens will ask for help when they need it, but we know this is not always the case. What can you do if a teen with depression doesn't want help? Learn how to identify depression in teens and intervene with effective communication techniques to help a teen that may be reluctant to start treatment. The webinar features Dr. Nancy Rappaport
, part-time Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Jami Ingledue
, volunteer parent advocate for Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Heywood Hospital
MENder's Support Group
MENder's brings together guys facing similar issues including illness, anger, stress, substance abuse, relationship problems or major life changes. By using a whole host of techniques, participants can develop the skills to deal with stressors. Members of support groups often share experiences and advice.
- Athol MENder's Support Group takes place the first and third Monday of each month from 7:30 - 9 pm in Athol Hospital's Hillis Board Room. For more information, call (978) 630-6455.
- Garderner MENder's Suport Group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at Heywood Hospital's Medical Arts Building, Conference Room, 242 Green Street, Gardner, MA. For more information, visit: www.heywood.org/mensproject or contact Michael.Ellis@Heywood.org
Military Family Support Group
The Military Family Support Group offers a safe place for family members of both active and former military members to share their experiences, struggles and hope in overcoming the invisible wounds of war that affect thae entire family unit. Veterans and their loved ones can suffer from one or many of the following: survivor's guilt, separation anxiety, emotional numbing, adrenaline seeking, depression, anxiety, insomnia, alcohol and substance abuse, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. The group coaches and supports military family members to find healing, balance, and strategies for positive re-integration for military members with their family and society. The Military Family Support Group also connects families with local resources. For more information, contact Crystal Bean at 978-320-9804.
Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group
Have you or a loved one attempted suicide and survived?
Could you benefit from a support group which provides a safe environment and promotes resiliency, increased self awareness of risk, encourages help-seeking and support? If so, consider joining a free monthly support group at Heywood Hospital. Meetings take place on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm - 8:00pm in the Heywood Hospital Education Conference Room.
For more information call
978-630-6166 or email
Anne.Jasinski@Heywood.org
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Suicide Survivor Support Group
This group is intended for individuals who lost someone they know to suicide. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:30pm - 8:00pm in the Heywood Hospital Education Conference Room. For more information, contact Lynn Kvingedal at (978) 632-3240 or email
lchaves@comcast.net.
Individuals with questions can also contact the Mental Health Unit at (978) 630-6377.
LGBT Aging Project
LGBT Bereavement Groups
The LGBT Aging Project at Fenway Health, in partnership with The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, will be offering three LGBT Bereavement Groups. The three groups are Western Mass (Holyoke), Boston, and Cape Cod (Orleans).
If you know of anyone of any age in the LGBT community who is living with the loss of a loved one please let them know about this valuable service. The LGBT Bereavement groups are free 8 week groups open to LGBT people of any age. For more information or to register for a group please call Bob Linscott at 857.313.6578.
Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention
I Was Talking to a Friend Anthology
I Was Talking to a Friend
will be an anthology of poetry and personal essays that will share the stories and voices of everyday individuals centered on suicide prevention, mental wellness, resiliency and strength. While there are participant
guidelines, ( click here for guidelines) this is not a competitive process.
Visual art such as painting and drawing can be included in the anthology as well. Both electronic and print versions will be made available. Proceeds from all sales will go toward beginning to help the MCSP become self sustaining outside of the state budget.
Member Representative Elections for the Executive Committee
The MCSP is holding our bi-annual Member Representative elections for the Executive Committee.
Member Representatives must attend bi-monthly Executive Committee meetings, held the 3rd Thursday of every other month from 9:30-12.
If you are interested in running please email jkelliher@masspreventssuicide.org. Please
note, former members and non-members are permitted to put their name on the ballot so long as their 2017 membership was completed by September 1.
World Suicide Prevention Day/Month, September 2017
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day and many Regional Coalitions and MCSP member organizations have exciting activities planned! C
heck out our website for a list of activities, and if you have any activities that you'd like to include from your organization, please email
info@masspreventssuicide.org
Berkshire County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Monthly Board Meeting
Every second Wednesday of the month from 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: Brien Center for Adolescent Services, Conference Room, 251 Feen Street, Pittsfield, MA
General Membership Meeting
Bristol County Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
General Membership Meeting
Location: St. Thomas Church Hall, 111 High Street, Taunton, MA
For more information about meetings, events and membership contact Annemarie Matulis at
matulisannie@msn.com
Grief Support Roundtables for Suicide Loss Survivors
Taunton
3rd Thursday of the month from 7:00pm - 8:30pm
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Rectory, 115 High Street, Traunton
Fall River
2nd Monday of the month from 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Blessed Trinity Parish, 1340 Plymouth Avenue, Fall River
Kathy Nemkovich, Facilitator -
kathynemkovich@gmail.com, 508-672-4854
New Bedford
Location and day of the week TBA
Michele Bailey, Facilitator -
mbaileyflood@gmail.com, 508-243-6933
Attleboro: Coming soon.
Westport: The Samaritans of Bristol County host two SafePlace Suicide Prevention Grief Support gatherings once twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. For more information call 508-673-3777.
Cape & Islands Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
General Membership Meeting
2nd Thursday of every odd-numbered month from 11:15am - 12:45pm
Location:
Barnstable County Courthouse, Room 11/12
3
195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA
National Suicide Prevention Day activities
Barnstable: Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 11:15am - 12:45pm
Location: 3195 Main Street, Barnstable County Complex, Barnstable, MA on the front lawn of the Superior Courthouse. Rain location - Harborview Conference Room in the County Complex
Nantucket: Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Location: Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street, Nantucket
Central Massachusetts Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
General Membership Meeting
For more information about meetings, events and membership contact Steve Boczenowski at
boczeno@gmail.com
Greater Boston Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
General Membership Meeting
General membership meetings will be held at Samaritans, Inc. at 41 West Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA. For more information about meetings, events and membership contact
Ron White at
The S Word Film Screening
Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Galvin Middle School Auditorium, 525 Main Street, Wakefield, MA
The Northeast Coalition for Suicide Prevention and the Greater Boston Coalition is sponsoring a showing of the film,
The S Word. Directed by Lisa Klein, this feature-length movie tackles one of the most devastating, silent issues of our time - suicide. It tells the stories of suicide attempt survivors as well as those who have had a love one die by suicide. It explores the anguish, guilt, confusion and other emotions that they deal with. The film is bracing, controversial, and surprising in its revelations, its humor, its connections and its multiple point of views.
MetroWest Suicide Prevention Coalition
Call2Talk
Call2Talk, a direct service of the United Way of Tri-County, is an emotional support and mental health helpline that actively engages with callers to help alleviate their feelings of despair, loneliness and potential suicidal ideation. Callers are encouraged to freely express their concerns and challenges to help them work through their own solutions. Through validation and nonjudgmental listening, callers are made to feel safe and are empowered to face their issues and feel emotionally safe. Part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network of Crisis Centers, Call2Talk currently provides phone support, free call talker training, as well as community outreach, education and support.
Crisis Line: 508-532-2255/1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Business Line: 508-370-4857
General Membership Meeting
Location: United Way of Tri-County Building - 4th Floor, 46 Park Street, Framingham, MA
Impact of Mental Health in the Workplace
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 from 7:30am - 11:30am
Location: Warren Conference Center, 529 Chestnut Street, Ashland, MA
Hear what mindful employers and HR professionals are already doing to help employees work through life challenges that may negatively affect job performance. Learn successful strategies to address mental health in the workplace.
Moderated By: Mike Bayer, Demi Lovato's Personal Development Coach/Business Partner, CAST Centers
Additional panelists from the Freedman Center for Child & Family Development at William James College and Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program.
Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force
Coalition Meetings
Meetings are held the first Monday of each month, at Heywood Hospital, in Board Room (adjacent to Gift Shop), from 10:00 am - 11:30 am.
Newton Cares: Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health
Coalition Meetings
Location: Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville, MA
For more information about meetings, events and membership contact
Northeast Suicide Prevention Coalition
General Membership Meeting
For more information about meetings, events and membership contact Debbie Helms at
dhelms@fsmv.org
or 978-327-6671
Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention
General Membership Meeting
Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month.
Contact Robert Reardon at
rreardon@tapestryhealth.org
for time and place.
Plymouth County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Riverside Community Care
Shifting the Narrative: Helping Adolescents Recover from Traumatic Grief and Suicide Loss
Date: Friday, October 20, 2017 from 9:00am - 4:30pm
Location: The Verve, Crowne Plaza, 1360 Worcester Street (Rte 9), Natick, MA
Early Bird Registration Deadline: September 15, 2017
The conference will provide useful ideas and strategies for helping adolescents who have experienced traumatic loss, especially loss following the suicide death of a peer. We will present current best practice concepts for responding to schools and community organizations. A significant focus of responding to violent loss, including suicide deaths, is the prevention of further suicides. We will focus on how "changing the narrative" about suicide to traumatic loss leads to wellness and hope. Given the particularly important role of social media, we will also address the ways in which social media and online experiences can help create a narrative of healing and hope.
Cost:
Register by 9/15/17 to pay the discount rate of $128 per person or $115 per person for groups of 4 or more. The regular registration cost (deadline is 10/6/17) is $141 per person or $127 per person for groups of 4 or more. $75 per person for Riverside Community Care employees.
Continuing Education:
Applications for 5.5 hours of continuing education credits will be submitted for Social Workers, LMHCs, LMFTs, and Nurses. Please contact Jenny Huynh (jhuynh@riversidecc.org) for the status of the CE accreditation. This training is approved for 5.5 hours of continuing education for Psychologists.*
Registration:
Pre-registration is required. Complete the registration
online
and pay by credit card or, if you prefer, a
hard copy of the registration form
is available on our website.
For a full list of presentations and for more information, please visit:
Samaritans of Merrimack Valley
Safe Place Groups
Adult Groups (18 years of age and older)
The Samaritans of Merrimack Valley runs support groups for survivors of suicide called Safe Place. Safe Place is a support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. It is a safe place to talk, listen, cry, be silent, grieve, be accepted, be understood, and offer acceptance and understanding to someone else in need. Safe Place is a confidential and free support group led by a trained suicide survivor. There are currently two Safe Place locations in Merrimack Valley. Each location has resource packets, a memory board as well as a lending library with books and other materials for support in your grieving.
North Andover
St. Michael Parish, 196 Main Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Beverly
St. John's Episcopal Church, 705 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915
Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
SAVE THE DATE - 11th Leadership in Suicide Prevention Breakfast
The MCSP-Northeast Region will be hosting their 11th Leadership in Suicide Prevention Breakfast at UMass Lowell, Alumni Hall, 84 University Avenue in Lowell on October 24, 2017. We will have a panel of community members on hand to discuss innovative practices in emergency psychiatric services, what organizations are doing to help people in suicidal crisis and how we can collaborate to ensure safety.
Support Group for Suicide Attempt Survivors
Dates: September 27th, October 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th, November 1st, 8th and 15th.
The Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, a program of Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, is beginning a support group for suicide attempt survivors. This support group is for anyone who has attempted suicide over age 18 and in need of connecting with others who have been through the same thing. During the 8 weeks, topics such as safety planning, coping skills, self-care techniques and events that lead to your suicide attempt will be discussed. We do require attendees to be in therapy at the time of enrollment and throughout the 8 weeks. If you are not in therapy, but are interested in joining, please contact us for a referral. The size of the group is limited to 6 people and you will need to make a commitment to attend all meetings. This suicide attempt survivor support group is confidential, free and led by Craig Miller, an attempt survivor. All participants must complete a registration and intake form and in-person interview. For more information about our next group or to sign up, contact:
Debbie Helms at 978-327-6671 or email her at
dhelms@fsmv.org
.
Walk for Hope
Date: October 21, 2017 beginning at 9:30am (registration from 8:30am - 9:15am)
Location: Willows Professional Park, 811 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA
Please join Samaritans of Merrimack Valley and Family Services of the Merrimack Valley as we host our first annual Walk for Hope to promote suicide awareness and show support for those impacted by suicide and mental health challenges.
Fee: $30 Registration fee, includes commemorative t-shirt; $10 Registration fee, without t-shirt
Sponsor a ribbon: donate any amount to sponsor a ribbon placed along the walk with a brief message of hope or the name of a loved one.
For additional information, contact: Anna Peicott at
apeicott@fsmv.org or 978-327-6672
Samaritans on Cape Cod & The Islands
Hyannis Waves of Wellness, A Recovery Connection Center
A peer run organization dedicated to providing support, education and advocacy by providing opportunities and resources to assist individuals in finding their own path to mental health recovery. For more information,
click here to view the brochure.
Safe Place Groups
Samaritans Safe Place support groups that honor and respect the needs of those who have lost someone to suicide. Group meeting dates and times are:
Chatham
Meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Eldredge Public Library, 564 Main Street, Chatham, MA
Samaritans, Inc.
19th Annual 5K Run/Walk
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2017
Registration: Opens 8:00am
Run/Walk: 10:00am
Runner & Fundraising Awards: 11:30am
Family Fun Festival: 8:00am - 11:30am
First Shuttle (from Alewife T Station): 7:45am - Shuttle will run on a 15-minute loop schedule
The 19th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention is September 23rd, and is for people of all ages. Those who have personally been affected by suicide and those who care about the cause will come together in a celebration of life to raise awareness and funds to prevent suicide.
You will enjoy a morning packed with festivities, including games and face painting for kids, Red Sox championship trophies, Wally the Green Monster, snacks from Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, a remembering our loved ones memorial wall, prizes for running and fundraising achievements, and more.
Visit samaritans5k.org to learn more and register. While we encourage you to sign up before online registration closes at 10am on Friday, September 22nd, registration will also be available at the park that morning.
26.2 for Suicide Prevention
Didn't qualify this year, but still want to run the Boston Marathon for Samaritans? Look for an announcement in early October that applications are available. We are expecting to receive bibs through the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, and will open up applications for spots on the team once we receive notification. Applications will be due October 31 and selected team members will be notified in early November.
Grief Support Services Volunteer Training
A Grief Support Services Volunteer Training is being held in October for loss survivors who are interested in joining our team of support group and home-visit facilitators. Here, volunteers learn the skills to create a safe environment that provides an atmosphere for hope and healing.
"What helped the most was meeting people who have also lost loved ones to suicide, which made me feel less lonely and understood, so it would be nice to meet other people and share my experience in hopes of making them feel the same."
If you'd like more information on Samaritans' Grief Support Services programs or trainings, please contact us at safeplace@samaritanshope.org.
Hope FLOATS Support Group
The Hope FLOATS Support Group is for loved ones of attempt survivors - is open to new participants for the next closed-group session. Meeting weekly from October 3 - November 7, individuals supporting a suicide attempt survivor or a loved one struggling with suicidality have an opportunity to join a community of peers who understand, find a space to share their personal experiences, and learn healthy coping skills while supporting their loved ones in their daily lives. Contact us at safeplace@samaritanshope.org to begin the intake process.
Safe Place Groups
Samaritans Safe Place support groups are open to anyone who has experienced a loss from suicide. Registration is not required and groups are led by trained volunteers who are survivors. Group meeting dates and times are:
Boston
Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Samaritans office located at 41 West Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Framingham
Meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) located at 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01701
Medford
Meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 160 High Street, 2nd Floor, Medford Square, Route 60, Medford, MA 02155
Needham
Meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month from 7:00pm - 8:30pm at Riverside Trauma Center, 255 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
South Shore
Meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 7:30pm to 9:00pm at Christ Church Quincy located at 12 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA 02169
Worcester
Meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at The Bridge, 4 Mann Street, Worcester, MA 01602
Tapestry Health
Alternatives to Suicide Peer Support Groups
Alternatives to Suicide Peer Support Groups exist because the opportunity to talk about feelings of hopelessness to empathetic ears can decrease the inclination to act on suicidal feelings. The Western Mass Recovery Learning Center (RLC), has started peer support groups of this kind in Western Mass. Alternatives to Suicide Peer Support Groups provide a forum wherein people who feel or have felt suicidal can talk about their experiences without being judged. People in these groups share their struggles and successes, provide support for one another, and strategize about alternatives to help each other best cope with difficult life circumstances.
- Monday, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, Quaker Meeting House, 43 Center Street, Northampton, MA (Sarah or Sean, 413-539-5941 ext.318)
- Tuesday, 5:00pm to 6:30pm, RLC Greenfield Center, 74 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA (janice@westernmassrlc.org or 413-561-3268)
- Friday, 3:30pm to 5:00pm, The Bowen Center, 340 Main Street, Springfield, MA (mark@westernmassrlc.org or 413-539-5941 ext.317)
- Wednesday, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, RLC's Pittsfield Center, 152 North Street, Suite 230, Pittsfield, MA
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- A Foundation in Ethics, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, 3 CEUs
- A Guide to the Aging and Disability Networks, 4 CEUs
- Aging in Community, 4 CEUs
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 4 CEUs
- Assessment with Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities, 4 CEUs
- Care Management Practice, 2 CEUs
- Care Transitions, 4 CEUs
- Common Sense Management for Caring Organizations, 3.5 CEUs
- Compulsive Hoarding in Older Adults, 4 CEUs
- Core Issues in Aging and Disability, 5 CEUs
- Driving Transitions with Older Adults, 4 CEUs
- Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, 4 CEUs
- End-of-Life Issues, 4 CEUs
- Interdisciplinary Care Teams, 3 CEUs
- Legal Principles & Decision Making in Practice, 3 CEUs
- Managing Medications During Care Transitions, 2 CEUs
- Mental Health and Aging Issues, 4 CEUs
- Mental Health Training in Options Counseling, 3 CEUs
- Mental Wellness and Resilience among Older Immigrants and Refugees, 2 CEUs
- Participant Direction in Managed Long-Term Services and Supports, 2 CEUs
- Substance Use among Older Adults, 4 CEUs
- Suicide Prevention among Older Adults, 4 CEUs
- Suicide Prevention among Older Immigrants and Refugee Populations, 2 CEUS
- Supervision for Effective Practice with Older Adults, 4 CEUs
- Working with Informal Caregivers, 4 CEUs
- Understanding Consumer Control, Person-Centered Planning, and Self-Direction, 3 CEUs
Certificate Programs Courses
- Foundation in Aging & Disabilities Certificate Program
- ADRC/Options Counseling Certificate Program
- Care Management & Care Coordination Certificate Program
- Behavioral Health Certificate Program
- Values and Ethics in Aging & Disabilities Certificate Program
- Supervision & Leadership Certificate Program
Additional information about the online courses and certificate programs can be found on the CADER website: http://www.bu.edu/cader/browse-catalog/
.
William James College INTERFACE Referral Service
INTERFACE Referral Process Coming to Plymouth
For the past two years, Representative Jim Cantwell and other legislators have been successful in providing a funding earmark in the state budget for the INTERFACE Referral Service to serve towns within the south shore. It is with gratitude and great enthusiasm we report that Representatives Cantwell, Cutler, Calter, Murator, Murphy, and Bradley, along with Senators deMacedo and O'Connor worked tirelessly through budget season to secure funding for this current fiscal year. As of August 1, INTERFACE serves the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, and now Plymouth.
Residents living within the above towns who are looking for outpatient mental health services or are curious about mental health and wellness, can call the INTERFACE helpline, Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, to speak with a clinically trained resource and referral counselor. The counselors help callers find a mental health provider who matches four key criteria: specialty, availability, insurance, and location needs and preferences. The goal of the referral service is to help promote better access to mental health care. This is a FREE, confidential referral service.
Counselor are extensively trained in a variety of mental health concerns and will conduct a 20-25 minute intake with the caller. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health services, call 617-332-3666 ext.1; Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm.
In addition, the INTERFACE website provides information and resources related to mental health and wellness. To learn more visit:
Other Organizations
5th Annual Behavioral Health Summit
Date: October 6, 2017 from 8:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Resort and Conference Center, Hyannis, MA
The theme of this year's event is "The Social Determinants of Behavioral Health: Awareness, Understanding, and Action". 75% of a person's mental and physical health is determined by social factors such as poverty, housing, violence, and education. This year's program will look at some of the largest impacts on a person's physical and mental health and what resources are available her on Cape Cod to address them. Learn more and register.
7th Annual Prevention of Underage Drinking and Substance Use Conference
Date: September 26, 2017
Location: Lombardo's, 6 Billings St, Randolph, MA
Morning combined sessions:
- Youth Lens Panel-local high school students offering their insight
- Joseph Shrand, M.D., presenting "It's All About Perspective: Marijuana"
Breakout Session Options
- Teen Session by Dover Youth 2 Youth
- Panel A: Using Evidenced Based Programs-Education and Policy
- Panel B: Here & Now: Leading Us to Our Future
- Presentation: Weeding Through the Myths: Marijuana in Massachusetts, learn about this interactive display
For information or to register, contact
jean_kelly@sshosp.org. The program is free, however pre-registration is
REQUIRED.
AAS Press Release: "The Show"
SUICIDE PREVENTION FIELD PREPARES FOR RELEASE OF 'THE SHOW' IN MIDST OF NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK
Some members of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) have viewed Giancarlo Esposito's new film, The Show, about a reality TV program that exploits the on-camera suicide deaths of its players.While AAS was not involved in, nor consulted during, its production, we believe every instance of suicide in the media is an opportunity to have a conversation about it, and additionally to review suicide prevention efforts on a larger scale.
National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW) will be recognized in the U.S. from September 10-16, 2017. The release of this movie is of particular importance when organizations across the country are raising awareness of this critical public health issue. You can find more information regarding National Suicide Prevention Week
here
.
The suicide prevention field cannot control media portrayals of suicide. What it can control is its response to it. AAS is collaborating with media partners, including movie studios, regarding effective and beneficial ways to portray suicide, suicide loss and attempts, and suicide prevention.
Colleen Creighton, Executive Director of AAS says, "Building relationships with entertainment industry professionals will have a lasting legacy of eliminating prejudice and discrimination of those with mental health issues, while maintaining the integrity of artistic and creative freedom."
While over 44,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. every year, over 1,000,000 more attempt suicide and go on to live productive lives that do not end in suicide. Media professionals and journalists tend to focus on the sensational aspects of suicide deaths, but a larger positive social benefit is possible by focusing instead on the very real stories of hope, healing, and recovery that we know are possible.
"
Be aware of those around you
, check in with them, and ask them how you can help. If you are personally affected, please reach out and seek support," says Julie Cerel, President of AAS.
Suicide prevention resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741-741
The Trevor Project
- 866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline
- 877-565-8860
For the media: We urge members of the media to share suicide prevention resources in all of their reports. Responsible reporting on suicide and the inclusion of stories of hope and resilience can prevent more suicides. You can find more information on safe messaging around suicide
here
.
American Association of Suicidology Call for Papers
The American Association of Suicidology ( AAS) has issued a
call for papers for its
51st annual conference. The conference will be held in Washington D.C., from April 18 to 21, 2018. The conference theme is "Integrating Science, Experience and Political Will: Informed Action to Prevent Suicide." Submissions are due by October 31.
APHA Annual Meeting
Date: November 4 - 8, 2017
Download the app to gain full access to the Annual Meeting. Start planning your schedule and learning more about sessions and events taking place in Atlanta.
Arredondo Brothers' Memorial Bridge Renaming to Honor & Remember Lcpl. Alexander Scott Arredondo, USMC & Brian Luis Arredondo
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: At the intersection of Jamaica Way and Huntington Avenue on River Road
Barnstable County Human Services - Behavioral Health Portal
Behavioral Health Portal
This Behavioral Health Portal
site
is a resource
for individuals, families, and agencies with behavioral health questions or concerns. It provides information about behavioral health services in our region,
including a robust
Service Directory
developed in partnership with the
Behavioral Health Service Provider Coalition of Cape Cod and the Islands
. In addition, the site contains information about key health topics, current legislation, and organizations that provide assistance to b
ehavioral health clients, families, and service providers.
Collaborative Safety Planning to Reduce Risk in Suicidal Patients: A Key Component of the Zero Suicide Model
In this webinar, Adam Swanson of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center provided an overview of the Zero Suicide model and how safety planning contributes to the model. Dr. Barbara Stanley of Columbia University described the role safety planning has in preventing suicide, the six components of the Safety Planning Intervention (Stanley & Brown, 2012), and the research and evidence that supports safety planning. Dr. Stanley detailed how, in order to be effective, safety planning must be treated as a collaborative clinical intervention rather than a form to be completed. She briefly summarized the theoretical underpinnings of safety planning, its intended use, and the training necessary to embed the intervention in health care settings. Mr. Michael Cain of Southwest Behavioral Health Center in Utah discussed why the Center chose to incorporate collaborative safety planning as part of clinical workflows, how it is being implemented, and the challenges and successes encountered.
Comprehensive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class: Reduce Your Stress, Retrain Your Brain
Carefully structured, comprehensive 29 hour class offered over an eight week period that will give you skills to work with stress and anxiety, optimizing physical, emotional and mental health.
Eight Week Class - Fall Session
:
Wednesdays September 27 through November 15, 2017, 6-8:30 PM and Saturday, November 4, 2017, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
. Call 508/420-3300 or email info@capestressreduction.com to register or for more information and fee schedule. Clinic and classes will be held at Innerglow Yoga, 30 Steeple St., Mashpee, MA.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Cape Cod
Meets every Wednesday from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at the Cape Cod Medical Center, 40 Quinlan Way, Hyannis. For more information contact Lois at (508) 681-8598 or Paul at (508) 221-5174 or poconnell780@gmail.com.
Duxbury FACTS (Families, Adolescents and Community Together against Substances)
Duxbury FACTS presents "Just the FACTS: an informational support group" every Monday from 7:00pm - 8:00pm at the Duxbury Senior Center "Walker Room," 10 Mayflower Street, Duxbury, MA. This group will address needs on a variety of levels from concern & worry, to revelation, addiction, crisis, resources, hope, and recovery. Whether you are a concerned parent, a student seeking answers, a family member dealing with a loved-one in crisis or an individual struggling with addiction, come to the group and get the FACTS. The group is led by an experienced facilitator and is open to the public. If you have questions, send an email to info@duxburyfacts.org
Engaging Youth in Preventing Opioid Abuse
Date: November 13 & 14, 2017 in Boston, MA
Join peers from across the country to address opioid abuse in your community. You'll learn proven strategies for engaging youth in prevention activities and policy change, and best practices for using our evidence-based DVD Drugs: True Stories. We also address youth and marijuana.
Two-day training ($999*) includes complimentary Drugs: True Stories (25-min DVD). Learn more and register. Drugs: True Stories is included in SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Free Group Support for Children/Families
Joanna's Place promotes resilience in children facing some of life's most stressful events. Maria Trozzi, the Executive Director of Joanna's Place, brings decades of expertise and experience as a trusted clinician, national expert and respected author helping families and school communities face stressful life events For parents and children 6-18 years they offer three separate local 8- week family support groups for children and adolescents, 6-18 years, each with its own focus on resilience: *Adolescents may participate without their parent/guardian
- Circle G: facing the loss of a parent or sibling,
- Circle S: facing the challenges of being a 'typical sibling';
- Circle I: facing the challenges of a parent's life-challenging or chronic illness
Gosnold Family Support Groups
The Gosnold Reaching Out Program is a resource for family members and loved ones affected by addiction. It assists the family at all stages of addiction through education, intervention and support. Information and education forums help family members gain a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms of addiction, treatment options, and stages of recovery. An educated and supportive family has a positive impact on treatment outcomes.
- Tuesday 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Gosnold Counseling Center, 1185 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA
- Wednesday 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Gus Canty Community Center, 790 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
- Sunday 11:00am - 12:30pm
Scituate Senior Center, 27 Brook Street, Scituate, MA
- Monday 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Harwich Police Department, 183 Sisson Road, Harwich, MA
For more information contact Lori McCarthy, 617-893-0816 or
HealthyConnectedCapeCod.org
- BCHumanServices.net - highlights community announcements, updates from regional partners, and Department reports and publications
- Behavioral Health Portal - features mental health and substance abuse information, state and federal legislation, self-help guides, and a robust directory of services
- Health and Wellness Portal - provides an overview of health data about our region, including County health rankings, and model practices
- Human Services e-Newsletter - spotlights regional events and pertinent news for our community
Hoarding Peer Support Group
Falmouth Human Services will be offering a free Buried In T
reasures psycho-ed support group for compulsive acquiring, saving and hoarding, facilitated by Suzie Hauptmann, LICSW, Director of Falmouth Human Services. The group will meet for 14 sessions on
Mondays, September 11 - December 18, 2017, 2-4:30 PM and is open to any upper Cape resident.
View flyer for more information.
For additional information or to sign-up for this series call Suzie Hauptman at 508/548-0433 ext. 16. Support group sponsored by Mass Housing grant and Falmouth Human Services.
Indian Health Service Zero Suicide Initiative Funding Announcement
The Indian Health Service ( IHS) has released a
funding announcement for a Zero Suicide Initiative. Its purpose is to improve the system of care for those at risk of suicide by implementing a comprehensive, culturally informed, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention in Indian health systems. Eligible applicants include tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and IHS federal facilities. Applications are due by October 12. A technical assistance webinar will be held on September 12 for interested applicants.
ICRC-S Research Training Institute: An Overview of the Call for Applications
Date: Thursday, September 21, 2017 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
The Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention (ICRC-S) announces that its fourth Research Training Institute (RTI) will take place on Monday, May 7th to Friday, May 11th, 2018 at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. A webinar to provide information about the RTI and the RTI application process will be held on Thursday, September 21st from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This webinar will provide an overview of the purpose and approach of the RTI, walk you through the Call for Applications and the application form, and answer any questions that you may have about the RTI.
Initiation of a Mental Health Family Navigator Model to Promote Early Access, Engagement, and Coordination of Needed Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents
The National Institutes of Health ( NIH) has released a
funding opportunity announcement for research applications to develop and test the effectiveness and implementation of family navigator models to promote early access, engagement, and coordination of mental health treatment and services for children and adolescents with early symptoms of mental health problems. Applications are due between September 5 and October 5.
Learn to Cope
Learn to Cope is a support group for parents, family members, spouses, and caregivers who have a family member who is addicted to opiates, alcohol, or other drugs. Learn to Cope offers experienced facilitators, resources, informational material, guest speakers (in long term recovery or professionals in the field), overdose education, and Narcan enrollment at all weekly meetings. Meeting schedule: Tuesdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm at the Yarmouth Police Station, One Brad Erickson Way, Yarmouth, MA. For more information, call 508-738-5148 or visit
Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline
800-327-5050
Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 10:00pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Language interpreters are always available. For online service and more information click here.
MPHA's 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo
Can Health Care Treat Inequality?
Organizing for a Health System that Tackles Social Determinants
Date: November 29, 2017 from 8:30am - 3:00pm
Location: DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA
The meeting will feature a panel of national and state leaders who play a significant role in shaping health care transformation by focusing specifically on the social determinants of health (SDOH). With massive changes to health care delivery and financing taking place right now in Massachusetts and nationally, we will explore together how the public health community can influence our health system to meaningfully address non-medical barriers to health in Massachusetts.
For a limited time only register at the reduced early bird rates!
Regular rates apply after early bird ends on September 18, 2017. For questions about registration, sponsorship or exhibiting at this event please contact Alexa Piacenza at apiacenza@mapublichealth.org or 857.263.7072, x114.
Become an Exhibitor!
Promote your organization with more than 350 Massachusetts-based students, activists, and professionals working in public health, health care, economic, and community development! See rates below. Exhibitor package includes an exhibitor table and admission for one.
For questions about registration, sponsorship or exhibiting at this event please contact Alexa Piacenza at apiacenza@mapublichealth.org or 857.263.7072, x114.
National Day of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's (Action Alliance) Faith Communities Task Force is promoting a National Day of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life the weekend of September 8 to 10. In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the task force is leading a national movement among faith communities to offer prayers and focus on ways to be there for those in distress. To learn more, click here.
National Suicide Prevention Week
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) and its partners are coming together from September 11 to 16 to inform the public about simple actions that can support someone in crisis and help save a life. This September, during National Suicide Prevention Month and National Suicide Prevention Week, the Action Alliance is asking organizations to help educate the public about the role anyone, anywhere can play in being there for someone who is struggling or in crisis. Here are some ways to get involved:
- Sign up for the National Suicide Prevention Week Thunderclap campaign.
- Promote the hashtag #NSPW in social media posts.
- Visit the Action Alliance website for information on partner campaigns focused on being there for others.
- Post shareable social media icons on your social media channels.
- Download and customize a National Suicide Prevention Week Facebook frame.
Niteo Program
The Niteo Program assists students living with serious mental health challenges to develop the health, resiliency skills, and support they need to reengage successfully at college and complete higher education. Students work with college coaches who provide intensive coordination and planning to assist students in returning to college, focusing on cognitive remediation, mindfulness, stress-hardiness, wellness, management, social connectedness, and academic skills.
What Niteo Provides: One Semester (September - December or January - April) of individualized mental health coaching and two days of classes per week. One additional semester of follow-along services to ensure successful school reentry and coordination of on-campus services. Individualized, intensive coaching and assistance to aid students with the integration of necessary treatment and academic resources.
The Niteo Program is located at Boston University and is a nonresidential program open to any student on leave from college or graduate school. To apply, complete a Student Application, which includes a Medical & Psychiatric Information Form, then fax or email to Courtney Joly-Lowdermilk at 617-353-7700 or cjoly@bu.edu.
Pain May Be a Fact of Life, But There is Help and Hope for Relief
The following blog post is from ACL's National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC).
September is Pain Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Chronic Pain Association. Millions of Americans live with pain from injuries, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, cancer, and other disabilities. Pain can be acute, with a beginning and end, or it can be chronic and may last through a person's lifetime. Acute pain, including pain associated with cancer, can usually be addressed through treatment of the underlying injury or illness. Chronic pain, on the other hand, may be more difficult to treat, requiring help from several sources: primary care providers, clinical specialists, pain management specialists, and mental health professionals. People with chronic pain may also turn to complementary integrated health specialists who may focus on supportive therapies like meditation, mindfulness, and other options.
For some, pain is a hallmark of conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Pain can also be a secondary condition for some physical and psychiatric disabilities. People with spinal cord injury (SCI) can experience pain from over-working their shoulders as they propel a manual wheelchair or transfer in and out of their chairs. People with cerebral palsy can experience pain in muscles and joints due to spasticity. Individuals with post-polio syndrome may experience pain from joint degeneration. Headache pain is a common condition after a traumatic brain injury. People with depression can experience body pain as part of their condition. These are just a few examples of how disability and pain may interact.
Pain has a significant impact on quality of life and can limit a person's ability to function, so managing pain is critical. Medications, including opioids, play an important role, but too often medication is used as the sole approach to pain management when other protocols could be more effective and/or result in fewer side effects.
Parents Supporting Parents
Parents Supporting Parents is a group of people who have come together as parents and family members coping and dealing with children/loved one's addiction. Their mission is to support, strengthen and educate one another as they share their lives. Their goal is to help their loved ones find and live in recovery, and for all members to live a healthy lifestyle. Meeting schedule: Mondays from 6:30pm -8:30pm at the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce, 5 Bates Road, Mashpee, MA. To learn more about Parents Supporting Parents, visit their
Facebook page.
Physician and Medical Student Depression and Suicide Prevention
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and Mayo Clinic have launched an initiative to prevent physician and medical trainee suicide. They have introduced a
library of educational resources for physicians and medical trainees, which includes a four-minute video that advises medical students, residents, and fellows on peer support and help-seeking, and a guide to help graduate training programs respond to a resident death by suicide.
SAVE Media Reporting Tools
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education ( SAVE) has released two new tools for media reporting on violence, which were recently developed by international, consensus-based task forces.
Recommendations for Media Reporting on Mass Shootings addresses how media cover an incident in which an individual or small group shoots multiple people in a public setting.
Recommendations for Blogging on Suicide, which is available in a single-page summary or a 12-page comprehensive document, provides guidance on safe blogging about suicide.
Social Work Therapy Referral Service
The Social Work Therapy Referral Service is a free, confidential telephone referral service and therapist finder in Massachusetts. We provide professional, personalized counseling referrals matched for location, specialty and insurance or fee requirements.
We'll help you find a skilled individual, family, or group therapist in Massachusetts--and we'll continue to work with you until you find the right match. We take the guesswork out of finding a therapist in MA!
For more information,
click here.
Special Considerations for Working with Latino Populations in a Mental Health Setting
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2017 from 1:00pm - 2:15pm
This webinar will feature the influence of culture on mental health in the United States' Latino population and culturally competent practices when serving this population, as well as cover barriers to mental health service use for this population. Use the link below to register for the event.
Speakers:
Alex Guzman, LPC, Behavioral Health Clinician
Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
State of the States: 2015 Report
The State of the States: 2015 Report, now in its sixth iteration, features the most up-to-date and comprehensive information available about state injury and violence prevention programs in the United States, including their structures, organization, people, resources, and work. The State of the States report continues to serve as the only national assessment of capacity among state public health injury and violence prevention programs.
The
State of the States: 2015 Report
builds on and makes comparisons between data and national trends published in previous
State of the States
reports biennially since 2005. For more information about the State of the States: 2015 Report contact Safe States Alliance at 770-690-9000 or info@safestates.org.
Substance Use on Cape Cod
Learn strategies for addressing tobacco use for populations with substance use and mental health disorders, approaches to care for people with the co-occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders, and address secondary trauma and the need for self-care for providers of mental health and substance use related services.
- Co-occurring Disorders
September 21, 2017 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Tobacco Education and Treatment
October 11, 2017 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Compassion Fatigue
November 15, 2017 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Free trainings are provided by the Institute for Health & Recovery through a collaboration between the Barnstable County Regional Substance Use Council and the Moms Do Care Program at Cape Cod Healthcare. CEUs are available for Social work, LMHC, CADA/LADAC. All trainings will be held in the Harborview Conference Room on the Barnstable County Campus, 3195 Main St. (Rt. 6A), Barnstable, MA.
View flyer for dates
, times
. To register contact Kim Slade at 508/375-6845 or
kim.slade@barnstablecounty.org
.
The Department of Human Services' Regional Substance Use Council (RSAC) announces the launch of its new website
-
RSAC works with Cape Cod Communities, elected officials, schools, businesses and health and human services agencies to provide resources and support in the areas of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. As part of this effort, RSAC has undertaken a broad, multi-media public awareness campaign called My Choice Matters that seeks to affect social norms by educating the general public and specific target groups about substance use. Click here to read more.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Attempted Suicide among Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Date: September 18, 2017 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) is hosting a webinar on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and attempted suicide among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will present results from a recent study that evaluated the association between TBI and attempted suicide and examined whether psychiatric conditions mediated this association in a large sample of veterans.
Using the Senior Reach Program to Address Risk Factors for Suicide Among Older Adults
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Older adults may experience conditions that increase their risk for suicide, including depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and social isolation. Join us to learn more about the prevalence of these issues among seniors as well as resources available to help. Experts will share information about Senior Reach, a program that focuses on creating linkages between agencies, businesses, and communities to provide emotional and physical support for older adults. Specific suicide risk screening strategies and tips to improve the provision of behavioral health services to older adults will be shared.
VA Resources
Click here to view a list of VA programs, services and resources that help support veterans, service members, and their families.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Date: September 29, 2017, 8am - 5pm
Location: 30 Warren Street, Chamberlain Conference Room, Brighton, MA 02135
Free workshop on how to help young people with mental health or substance use problems. Anyone 18 or older can take Youth Mental Health First Aid, but it is recommended for those who regularly have contact with young people ages 12-18 such as teachers, coaches, social workers, faith leaders and other caring adults.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
Youth Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention: 2017 Resource Guide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. children and youth ages 10 through 24, claiming an average of 5,390 lives per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WISQARS Leading Cause of Death, Ages 10-24, 2011-2015). The CDC's 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found that 17.7 percent of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide within the past year and 8.6 percent had attempted suicide within the past year.
This guide divides selected resources into seven main sections: (1) Organizations, (2) Policy and Legislation, (3) Evidence-Based Practices, (4) Program Planning, (5) Campaigns, (6) Data and Research, and (7) Resources and Publications. There are subsections on (1) Bullying; (2) Family; (3) Electronic, Social, and Mass Media; (4) Mental Health; (5) Schools; (6) Substance Use; (7) Self-Harm; (8) LGBTQ Youth; (9) American Indian/Alaska Native Youth; and (10) Rural Youth. Each topic-specific section contains organizations, webpages, evidence-based practices, workshops, toolkits, reports, fact sheets, archived webinars, and journal articles, which appear in that order.
Download a PDF of the resource guide
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Thank you for reading. Be on the lookout for the October 2017 email.
Sincerely,
Brandy Brooks
Massachusetts Department of Public Health |
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