Montgomery County
ADAMHS ADVISORY
January 2019
Take Time To Hit The Refresh Button
Welcome to 2019! For most of us, the beginning of a new year is an opportunity to hit the refresh button on your mind, body and spirit. It’s an optimistic start to lose weight, stop smoking, save money or get more exercise. It’s also a time to make a commitment to improve your mental well-being.

When you put your mental health first and set realistic goals to work on throughout the year, you’ll be able to avoid mental defeat should you not accomplish what you resolved to do.

Here are five tips to improve your mental well-being in 2019:

1.   Resolve to cut back on eating processed foods, because science shows there is an important link between mental health and gut health. Serotonin is the key chemical messenger in the brain. Help your body produce more serotonin by improving your gut health with more fruits in your daily diet.

2.   Exercise increases blood flow in the brain. Exercise is a quick way to relieve stress and change brain chemicals to boost our mood and reduce the risk of depression.

3.   Sleep is essential for managing your mood. Lack of sleep makes people irritable and even the most basic demands on your life are going to feel harder. The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep each night. 

4.   Think about your priorities and align them to your values. Set clear priorities and make decisions about how to spend your time by them writing down. By doing things that matter, you can avoid stress, conflict and depression.

5.   Take time for yourself. Unplug from technology, relax and recharge by listening to music, meditate, enjoy a hobby or simply do nothing. 

Find more tips here on how to improve your mental health well-being:
Take your anonymous mental health screening here: Mental health screening
Suicide is Preventable

While the number of suicides might not be the highest during the winter, suicides happen year round so be sure to know the warning signs. The risk of suicide is greater if thinking about suicide has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if someone is at risk for suicide:
1-800-273-TALK (8255).  The Lifeline is free, confidential and always available.  

Find more resources:
Is Your Business Prepared to Handle Workplace Substance Issues?
Do your New Year's resolutions include determining where your business stands with medical marijuana or other workplace substance abuse issues? ADAMHS is hosting a two-day drug-free workplace technical assistance course to help businesses implement or refine their drug-free operations, including the implementation of second-chance policies. Businesses receive an operational roadmap to administer a Drug Free Work Place Program and systems to attract and keep quality employees. The course will be held at ADAMHS on February 7 & 21. Complete an online application here: Free technical assistance course

 More Resources:
How to Help Children Who Witness an Opioid Overdose
Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death, overtaking traffic accidents, in the United States, mainly due to opioids. The traumatic scene of an overdose is often chaotic and confusing, especially to children, as family, friends and first responders try to save the person who overdosed with naloxone or Narcan as it’s commonly called. The College of Social Work at The Ohio State University has developed an opioid overdose family toolkit with age appropriate information to support families of children who witness an opioid overdose. 

Download the brochure:

ADAMHS Leads The Way in Linking Behavioral Health with Technology
An innovative county-wide notification system called the Montgomery County Emergency Room Overdose Notification System (MC-ERON) has been introduced to provide real time communication on overdoses. Service providers of Montgomery County residents that receive emergency room treatment for a suspected accidental overdose are notified within 24 hours to provide immediate patient engagement, outreach, follow-up, and linkage to treatment services. The collaborative system is a partnership with Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association and creates an opportunity for individuals to get re-connected to treatment services as soon as possible. 
A New Student Loan Repayment Program
To help combat the nation’s opioid crisis a new program has been announced to support the recruitment and retention of health professionals to serve in underserved areas to expand access to treatment and prevent overdose deaths. The Health Resources & Services Administration has launched the National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Workforce Loan Repayment Program, offering student loan repayment awards of up to $75,000 in exchange for three years of SUD service. Applications are being accepted through February 21.

Learn more and check out eligibility here: SUD workforce LRP
Screen Dependency Disorder is Real
Various studies indicate that excessive use of electronic screen time can hurt children and now, new research claims that prolonged gadget use can lead to Screen Disorder Dependency. Screen-related effects vary, but many symptoms can be linked to repeated stress on the nervous system affecting mood, attention and over stimulation. 

Have You Seen Us?
ADAMHS is visible around Montgomery County with new billboards, RTA bus ads, postcards and television commercials. Our message of break free from drug abuse encourages you to take the first steps to recovery by downloading our free app GetHelpNowMontgomeryCounty or by calling Samaritan CrisisCare at 938-224-4646. While one in 10 Americans suffer from drug abuse, millions are in recovery.

Download the free ADAMHS app:
Let's Stay Connected
Please be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the various programs and services funded by ADAMHS. The direct links are below for your convenience.