Collaborative Connection: September 29, 2022
The month of September is drawing to a close, but the need for suicide awareness and prevention is continual.

Did you know that...

  • Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths in 2020? In 2020, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34.
  • LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to seriously consider suicide? The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. — and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.
  • The average of daily suicide deaths in the United States is now over 125? Approximately every 11 minutes, someone loses a loved one, a family member, a friend, a coworker or an employee to suicide.
  • In 2020, firearms accounted for 52.83% of all suicide deaths?

It is important to remember that for every statistic represented, there is a human life associated with that number. Suicide is tragic, but it is also preventable. We are all stakeholders in advocacy for mental health and in the fight against suicide. It is important to know warning signs and actions to take to help save lives.


  • Feeling like a burden
  • Being isolated
  • Increased anxiety
  • Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
  • Increased substance use
  • Looking for a way to access lethal means
  • Increased anger or rage
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Expressing hopelessness
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Talking or posting about wanting to die
  • Making plans for suicide


  • Ask.
  • Keep them safe.
  • Be there.
  • Help them connect.
  • Follow up.

(Source: #BeThe1To - click for more detailed information.)

It is also important to know that asking for help is okay. Whether you are dealing with mental health issues personally or caring for a friend or family member, the situation can feel overwhelming and hopeless. Our Mind Your Mind and Suicide Prevention web pages provide access to information and local resources to help you navigate your situation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
*988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network.

  • Veterans: press 1 at the prompt.
  • TTY users: use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Please note, the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to function indefinitely.

Ayuda En Español: Lifeline ofrece 24/7, servicios gratuitos en español, y no es necesario hablar inglés si usted necesita ayuda. Cuando usted llama al número 1-888-628-9454, su llamada se dirige al centro de ayuda de nuestra red disponible más cercano. ¡Su llamada es confidencial!
The research is clear: children who enter Kindergarten with the skills,
knowledge, and attitudes they need to succeed are more likely than their
peers to experience later academic achievement and attain higher levels of
education.

Georgia’s Pre-K Program is a voluntary, free program available to all of
Georgia’s four-year-olds regardless of parental income. Approximately 1.8
million Georgia students have been served by Georgia’s Pre-K since it
began in 1992 (30 years ago!). The program continues to be nationally
recognized for its success.

This is the 12th year of Georgia Pre-K Week! During the 2009-2010 recession,
Georgia's Pre-K Program was nearly eliminated by the Georgia Legislature
due to funding constraints. Since then, the first week of October has been
dedicated to raising awareness of the importance and benefits of a quality
Pre-K across our state by providing leaders the opportunity to engage with
classrooms in their local communities.

Click here for more information.
We are consistently adding new events to our calendar! Be sure to check out our website for a full list of upcoming programming.
Wed, Oct 5, 2022 2:00 PM EST
Community Resiliency Model B-5
Are you involved in the Birth-5 sector?
Want to earn DECAL approved training hours?

Join us for a three hour virtual training on the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® in partnership with Resilient GA and the Department of Early Care and Learning. CRM® Workshops introduce a set of wellness skills designed to help adults and children learn to track their own nervous systems in order to bring the body, mind and spirit back into greater balance, and to encourage people to pass the skills along to family, friends and their wider community. CRM® ’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach.

The project described was supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0070, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Three CEU hours are provided for the following: SW(core), LPC and LMFT (related), DECAL/BFTS, FVIP, POST, Babies Can’t Wait Project SCEIs in Area I | Children and Families – Birth to 8 CEUs, and Nursing.
Tue, Oct 18, 2022 9:00 AM EST
Q4 Coffee With the Collaborative
East Cobb United Methodist Church, Marietta
NOTE: The location for our Q4 Coffee With the Collaborative has changed. We will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall of East Cobb United Methodist Church, 2325 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062.

Coffee will be provided by our new Collaborative coffee partner, RISE Coffee & Tea. Additionally, we will have pastries and snack items available.

The Collaborative would like to offer our sincere THANKS to The Insurance Connection for being our Coffee With the Collaborative sponsor.

We look forward to seeing you all at our final quarterly Coffee of 2022 and we are looking forward to bi-monthly Coffee meetings in 2023.
Wed, Oct 19, 2022 11:30 AM EST
Children & Families Strategy Team
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
9:00A-12:30P
Three CEU hours are provided for the following: MSW (core), LPC and LMFT (related), DECAL/BFTS, FVIP, POST, Babies Can’t Wait Project SCEIs in Area I | Children and Families – Birth to 8 CEUs, and Nursing. 
Wed, Dec 7, 2022 11:30 AM EST
Fourth Quarter General Membership Meeting & Human Services Awards Luncheon
Piedmont Church (Conference Center), Marietta
We will be sending a special edition Collaborative Connection newsletter next week with 2022 Human Services Awards nomination information. Stay tuned!
The Neighborhood Fund provides neighborhood-based project grants addressing a neighborhood issue or concern. Organizations must be located and provide services in Historic Thomasville, South Cobb and South Fulton.

To apply:


Grant cycle timeline:

  • Application deadline –October 14
  • Grant notification – December 16
For additional resources, please click here to access back issues of our Collaborative Connection newsletters.
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Serving the Cobb County Community since 1997.