November 2021
In this Issue:


  • Tobacco Prevention Awareness in November


  • Celebrating and Honoring
  • Native American Heritage Month
  • Veterans Day

  • What's Happening Around the Region?
  • Ditching the Discomfort with Data Series: Part One Overview, November 18

  • HealtheKnowledge Online Course Spotlight
Preventing Youth from Commercial Tobacco and Emerging Products Initiation

By The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Tobacco Team

As a region, our local communities must be empowered to lead the way in addressing the harmful impact commercial tobacco has on our states. Engaging and utilizing local and state policymakers, health systems, and local community members makes us a united force that can improve the health of everyone. By continuing best practices with retail education and enforcement visits, zoning ordinances, enabling ordinances, firmer tobacco retailer licensing structures, and mass media campaigns, the youth of our region will live longer and healthier lives.

Read more The Oklahoma State Department of Health Tobacco team shares with us some of the most effective tobacco prevention strategies used in Oklahoma.
Tobacco Prevention Awareness in November
Click on the photos below to learn more about preventing tobacco use in your community.
Epi Corner
Promoting Adolescent Mental Health:
The Risks and Benefits of Social Media

By Iris Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Data from the 2019 Youth Behavior Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS) indicate that suicide attempts among youth increased from 6.3% in 2009 to 8.9% in 2019, with 18.8% of youth (1 in 5) having seriously considered suicide in the 12 months before the survey.1 Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in high school youth, ages 14-18. Use of social media, particularly social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat have been implicated as contributing causes to the rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors. Among adolescents ages 13-17, 97% use at least one of seven SNS platforms: YouTube (85%), Instagram (72%), Snapchat (69%), Facebook (51%), Twitter (32%), Tumblr (9%), or Reddit (7%).2 

Celebrating and Honoring
Celebrate the National Native American Heritage month with the National American Indian & Alaska PTTC with virtual activities throughout the month.
Veterans Day is a time for us to honor those who have served. We celebrate America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
What's Happening Around the Region?
South Southwest PTTC Training
Ditching the Discomfort: A Data Literacy Journey
A 5-part series presented by the South Southwest PTTC


Watch for the dates of our other training in the series throughout the year.

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HealtheKnowledge Online Course Spotlight
Share these free online courses provided by the Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

After you register for the South Southwest training Ditching the Discomfort with Data Series: Part 1 Overview we invite you to prepare with additional knowledge by taking this free, two-part online course.

Register for an account and begin a course today!