Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM)! The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition (CMHWC) has developed its annual Mental Health Awareness Month calendar, which is filled with free events and activities to boost your wellbeing.  Activities are both virtual and in-person, and include ways to promote healing through creativity, gentle ways to move your body for wellness, racially and culturally affirming support groups, and workshops and trainings to grow your skills. 

MHAM is an important time to recognize that mental health is essential to our health and quality of life. Talking about mental health promotes acceptance and encourages people to seek help. Whether we share resources, encourage others to seek help, or simply are there for someone when they need us, we instill hope and can help others to reach out when they need it most. 

If you are worried about your mental health or the wellbeing of someone you know, there are resources, and most of all, people who are willing to help. For local mental health and substance use services, visit CMHWC’s information and referral website. 

National Fentanyl Awareness Day

Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under the age of 50 than any other cause of death including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents. Each year, National Fentanyl Awareness Day is observed on May 9 to increase awareness of the important resources that can keep our community safe.

On Tuesday, May 9th, BRHD will provide free Rapid REVIVE! Naloxone Trainings at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Drive, Door 1), 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-3:00pm. Community members will be provided free naloxone and training on how to use it, as well as free fentanyl testing strips, rapid in-home HIV test kits, condoms, lock boxes, and other helpful resources. No registration is necessary. For more information, call us at 434-484-0255.

The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition (CMHWC) is also hosting several events to raise awareness about opioid overdoses and increase access to naloxone. Additional information on BRHD’s efforts can be found on our harm reduction program webpage.

Ticks: Be on the Lookout!

As we move into the warmer months and enjoy more outdoor activities, it’s important to be aware of ticks. Each year, people get sick from tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis. Remember a few simple tips & tricks to keep your family (including pets!) safe and healthy: 

What can I do to prevent getting a tick-borne disease? 

When working, playing, or hiking outdoors: 

• Avoid tall grass and dense growth in the woods. 
• Wear light colored clothing and long-sleeved shirts. 
• Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks. 
• Walk in the center of forest trails, keep grass cut, and rake leaves/clear brush in wooded/shady yards. 
• Apply insect repellents with DEET to skin, clothing, shoes, etc. 
• Carefully check your body and pets for ticks after being outside. 

How do I remove a tick? 

1. Using tweezers, grab the tick near its mouth parts as close to the skin as possible. 
2. Be careful not to squeeze or rupture the tick’s swollen abdomen. 
3. Pull tick in a steady, upward motion until the tick releases from your skin. 
4. Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water after removal. Then, apply antiseptic to the bite site. 
5. Save the tick in alcohol or a plastic bag. If you become ill, the tick identification might help your doctor diagnose the illnesses. 

For more information on tick-borne diseases and how to avoid tick bites, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html.

Vital Records at Blue Ridge

Realized you’re missing one of those very important documents? BRHD Vital Records may be able to help!

Certified copies of birth, marriage, and divorce certificates can be obtained from any of the Blue Ridge Health District health departments, so long as the event occurred in Virginia. Death certificates can be filed and certified copies obtained from any local health department in Virginia, regardless of where the death occurred.

Certified copies of these certificates are available to immediate family members only: parents, spouses, siblings, and grandparents. Birth records can be issued only to the legal guardian with proof of custody papers. Anyone collecting certificates or records must also present a valid ID.

The fee for a vital record is $12.00 for each certificate, copy, and/or search of a vital record. Cash, check, money orders, VISA or Mastercard are accepted. To learn more about how to file a certificate or request a copy, visit BRHD’s Vital Records webpage.