Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. It is important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
Informational Resources
- Know the Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Suicide
- Being Prepared for a Crisis
- Navigating a Mental Health Crisis
- Need more information, referrals or support? Contact the NAMI HelpLine.
Crisis Resources
- If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
- If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988
- If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
7 Back to School Tips for Back to School Tips for Parents and Teens
(From our friends at Newport Academy)
Heading back to school can be stressful in any year. But this fall, with teen anxiety and depression at all-time highs, it’s especially important have a toolkit of back-to-school tips for parents and teens. With that in mind, here are some healthy coping strategies that can help the whole family adjust to the school year with less stress.
How to Prepare for Back to School
Back-to-school preparation usually includes shopping for notebooks, a new backpack, and maybe something special to wear on that first day of school. But a checklist of how to prepare for back to school should also include tools for navigating the stressors that come with the transition into the school year.
A Breathing Practice to Reduce School Stress
Doing this practice once a day, or whenever they feel anxious, can be a helpful back-to-school tip for kids of any age.
Square Breathing Exercise
- Sit comfortably in a chair, with your feet on the floor and hands in your lap.
- Inhale slowly through the nose for a count of four, allowing the air to fill your belly.
- Hold the breath in for a count of four.
- Exhale slowly through the mouth for a count of four.
- As you breathe, visualize a healing blue or white light washing over your body. Finally, hold the breath for a count of four.
- Repeat the sequence for four minutes.
- Ideally, repeat the exercise for four minutes, four times a day.
- Consequently, practicing Square Breathing several times daily will help teens become calmer and more relaxed.
“Space in the breath creates space in the mind for quiet and concentration.”
—Nicole Renée Matthews, Director of Yoga at Newport Academy
Want to give back? Support ASK and the environment! Go to the Stop & Shop located at 1831 East Main Street, Peekskill and purchase the $2.50 Community Bag.
ASK will receive a $1 donation for every bag sold during the month of September!
Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at awesome nonprofits throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties. To view these opportunities, please check out Volunteer New York!
Upcoming Events & Webinars
Weekly Spotlight Family Support Groups
From our partners at Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, weekly Spotlight Family Support Groups, held virtually every Tuesday and Wednesday via Zoom. Spotlight on Recovery is a Family Educational and Support Group for families struggling with a loved one misusing substances. For more information click here.
The Parent Support Network is a program of The Youth Mental Health Project that seeks to provide support for parents and guardians who are concerned about the mental health of their children through confidential, peer-to-peer meetings. For a list of upcoming virtual meetings, click here.
September 6th: Why Can’t I Just Stop? Understanding OCD in Children and Teens
Children with OCD usually know that persistent negative thoughts & compulsive behaviors are not typical and desperately want to stop, but the don’t know how. Learn what treatment options are available and discover practical tips to provide a supportive environment. Register here.
September 12th: Introduction to Children’s Mental Health
This introductory webinar explores how culture impacts our understanding of children’s mental health, the most common mental health symptoms and diagnoses for children, and when to seek help. Register here.
September 15th: Virtual Overdose Prevention Training
Naloxone is a prescription medicine that reverses an overdose by blocking heroin or other opioids in the nervous system for 30-90 minutes. Naloxone is administered by injection or intranasal. Following training, participants receive a kit by mail. Presented by our partners at Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. Register by email: ssal@drugcrisisinourbackyard.com
September 21st: Understanding Suicide
It is often believed that talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts, when in reality directly discussing suicide is the key to prevention. Explore the causes of suicide, the warning signs, and how to cope in this one-hour seminar with a licensed therapist. Register here.
Please visit the ASK calendar here for more upcoming events and follow ASK on social media!
Support ASK by Registering to Run/Walk or by Donating to the ASK Team Today! www.bit.ly/RunforRecovery
