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.
8 Evidence-Based Tips to Help Teenagers Get Back in the School Routine
Teenagers react to structure in different ways. Many thrive on it and look forward to the start of the school year. For some, letting go of summer’s spontaneity is especially hard. Planning for the transition back to school makes the experience smoother for everyone.
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.
Virtual Save A Life Wellness Fair
ASK’s virtual Save A Life Wellness Fair will connect you to resources that support Substance Misuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery; Mental Health and Opportunities for Thoughtful Service.
Click here to view the virtual Save A Life Wellness Fair and download the application on your phone. You never know when you, a friend, neighbor or loved one may need this vital information and by having it readily available it truly may be the most important gift you have ever given yourself or shared.
Life is hard, let’s be prepared to take good care of ourselves and one another.
Facts About Fentanyl – A Parent’s Guide For Discussing Fentanyl With Kids
(Heather Hugelmeyer, LCSW, Director of Behavioral Health, Northwell Garden City Treatment Center)
Talking with your kids about drugs is a conversation no parent looks forward to having, but it’s also an essential one. And that’s especially true today because of the dangers of fentanyl—an extremely potent synthetic opioid that’s been linked to the majority of overdose drugs in the U.S. today. Here’s everything you need to know so you can talk to your kids about fentanyl.
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!
The John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak can always use some volunteers! To find out about their Teen Volunteer Program, click here.
Yorktown Leos Club
Leadership, Experience, Opportunity! The Yorktown Leos are a community service club for people ages 12-25 willing to help others in the community. They host and participate in a variety of fun and collaborative events. The Yorktown Leos Club has been helping the Yorktown community for over 25 years and to learn how to get involved, click here.
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.
Yoga for Resilience
Do you have a loved one struggling with addiction? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Carve out time for yourself so you may respond to your loved one with a clear mind and an open heart. Join us every Thursday at 7pm on Zoom and we will come together in a safe space to practice somatic mindfulness, grounding and centering, containment and breath regulation. For more information, click here.
September 21 – Virtual Naloxone 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
Student Assistance Services Corner
“Helping Students Enhance Their Well Being by Making Healthy Decisions and Remaining Substance Free”
A partnership between a parent/guardian and Student Assistance Counselor best supports the nurturing of the social and emotional wellbeing of students. We encourage you to contact the SAC at your child’s school for a confidential consultation. Click here to learn more.
Lakeland High School Sasha Meyer Porco, LMSW, CASAC smeyerporco@lakelandschools.org
Yorktown High School Kiara Loughran, MS sacounselor@yorktown.org
Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School Ms. Finan, MS lfinan@lakelandschools.org
Upcoming Events
September 9 – Breaking the Silence: Talking Mental Health with Your Kids & Teens
In partnership with Minding Your Mind and Operation Parent, this webinar offers a powerful combination of clinical expertise and lived experience to help adults better understand youth mental health. Register here.
September 9 – Cannabis and Mental Health
With expanded legalization and use of cannabis, it is crucial to explore the potential impacts it can have on mental well-being. This webinar provides evidence-based insights to promote a better understanding of the topic. Register here.
September 13 – Soul Shop for Black Churches
Suicide Awareness & Prevention In – Person Workshop. If you would like more information about this opportunity, please click here.
September 15 – Responding to Children in Crisis
Approximately 1 in 5 children experience a diagnosable mental illness each year, but only 20% receive adequate treatment. Learn to identify the early warning signs of mental illness in children and how to offer immediate support. Register here.
September 29 – Strategies to De-escalate Children in Distress
The knowledge and skills to proactively intervene and prevent situations from intensifying is critical for caregivers and other professionals who work with children. Learn to recognize the stages of emotional escalation in children and discuss de-escalation strategies and self-regulation skills with a licensed therapist. Register here.
NAMI Westchester
The families and members of NAMI Westchester are here to help! They offer understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and the treatment of mental illness. To view their calendar, click here.
Westchester Breathes is an ongoing program offered by the Westchester Library System offering an experience of gentle movement, breathing and relaxation exercises that reduce stress and anxiety and increase a sense of calm and well-being. These exercises are simple and evidence-based – which is to say …they work! They are free and on Zoom. Register here.