September is Suicide Prevention Month and Sept. 7-013 is National Suicide Prevention Week. The American Association of Suicidology gives us a wonderful guide for creating action around suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. It’s really easy!  Take a look and see what small (or large) action you can take to make a difference.  Download the Suicide Prevention Week Information & Media Kit containing fact sheets, warning signs, public service announcements, publicity ideas, a press release script, a proclamation script, and references. Visit the AAS website www.suicidology.org.  Down load the kit  AAS Prevention Week Kit 


Did You Know? Georgia Help Guide for Children with Behavior & Learning Challenges
Georgia Appleseed is thrilled to share its Beta version of Georgia Help Guide for Children with Behavior and Learning Challenges. These Guides include one- to two-page informational handouts. The guides are meant to be easily accessible to readers of different abilities and shareable. Topics include IEPs, Section 504, Student Support Teams, and School Discipline. Please read and help us share these guides!

That Awkward Conversation: How do you respond when someone replies to "How are you?" with "Not doing so well..." Watch this helpful short video about responding.

Have resources at hand to help a person you suspect is in crisis...

Call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line 1-800-715-4225 to access mental health and addictive disease crisis services and speak with someone who can help any time of the day or night. 

The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network operates 3 Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Centers. Learn about this good alternative to hospitalization for people who need help. Visit GMHCN.org

Nearly 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug each month. The majority of medications are safe but many have the potential to cause serious side effects. This easy to navigate online database is constantly being updated with drug recall news, and provides comprehensive, unbiased information about serious side effects, complications, and interactions of commonly prescribed drugs.   www.rxdangers.com

Find help for older adults on this special website.

Call 211 United Way for emergency referrals-- for more comprehensive material go to the website.
 
Directories of Drug and Alcohol Services and Mental Health Services are in the resources section of this website  www.chipgeorgia.com

Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry available now at  lutheransuicideprevention.org   This ministry was organized to answer questions and be an "e-resource" for anyone who is feeling suicidal, anyone who has lost someone to suicide, and to communities and faith-based organizations who want to educate their members on risks of suicide, hoe to help, and how to support those with mental health issues in a caring, compassionate way.  
    
The Alcohol Awareness Council recommends Georgia Drug Abuse Treatment information at Drugabuse.com from the Coaliition Against Drug Abuse.

DBHDD List of treament and support services sortable by need and zip code.
Note that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and other state of Georgia government agencies may refer to matters of mental and addictive illness under the umbrella of behavioral health.

Suicide Prevention Coalitions in Georgia

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator and Mental Health Services & Treatment Locator
Find alcohol and drug abuse treatment or mental health treatment facilities and programs around the country at findtreatment.samhsa.gov/TreatmentLocator/.

AddictionCenter.com  Addiction Center, provides information on addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit and prescription drugs and offers connections with hundreds of treatment centers across the United States. 

Find a list of signs and symptoms that a person might need to seek the help of a mental health professional Here

Steps to take to be sure you and your congregation are prepared if you encounter a person who needs help...
1. Take Mental Health First Aid Training from Mental Health American Georgia. Read about it here Mental Health First Aid Courses are offered around the region. To find a course near you see MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

2. Offer Mental Health First Aid Training at your facility to your staff, volunteer groups, or other members who meet or minister to your congregation or community. 
3. Words matter. This short piece on "people first" language will open your eyes to the effect of words we use without thinking. AskEARN Fact Sheet.
4. Have available the good flyers on suicide prevention and steps to help survivors from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  The foundation will make available brochures for clergy to pass along to  survivors about the
Survivor Outreach Program, visits by peers, someone who has suffered a loss to suicide as requested by family of a suicide.   Information at www.afsp.org 

5. Attend the SICD Summer Addiction Institute This intensive 5-day training program is sponsored by the Southeastern Institute on Chemical Dependency.  The SICD grew out of a recognized need for sound addictions education that addresses the needs of clergy and members of congregations and communities who are called upon to assist those whose lives are impacted by substance abuse and addiction. For more information visit www.theSICD.org,

6. Consider developing a Parish Nurse position in your congregation. Gwinnett Medical Center offers preparation See Foundations of Faith Community Nursing.

7. Visit the MHA website   Project Healthy Moms. You will find the information for Moms, Family, and Friends, valuable for ministers and congregational groups that welcome new babies and visit young families. Post partum depression is debilitating and isolating and a faith community can help.  There is information on peer support groups, an online assessment tool, a warm line, a resource list and more.

8. Where are the closest counseling centers to your neighborhood? What about people who need help who are most comfortable speaking Spanish?  Which centers have sliding scale fees? Here is a good list.

9. Arise! is a support group for those in ministry. Read about it here.

10. If you become personally involved with an individual who needs help refer to the Layman's Guide at www.chipgeorgia.com It contains practical and detailed steps you can take to befriend and help someone with a mental or addictive illness particularly who is homeless.