These trainings will ENGAGE you, INSPIRE you and EXPAND your understanding of mental illness!

​Mental Health First Aid is an interactive, 8-hour Adult certification course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S., introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments. Those who take the courses to certify as Adult Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

​Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
​
Adult Trainings Available 
Intended Audience: Individuals who encounter adults 
→Wednesday, May 8, 2019 @ 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Champaign County Community Building, 1512 US-68, Urbana, OH 43078 (lunch provided)           
Cost: FREE        
Register By: Thursday May 1st, 2019

Intended Audience: Individuals who encounter adults 
→Thursday, May 30, 2019 @ 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Mary Rutan Crossroads Center, 21 Hunter Place, Bellefontaine, OH 43311 (lunch provided)           
Cost: FREE        
Register By: Thursday May 23rd, 2019

Youth Trainings Available 
Intended Audience: Individuals working with youth 
→Thursday, May 9, 2019 @ 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Mary Rutan Crossroads Center, 21 Hunter Place, Bellefontaine, OH 43311 (lunch provided)
Cost: FREE        
Register By: Thursday May 2nd, 2019

Intended Audience: Individuals working with youth 
→Wednesday, May 29, 2019 @ 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Champaign County Community Building, 1512 US-68, Urbana, OH 43078 (lunch provided)
Cost: FREE        
Register By: Thursday May 22nd, 2019

(Registration includes: a 200+ page comprehensive manual, all materials, and a 3 year certification)
​

YOUTH MHFA Training Sponsored by:
Save A Life Suicide Prevention
Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign County
Logan County Family & Children First Coalition 

ADULT MHFA Training Sponsored by:
Save A Life Suicide Prevention
Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign County
Consolidated Care ​

For additional information on the YOUTH MHFA Training please contact:
Debbie Holycross dholycross@logancbdd.org or Veronica Brady familyadvocate@logancbdd.org

For additional information on the ADULT MHFA Training please contact:
Stacey Logwood – slogwood@mhdas.org or Julie Wilcox – jwilcox@ccibhp.com
​

Join us for a free Mental Wellness Work Shop this March 2nd and March 16th at the Logan County Coop! 

Mini-Grants have been established to provide a limited amount of, one time only, funds for small projects that provide creative and innovative opportunities for recreational and learning experiences that improve and build upon positive mental health and/or provide alternatives to substance abuse. 

The Logan County Health District is pleased to provide the final findings of the Logan County Community Needs Assessment for 2018.

Logan County Community Needs Assessment for 2018 - Full Report
Logan County Community Needs Assessment for 2018 - Summary
 
The Top Community Priorities are:

1. Mental Health
2. Substance Abuse
3. Healthy Living
4. Safe and Healthy Children
5. Housing and Homelessness
6. Resources and Awareness
7. Workforce

Target Audience:
Teachers, Administrators, Supervisors, Parents, Family Members, and Caregivers of children of all ages.

Workshop Description:
The Youth Mental Health First Aid workshop is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help children experiencing mental health concerns or addiction challenges or who are in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. MHFA training is an evidence-based practice which has been demonstrated to reduce stigma and provides laypeople that have no mental health background with the tools to help people in their communities.

Date and Time:  

• Wednesday, September 19, 2018
• 8:00AM - 5:00PM 
  • Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the workshop

Location:    The Madison-Champaign ESC
                     2200 S. US Highway 68
                     Urbana, Ohio 43078
                  
Credit:  8.0 Contact Hours Provided by the ESC

Lunch:  One Hour - a boxed lunch will be provided as part of your registration.

Registration Fees:
              $10.00 for employees of districts served by MCESC, Clark County
              ESC, or  MRESC.

              $15.00 for employees of non-member districts or outside participants.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
              Payment methods include cash, check, purchase order or credit card 
                                          (there is a $2.00 surcharge on all credit card payments).

Payment can be mailed, emailed, or faxed to:

Mail to :  Madison-Champaign ESC
                Attn: Allison Trowbridge
                2200 S. U.S. Highway 68
                Urbana, OH 43078

Fax: 937-652-2221

For Credit Card Payments: Contact Allison Trowbridge at Allison.Trowbridge@mccesc.org or call 937-484-1557

QUESTIONS:  Contact James Cutlip at james.cutlip@mccesc.org

To Register: Click the link button below.  The Deadline to Register is Wednesday, September 12th, 2018.

This workshop is limited to the first 30 registrants.
Click Here to Register for the Mental Health First Aid Workshop

Target Audience:
Teachers, Administrators, Supervisors, Parents, Family Members, and Caregivers of Adults.
Workshop Description:
Mental Health First Aid is an interactive, 8-hour Adult certification course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S., introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments. Those who take the courses to certify as Adult Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

Date and Time:  

• Friday, September 21, 2018
• 8:00AM - 5:00PM 
  • Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the workshop

Location:    The Madison-Champaign ESC
                     2200 S. US Highway 68
                     Urbana, Ohio 43078
                  
Credit:  8.0 Contact Hours Provided by the ESC

Lunch:  One Hour - a boxed lunch will be provided as part of your registration.

Registration Fees:
              $10.00 for employees of districts served by MCESC, Clark County
              ESC, or  MRESC.

              $15.00 for employees of non-member districts or outside participants.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
              Payment methods include cash, check, purchase order or credit card 
                                   (there is a $2.00 surcharge on all credit card payments).

Payment can be mailed, emailed, or faxed to:

Mail to :  Madison-Champaign ESC
                Attn: Allison Trowbridge
                2200 S. U.S. Highway 68
                Urbana, OH 43078

Fax: 937-652-2221

For Credit Card Payments: Contact Allison Trowbridge at Allison.Trowbridge@mccesc.org or call 937-484-1557

QUESTIONS:  Contact James Cutlip at james.cutlip@mccesc.org

To Register: Click the link button below.  The Deadline to Register is Friday, September 14th, 2018.

This workshop is limited to the first 30 registrants.
Click Here to Register for the Mental Health First Aid Workshop

These trainings will ENGAGE you, INSPIRE you and EXPAND your understanding of mental illness!

​Mental Health First Aid is an interactive, 8-hour Adult certification course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S., introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments. Those who take the courses to certify as Adult Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

​Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
​
Trainings Available 
→YOUTH MHFA Training, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am) 
→ADULT MHFA Training, Thursday, September 27, 2018 8am to 5pm (sign-in at 7:30am) 
Both trainings are at Green Hills Foundation Hall, 6557 US 68 South, West Liberty, Ohio 43357 (lunch provided) 
Cost: FREE          
Register By: Tuesday, September 18 for the YOUTH MHFA Training & Thursday, September 20 for the ADULT MHFA Training
(Registration includes: a 200+ page comprehensive manual, all materials, and a 3 year certification)
 
YOUTH MHFA Training Sponsored by:
Save A Life Suicide Prevention
Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign County
Logan County Family & Children First Coalition 

ADULT MHFA Training Sponsored by:
Save A Life Suicide Prevention
Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign County
Consolidated Care 
 
For additional information on the YOUTH MHFA Training please contact:
Debbie Holycross dholycross@logancbdd.org or Veronica Brady familyadvocate@logancbdd.org

For additional information on the ADULT MHFA Training please contact:
Stacey Logwood – slogwood@mhdas.org or Julie Wilcox – jwilcox@ccibhp.com

The annual Save a Life Suicide Prevention Coalition Color 5K will be at the Ohio Caverns on Saturday, September 15th starting at 8:00 a.m. Click the form below to download and print a registration form.

For more information, contact Stephanie Ketchell at (937) 631-2883.

The film "Suicide The Ripple Effect" chronicles the story of Kevin Hines, who at age 29 attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then, Kevin has been on a mission to use his story to help others stay alive and find recovery.

Tickets are $10 at the door of the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs on Sunday, June 3rd at 1:00 p.m. A Q&A and discussion will follow the film. This is a fundraiser for NAMI of Clark, Greene & Madison Counties.

For more information, contact info@namicgm.org.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

1. It is similar to CPR/First Aid, only instead of teaching us how to respond to a medical emergency, it teaches us how to respond when someone is showing the signs and symptoms of mental illness! 
2. Mental Illness effects 1 out of 5 of us… Do you know what it looks like in your friends and neighbors? Would you know how to respond if you become that “one person” being asked to help?

This training will ENGAGE you, INSPIRE you and EXPAND your understanding of mental illness!

Two-Day Training
Wednesday, May 9, 2018: 8:00am to 12:00pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
Thursday, May 10, 2018: 8:00am to 12:00pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Champaign County Community Center, 1512 South US HWY 68, Urbana
Cost: FREE  
​Register By: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
(Registration includes: a 200+ page comprehensive manual, all materials, and a 3 year certification)

One-Day Training
Wednesday, May 30, 2018: 8:00am to 5:00pm (sign-in at 7:30am)
@ Mary Rutan Crossroads Business Center, 21 Hunter Place, Bellefontaine (lunch provided) 
Cost: FREE  
​Register By: Wednesday, May 23, 2018
(Registration includes: a 200+ page comprehensive manual, all materials, and a 3 year certification)

Questions? 937-465-1045 • alane@mhdas.org

Sponsored by:

Register by Wednesday, August 30th for 1 of our 2 upcoming trainings, which are free to community members! More info and a registration form is downloadable here, or view it below.

The purpose of this guide is to help identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues for college students — and where and when to seek help. Left untreated, these issues can become debilitating and even life-threatening. If you feel that you may be experiencing these issues or find yourself concerned for a friend or peer, it is important to take action now.

And don’t forget: you’re not alone. Mental illness is very common among students today. According to mental health research conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

• One in four students have a diagnosable illness
• 40% do not seek help
• 80% feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities
• 50% have become so anxious that they struggled in school

Click here for the full guide at http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/top-5-mental-health-problems-facing-college-students/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us Saturday, May 6th at Lions Park in West Liberty for the 18th Annual Mental Illness Awareness Walk. More information available below and at www.recoveryzonelcc.org.

For youth: How to ask for help
Don’t blame yourself! Being unwell, whether physically or mentally, is not a sign of weakness or failure. Looking and asking for help is a sign of strength. As difficult as it is, the first step to finding solutions other than suicide is to ask for help.

Help is always available!

Talking to a parent, teacher, counselor, doctor, or other trusted adult.

• “I need to talk to you and tell you something important. I’m going through some really hard stuff right now. Sometimes it hurts so much I think about killing myself. I think I need help.”

• “I wanted to talk to you because there’s something in my life that I need help with. I’m going through a lot of painful things right now, and sometimes it gets so bad that I think the only way to deal with it is to kill myself.”
• “I’m here because I need help. My life is really tough right now. It’s so hard that I’m thinking about suicide.”

Talking to a helpline

• “Hi. I called because I need some help. I’m going through some things that are tough and it sometimes feels like I can’t take it anymore. It’s so bad there are times I think about suicide.”
• “Hi. Things are really hard right now. I’m thinking about killing myself.”

Chat or texting a helpline

• “I need help. My life is bad right now and I’m thinking about suicide”
• “I’ve been thinking about killing myself. Can you help me?”

What if They Don’t Understand?
What if the person you tell doesn’t get it? What if they don’t understand how much you are hurting? The most important thing is for you to get help.

Try to make them understand how bad you are hurting and that your thoughts of suicide are real. Tell them you need help. If they still don’t get it, don’t give up. Sometimes people aren’t in a good place to help others, or they may be afraid. In other words, it’s not you, it’s them. So don’t give up – talk to someone else. Your life is so important!

How to help a friendAll suicidal thoughts or threats must be taken seriously. If you are concerned about someone, tell an adult about it or call Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868.

If your friend is thinking about suicide, do not keep a secret. You need to tell an adult who can help, even if your friend will be upset with you. It is better to have someone who is angry with you than having to cope with their death.
You can help a friend in so many ways, including:

• staying with them when they go to a trusted adult for help;
• letting them know you’re there by texting, phoning and visiting them; and
• telling a trusted adult that your friend is suicidal so they can help– it’s not your responsibility to keep them safe.

What to say to a friend who has opened up to you about their suicidal thoughts:
“I’m sorry to hear you’re going through such a rough time, and I’m here for you. But we need to tell someone else how you’re feeling. I can come with you to see the school counselor if you want?”

“It sounds like things are really hard for you right now. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I know things will get better! Let’s text the distress center to see what resources they might have that could help. I’m so glad you told me how you’re feeling, I’ve been really worried about you! I feel like it’s a good idea to talk to your parents, too. Want me to come with?”

​How do I know if someone is suicidal?
There are certain things people who are suicidal may say or do to indicate their thoughts. Be on the lookout for the warning signs!
Things they’re doing
Watch for ANY significant changes in behavior.

• Significant mood changes
  • being really sad when usually they’re happy
  • being really happy when they’re usually pretty down or easily annoyed
  • getting angry, annoyed, or frustrated easily
• Withdrawal
  • staying home more often, not hanging out with friends much
  • not doing things they normally enjoy like playing sports, music, or going to parties
  • skipping school more often than usual
  • deleting social media accounts
• Other changes in behaviour
  • grades are dropping
  • paying less attention to their personal appearance, e.g. having dirty clothes or unwashed hair when they are usually quite clean
  • change of eating habits e.g. loss of appetite or overeating
• Risk-taking, spontaneous behaviour that is out of the ordinary
  • driving while drunk
  • drinking more alcohol or taking more drugs than usual
  • wanting to run away from home
  • pulling dangerous stunts
• Physical symptoms
  • always complaining of stomach aches or headaches
  • always being tired or feeling sick
• Giving away things they really like
  • asking someone else to take care of their pet

Things they’re saying
People who are suicidal will say things that indicate they are in pain and want help. Everyone feels these things at some time or another, but when these feelings start interfering with our lives, we need to seek help.
These feelings, and some of the things the suicidal person might say include:

• Hopelessness
  “What’s the point of even trying?”
  “Nothing is ever going to change.”
  “Nothing matters.”
  “What difference does anything make?”
• Social Isolation
  “I don’t have any friends.”
  “Nobody cares about me.”
  “Nobody likes me.”
  “I feel like I’m invisible to everyone”
• Low self-esteem
  “I hate myself.”
  “I’m such a failure.”
  “Everybody thinks I’m a loser.”
• Psychological pain
  “I’m so miserable.”
  “I’m never happy.”
  “Nothing is fun anymore.”
  “I feel so empty inside”
• Feeling worthless or a burden to others
  “Nobody would care if I was gone.”
  “Everyone would be better off if I was dead.”
  “Nobody would miss me if I didn’t come to school.”
• Wanting to die
  “I’m going to kill myself.”
  “I wish I were dead.”
  “I wish I had never been born.”
• Talking or joking about death
  “Why don’t I just off myself?”

I know someone who died by suicide
Losing someone to suicide is an incredible loss. No one is ever prepared for it. The aftermath is often clouded by the misconceptions and stigma that surround both mental illness and suicide.

If you are coping with the loss of a friend to suicide, you may have lots of questions. Find answers and support

Participating in a peer to peer support group with others who are going through the same experience will be an important step toward managing your grief. Find a support group

Find more resources for coping with suicide loss

Myths and Facts
Myth
Talking about suicide will give my friend the idea to attempt suicide.
Fact
Talking about suicide does not cause people to think about killing themselves. Asking about suicide gives them the opportunity to speak openly about what’s going on and shows your friend that you care about them!

Myth
Suicide happens without warning.
Fact
Even when suicidal behaviour seems impulsive, there have usually been prior warning signs and behaviours.

Myth
If my friend is suicidal now, they will be suicidal forever.
Fact
No, your friend’s suicidal thoughts may be related to a temporary situation that is causing them great stress or emotional pain. These feelings will pass especially if they have help working through them.

Myth
My friend will be angry if I try to help them.
Fact
Your friend might become angry or defensive because of embarrassment or shame or feeling that they do not need help. Even if your friend doesn’t accept help, you need to tell an adult you trust that your friend is suicidal.

Myth
My friend seems to be feeling better so they are no longer at risk.
Fact
Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true. Sometimes when people act like everything is okay, or they act happy after a long period of sadness, they are still struggling. Make sure that an adult knows that your friend is/was struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Myth
People who are suicidal want to die.
Fact
Most people who die by suicide do not want to die. They simply want the pain of living to stop.

Myth
Bullying causes suicide.
Fact
There is rarely just one factor that will cause someone to think of suicide. People who think of suicide are usually experiencing many negative things, not just one. On the flip side, it only takes one positive thing to prevent people from thinking of suicide. For example, if someone has even one good relationship or one activity that they really love, or if they have one really great personality trait like high self-esteem, this can prevent them from considering suicide at all.

Myth
People who are lesbian, gay, transgendered, or questioning their sexuality have a high risk of suicide throughout their lives.
Fact
LGBTQ youth are more at risk of suicide than other youth, but their risk drops when they become adults. This is because adults generally are more accepting of who they are, and they’ve usually built up friendships with people who accept them, too.

Risk and Protective Factors
There are certain factors that can put one person more at risk or less at risk of suicide than another, though it is important to remember that anyone can be at risk of suicide.

Risk Factors

• Mental illness (depression, anxiety, etc.)
• Drinking alcohol and doing drugs
• Family or personal history of suicide
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Self-harm
• Access to lethal means (e.g. a gun, prescription drugs)
• Struggle with gender identification
• Recent stressful events (divorce, loss of a family member)
• Family disconnection
• Having “tunnel vision,” not being able to see past the difficulties of today and into the future

Protective Factors

• Positive school environment
• Strong family connection
• Supportive relationships with friends
• Positive relationship with a trusted adult that is not a family member (e.g. a teacher or coach)
• Good self-esteem
• Seeing hope in the future, not fixating on their day to day emotions
• Involvement in positive activities outside of regular school hours (e.g. volunteering, participating in cultural activities, sports)

As policymakers evaluate recently proposed legislation to modify the Affordable Care Act, one issue may stand out for its bipartisan support. The need to address mental health and substance use disorders in any “repeal and replace” proposal is of paramount concern to many leaders on both sides of the political aisle.  The reasons for that bipartisan support are painfully clear.

Every single day, over 266 Americans will die from either a drug overdose or suicide. Substance use disorders and mental illness affect 1 out of every 3 adults in this country. Untreated mental health and substance use problems can be devastating and costly – for individuals, families, communities and society as a whole. The health of our Nation depends on improving Americans’ mental health and reducing addictions.

Unlike many challenges that face our Nation, there is strong bipartisan commitment to continue strengthening mental health and substance use prevention, treatment services and medications, rehabilitation, and recovery support services.  Over the past decade, Congress has enacted and Presidents have signed a series of important reforms, including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, various provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, and the 21st Century Cures Act. Together, these laws established a very important new framework that, for the first time in our Nation’s history, addresses mental health and substance use disorders on a par equal to physical illnesses.

Today, more Americans than ever before have access to the full continuum of life-saving care options for mental health and substance use problems.  The challenge now is how to build on this progress.

Amidst all the uncertainty and rancor swirling around the healthcare debate, our Nation cannot afford to backtrack on its efforts to help many more of the 1 in 3 among us living with substance use disorders and/or mental illness.  From the campaign trail, Donald Trump spoke passionately about the need to do more, saying “[i]t is tragedy enough that so many Americans are struggling with life-threatening addiction. We should not compound that tragedy with government policies and bureaucratic rules that make it even harder for them to get help.”

[Continue Reading at TheHill.com]