Thursday, November 29, 2007

SAMHSA Job Opening

SAMHSA currently has a position opening for a Public Health Advisor who would be responsible for youth suicide prevention and violence prevention. More information on this position, which closes in TWO WEEKS, can be found at this link:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=65747879
Search for "suicide prevention" as a key word, and then locate the position available at SAMHSA.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Podcasts by the CDC


Dear Colleague,
CDC invites you to link to two podcasts and their transcripts from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control on preventing suicide in young people. Please feel free to share these podcasts with your colleagues and others through such channels as email, social networks and by using the information in your ongoing work to prevent suicide.

Preventing Suicide in Young People

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

CrisisLink Opens 211 Line










CrisisLink launched Northern Virginia's 211 Call Center on November 14, 2007. With the addition of CrisisLink's center, the entire state of Virginia is now served by 211. Congratulations you guys!!

See more pictures of this event on the CrisisLink web site: http://www.crisislink.org/

To Young to Die

The Alexandria Community Service Board System of Care Program will present Too Young to Die, Teen Suicide in our Community. The program will feature a panel discussion by leading experts in teen suicide and family grief and loss, followed by a question and answer period.

Panelists include: Kathy Harkey, president, Central Virginia Chapter of NAMI, and vice president, Hanover County Community Support Services Board. Ms. Harkey lost her oldest son to suicide in 2006. Duane Bowers, LPC, author, Guiding Your Family through Loss and Grief and A Child Is Missing: Proving Support for Families of Missing Children. Mr. Bowers is a licensed professional counselor in private practice. Mary Azoy, LPC, CPT, director of community education and crisis response, CrisisLink. Nicole Roher, MS, Psy.D, therapist, Alexandria CSB Outpatient Youth and Family program.

The program will be held at the Minnie Howard Auditorium, 3801 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA, and will run from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A PDF event flier is available for download at http://www.crisislink.org/events/teenSuicide/teenSuicide_10Dec07.pdf.

National Suicide Survivor Day News

ACTS/Helpline and Potomac Hospital co-sponsored the National Suicide Survivor teleconference for the fourth year this past Saturday. The panel of survivors was outstanding. Most of survivor group members attended along with some members of the community. We hope to continue to use the conference as a vehicle for mental health and survivor issue awareness. We also coordinated a depression screening day - thanks to Calvin Nunnally and our local Senior Center.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Depression & Active Duty Military/Veterans

Understanding Depression

Depression can come in different forms exhibiting many different symptoms. A confidential screening test for depression is available at the DoD's Mental Health Self-Assessment Program website. Non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries can find out more about getting help by visiting the Mental Health and Behavior section under the "My Benefit" portal at www.tricare.mil. The CDC's Understanding Depression --Yours and Theirs webpage. More information on depression is also available on the Army Medicine

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Grant Availability: College & Tribal Youth Programs

SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Funding Available The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is soliciting applications for Cooperative Agreements for State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention programs (State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grants) and grants to prevent suicide on college campuses.
It is expected that $5 million will be available to fund up to 10 state/tribal cooperative agreements. The agreements will support efforts by states and tribes to develop and implement statewide or tribal youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies. The average annual award amount is expected to be up to $500,000 per year for up to three years.
It is expected that about $1.5 million will be available to fund up to 15 college grants. The average annual award amount is expected to be up to $100,000 per year for up to three years.
Applications are available by calling SAMHSA's Health Information Network at
1-877-SAMHSA7 or by downloading the state/tribal agreements <http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/sm_08_001.aspx> or the campus grants <http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/sm_08_002.aspx> applications from SAMHSA's website.

Grant applications deadlines:
* January 11, 2008 for state/tribal agreements
* January 18, 2008 for the college grants
Applicants with questions about program issues related to the state/tribal agreements should contact Tarsha Wilson by email at tarsha.wilson@samhsa.hhs.gov or by phone at 240-276-1748.

Applicants with questions about the college grant program issues should contact Nancy J. Davis by email at nancy.davis@samhsa.hhs.gov or by phone at 240-276-1866.
A series of conference calls will be held by SAMHSA to answer questions that potential applicants may have. For calls related to the campus grant program click here <http://www.sprc.org/grantees/campus/GrantsConferenceCalls.asp> .
The call schedule for state and tribal applicants will be posted to the SPRC website when available.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

In the news: Veteran's Bill

President Bush signed the Joshua Omvig suicide prevention bill on Monday, providing improved screening and treatment for at-risk veterans. The law is named after a 22-year-old soldier from Grundy Center, Iowa, who died by suicide in December 2005 after he returned from Iraq.

The law requires mental health training for Veterans Affairs staff; a suicide prevention counselor at each VA medical facility; and mental-health screening and treatment for veterans who receive VA care. It also supports outreach and education for veterans and their families, peer support counseling and research into suicide prevention. The new law comes amid growing concerns over mental health issues borne by veterans who have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA Inspector General, in a report last May, said Veterans Health Administration officials estimate 1,000 suicides per year among veterans receiving care within VHA and as many as 5,000 per year among all living veterans.

Monday, November 5, 2007

ASIST December 6-7, 2007

Mary Begor and Linda Major are conducting an ASIST for the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board. This training is closed. They already have 30 participants!! Have fun ladies!