Pray for Sleep Rocks out Loud for Mental Health Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. Virtual We Are The Majority Rally Will Air on the Ohio Channel At Prevention Action Alliance, we've worked hard to ensure the We Are The Majority Rally is accessible to everyone. In the past that's meant paying for travel expenses so that cost is no barrier to coming to the WATM Rally. This year, however, our barriers are different. Many Ohioans don't have access to internet or high-speed internet, and many more have deafness or difficulty hearing. That's why we're excited to announce that the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally will be carried by the Ohio Channel and that we'll feature American Sign Language Interpreters! These two additions will help make sure the WATM Rally is available to everyone. Having the Ohio Channel broadcast the Virtual WATM Rally will ensure that all Ohioans have access to this event regardless of where they may live or their family's ability to afford high-speed internet. The Ohio Channel is a service of Ohio's public broadcasting stations. A new concept in public affairs programming, the Ohio Channel combines Statehouse coverage with locally produced PBS programs to give a statewide perspective on issues that affect the lives of all Ohioans. Save the Date Get Email Updates American Sign Language Interpreters Will Be at the Virtual WATM Rally The We Are The Majority Rally should be accessible to everyone, so we're proud to feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at our live event on May 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. This will make it easier for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow along with our speakers, Youth Council members, and special guests. Please help us spread the word! Forward this newsletter or share our social media posts with anyone who needs to know: the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally will be the first WATM Rally with ASL interpreters. The We Are The Majority Rally, now in its ninth year, usually draws thousands of middle and high school students from throughout Ohio to the Ohio Statehouse. Teens in attendance raise awareness about the fact that the majority of young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Due to COVID-19, Prevention Action Alliance will host the event virtually at www.mjstream.tv/watmvr, on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as part of National Prevention Week on Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. Youth Share Their Majority Stories Youth Council member Dina Rulli-Heaphey persists in being a member of the majority by using helping coping mechanisms to deal with stress. Learn more about how she persists in our new video. And check out the Virtual We Are The Majority Rally on May 15 for more youth testimonies on the importance of We Believe, We Persist, We Prevent, the theme of this year's event. Garrett Wahl, runner up in the We Are The Majority Rally speech contest, shared this video with us. In his video, Garrett explains how prevention has affected his life and helped him to make healthy choices. He also encourages other youth to make healthy choices and to tune into this year's Virtual We Are The Majority Rally. What We're Doing about COVID-19 Our office continues to telecommute in order to combat the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. We’ve also canceled all in-person events between now and May 31st. For a full list of which events have been canceled and all other updates about how we’re responding to COVID-19, please visit our website. We've made many of our events digital ones, including: The G.A.P. Network Virtual Statewide Summit on May 6 The Virtual We Are The Majority Rally on May 15 Finding Calm in the Storm: Dealing with Difficult Emotions in Times of Crises Finding Calm in the Storm: Managing Sadness and Grief Finding Calm in the Storm: Managing Anxiety and Fear Finding Calm in the Storm: Managing Anger and Frustration We will continue to evaluate telecommuting and events on an ongoing basis moving forward. Check our website and this newsletter for updates. Find Resources on Our Website Know! To Examine Your COVID-19 Coping Skills The world as we knew it has changed due to COVID-19. We've all been checking news reports and checking in with our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others. But have you checked in with yourself? How are you coping right now? Unfortunately, some people are coping with their added anxiety and stress by using alcohol. Alcohol sales have skyrocketed, which is concerning because alcohol is an unhealthy coping mechanism. This Know! Parent Tip shares more about the unhealthiness of alcohol as a coping strategy and encourages parents to take care of themselves and set an example for their children. Read the Latest Know! Parent Tip Remote Training Opportunities The G.A.P. Network Virtual Statewide Summit The G.A.P. Network intended to host a statewide summit in June to support families impacted by addiction and to help them take action to create community change. However, due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, we are now making The G.A.P. Network Statewide Summit a virtual event. This upcoming summit will be held virtually on May 6, 2020, from 10-11:30 a.m. and will still provide families with a place of healing and support. This summit will feature Karen Vadino, a nationally recognized speaker and humorist. Karen was well received at The G.A.P. Network Regional Summits held in Dayton and Findlay earlier in the year. She will continue to bring her style of humor and understanding to help people experiencing grief. With a focus on resiliency, the summit will offer practical tips and tools to help parents, families, and loved ones cope with the loss of a loved one due to substance misuse, addiction, or overdose. Together, we’ll become resilient, work through our grief, find our voice, and turn our grief into advocacy for prevention. Join Us and Karen Vadino at The G.A.P. Network Virtual Statewide Summit Finding Calm in the Storm: A Virtual Training Series on Resiliency When our life situation becomes stormy, the calm that matters most is the peace we can access internally. This series of talks will provide steps you can take to build your internal reservoir of solace when it’s not available in the outside world and how you can manage difficult emotions. Through acknowledging and accepting our feelings, comforting ourselves in times of difficulty, and recognizing our common humanity, we can weather the difficult challenges that come our way. Finding Calm in the Storm is a four-part series on resiliency. In order, the parts cover dealing with difficult emotions in times of crisis, managing sadness and grief, managing fear and anxiety, and managing anger and frustration. Register—Part I Register—Part II Register—Part III Register—Part IV Resources You Can Use Everyday Prevention Principles As we all adjust to a new normal and cope with the full impacts of COVID-19 we want to remind parents and preventionists across Ohio that we have tools, research, and expertise to support Ohioans of all ages. Prevention Action Alliance wants to share these practical tips that you can use immediately to support a happy, healthy, safe, and drug-free family, home, and community. We’re helping youth emerge happy, healthy, and resilient….because Everyone Has A Role in Prevention. These Practical Principles, like the one below, are based on the Developmental Asset Framework established by Search Institute. Many factors influence the development and well-being of young people. Young people who have support from their family and community and who hold positive values and good self-esteem are more likely to succeed and make healthy choices. This is true even when traumatic events affect them. Guiding Growth Establish a group chat with your neighbors so that everyone can keep the health, welfare, and safety of the kids in the neighborhood a high priority as we navigate these uncertain times together Sign up for the Series SAMHSA Offers COVID-19 Training and Technical Assistance The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has compiled lists of products and resources for tackling behavioral health challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are resources for supporting public health workers’ mental health, practicing self-care through yoga, leading during times of chaos, providing telehealth services, using text messages as part of treating substance use disorders, and more. View the Full List of Resources Are You Struggling to Telecommunicate? Behavioral healthcare providers are a crucial part of people’s overall health and wellbeing. It isn’t always easy for employees to work or provide services from home for extended periods of time. Employees or clients may not have access to phones, internet, or cell service, and it can be difficult to keep up with all the changes telecommunications companies are making during this time. The Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has a reference sheet on telecommunications, including where to get free Wi-Fi for those who need it, up-to-date information about how telecommunications companies have changed their policies, and how people with low incomes can get discounted phones and internet. Download the Reference Sheet DEA Launches Secure Your Meds Campaign The Drug Enforcement Agency recently announced the launch of the Secure Your Meds campaign to address the risk of medicine languishing in home medicine cabinets. Medicines left unsecured at home are high susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, and the DEA is asking families to secure their medicine to keep it safe, secure, and out of reach of children and others in the household. The DEA has postponed its 2020 Spring Take Back Day due to COVID-19. The federal agency said it will be rescheduled when the health crisis recedes and emergency guidelines are lifted. 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