Educate. Empower. Advocate. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. We're Here to Help PAA to Provide Mental Health First Aid Training Statewide Pre-pandemic, the numbers were startling—about one in five U.S. adults experience a mental illness every year. Think about it, you’re having lunch with four friends and at least one of you recently has experienced or currently is experiencing a mental health challenge. What’s more, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals, ages 10 to 31. COVID-19 has made matters worse. General anxiety increased with fear of contamination and death, financial instability, lifestyle changes, isolation and uncertain futures. Difficulty in coping with pandemic-related events led to confusion, panic, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, loneliness, despair and grief. The Centers for Disease Control reported that 40% of U.S. adults were struggling with their mental health during the pandemic. While everyday life has begun to settle into a new normal, we will still be dealing with the aftermath of the coronavirus for months to come. So how could you and your organization help someone having a mental health crisis? Just as CPR training helps a person with no clinical training assist an individual following a cardiac arrest, Mental Health First Aid training helps a person assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis, such as having a panic attack or contemplating suicide. A program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Mental Health First Aide is a skills-based training that teaches participants about mental health and substance use issues and to identify, understand and respond appropriately to a person having a mental health crisis. The goal is to support an individual until appropriate professional help arrives. That's why PAA had several of its staff train as instructors. According to Bobby Persinger, Prevention Action Alliance’s deputy executive director, the need for more trained mental health first aiders in Ohio is imperative. “Our goal is to expand the safety net in Ohio by offering courses in both adult and youth mental health first aid for groups, businesses and organizations, as well as onsite at Prevention Action Alliance’s Matthew B. Schoonover Educational Center,” he said. “Our certified instructors went through extensive training from the National Council on Mental Wellbeing and are now ready to teach other groups.” Groups that could benefit from taking Mental Health First Aid include: Educators and school administrators. Human resources professionals. Members of faith communities. Shelter workers. Social workers and other human services workers. Health care workers. Prevention and mental health professionals. Police, first responders and security personnel. ADAMH boards. Community nonprofits Persons with mental illness/addictions and their families and friends. “Not only will Ohioans have better outcomes to mental health crises, but we also will build mental health literacy in our state by teaching more and more people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness,” Persinger said. For more information about taking Mental Health First Aid courses from PAA, contact Bobby Persinger at [email protected]. PAA Team News Three New Staff Members Come Onboard Welcome to Geena Crosby, our new prevention coordinator of youth and young adults services at Prevention Action Alliance. She will be responsible for coordinating the OYLPN Youth Council, the annual We Are The Majority Rally and the Big Bowl Vote Campaign. She also will coordinate collegiate-based educational opportunities through the Ohio College Initiative (OCI). Geena is a licensed social worker and certified prevention specialist. She received her bachelor's degree in social work from Capital University and currently is pursuing her master’s degree in public administration and leadership from The Ohio State University. Geena brings a wealth of experience to the role, most recently as the wellness coordinator for alcohol and other drug prevention at Ohio State. Previously, she served as the youth services coordinator for Youth to Youth International and, going back to her first job, she helped PAA launch the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network back in 2011. We are excited to have Geena back at PAA! Alec Guy is doing a summer internship as PAA's marketing and communications intern. Alec currently attends Kent State University and is scheduled to graduate in the upcoming fall semester with a major in communication studies and a minor in advertising. In addition to his PAA internship, he gained professional experience with content and copy creation with Waxman Consumer Products Group in Cleveland. Upon graduation, Alec hopes to secure a career with an advertising agency or company that allows him to efficiently express his creative and professional ability. We appreciate Alec's can-do attitude and his contributions to PAA's communications efforts. Kim Schuette joined PAA as its marketing and communications officer earlier this year. No stranger to fast-paced marketing-communications and development departments, Kim is known for implementing strategies to amplify brand messaging across channels that drive measurable results. She prides herself on building brand engagement. With a master’s degree in journalism from Marshall University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Ohio Northern University, Kim stays up-to-date in marketing and communications trends. A career highlight for her was participating in a social media event at the White House for the 2013 State of the Union address. News You Can Use Yes, We're Hiring! Do you want to join a team of passionate professionals working together to improve health and wellness? PAA is looking for a prevention coordinator for Community Based Prevention Services. This role manages and supports events, activities, deliverables, and projects associated with the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association, Ohio Center for Coalition Excellence, G.A.P. Network and statewide problem gambling initiatives. It serves as a point-of-contact for consumers, partners, funders, grantees and agency leadership. Communities throughout Ohio and the United States rely on us at Prevention Action Alliance to provide them with resources and expertise to help them prevent drug misuse and promote mental health wellness. In turn, we rely on our dedicated staff to carry out that mission. For a full job description and information on how to apply, visit preventionactionaliance.org. Raising Awareness of Ohio's Opioid Crisis Prevention Action Alliance is proud to be part of the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance. Join us and be part of ending the opioid crisis. Prevent the next generation from misusing prescription opioids. Follow @OhioOpioidEducationAlliance on Facebook, @OhioOpioidEdu and @OhioOpioidEducationAlliance on Instagram. Prevention Gambling Website for Veterans Now Available Save The Date for Ohio FASD Forum Sept. 17 Did you know that one out of 10 veterans struggle with a gambling problem? That's why the National Council on Problem Gambling has launched Operation Responsible Gambling, a new online prevention tool designed to promote responsible gambling for members of the military. Visit operationresponsiblegambling.org to learn more about this new resource. Before You Bet also provides free resources to help communities reduce problem gambling. Visit beforeyoubet.org. The Ohio Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee 5th Annual Forum will be held virtually Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's theme is "Taking the Next Steps for Ohio Families." Larry Burd, Ph.D., director of the North Dakota FAS Center and a professor of pediatrics as the University of North Dakota, will be presenting the keynote address. The forum also will feature special guest Hope Taft, former First Lady of Ohio. CEUS will be applied for. Stay tuned to facebook.com/ohiofasd for more details and a registration link. Keep Kids Busy This Summer! While spontaneity can be exciting and fun, a little preplanning by the whole family can go a long way in helping to make the most of summer. Grab a poster board and some markers to start making your Summer 2021 must-do list. Check out our latest Know! Tip for advice in promoting health and wellness for our youth. 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