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Mental Health

STOPit App Expands to Community

May 25, 2021
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| Mental Health, Resource Directory, Substance Abuse, Suicide Prevention, Teen Suicide

Submitted by Kate Nichols As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to an end, it is important to remember that mental health issues impact the lives of many of our community members every day of the year. Wayne County Family Connection, in partnership with Wayne Memorial Hospital and Rayonier Advanced Materials, is excited to share a new community-wide reporting tool that will connect individuals who have concerns regarding mental health problems and substance use disorders with local and regional resources that can help. STOPit Solutions is a leading technology company that promotes public and personal safety by providing anonymous reporting systems…

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Coping with the Holiday Season

December 25, 2020
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| Mental Health

While Christmas is known as “the most wonderful time of the year”, it can also be a catalyst for stress, pressure, and conflict for many people. Some are feeling overwhelmed by the expectations, COVID 19, family issues, etc. and become depressed during the holidays. A lack of time, money, and the pressure of gift giving can often contribute to stress. I’m sure we all can relate in some form or fashion. Ultimately, it can take quite a toll on our mental health trying to keep the merry and joyous season all straight in our head. We’d like to share some…

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BeThe1To Campaign Recap

October 21, 2020
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| Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Teen Suicide

The BeThe1To campaign offers awareness of how you can help people through their struggles of everyday life. The following images are for Wayne County Family Connection’s social media pages. You can view them and read the 5 Steps of the BeThe1To campaign on the Articles tab of our website. Our community can help one another with asking their friends and families about their mental health when they see them struggling: Show someone in your life how much you care for them and that you’re glad they’re in your life: Keep our community safe by knowing about the resources available to…

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Wayne County Schools educate students on suicide awareness

October 1, 2020
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| Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Teen Suicide

115 Columbia Suicide Rating Scales were completed on students who were referred to the Counseling Department this past school year. As a result of the rating scale evaluations, 31 students were hospitalized for further evaluation. Over 150 students were referred to outside counseling services for ongoing treatment.  As we near the end of September, Wayne County High School Crisis Counselor, JoAnne Roach, and School Psychologist, Kori LeFree, created a way for students to get involved and learn more about Suicide Prevention month.  With the recent pandemic, mental health conditions continue to rise in this unprecedented time. They saw this as the perfect opportunity to…

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#BeThe1To – Follow Up

September 23, 2020
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| Mental Health, Suicide Prevention

As we come to the end of discussing the 5 Steps in the #BeThe1To campaign, we can only hope that our articles have made an impact in our community. Last week, we talked about the importance of helping people connect. Connecting with resources in their community ensures they get the help they need. For this last week, we will consider the ways one can follow up. Following up with a person can provide a further feeling of being connected. The follow up step is similar to the principle of being there because all the steps are interconnected. It’s challenging to…

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#BeThe1To Help Them Connect

September 17, 2020
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| Mental Health, Suicide Prevention

We are coming to the end of discussing the 5 Steps in the #BeThe1To campaign with the 4th step this week. Last week we talked about the importance of keeping them safe. This week, we will give you a few ways of how to help someone connect with resources in the community to get the assistance they need. Ways to Help Someone Connect Helping someone connect with ongoing supports like groups, organizations, or our Mental Health Task Force number (912-530-8889) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. Additional components of a safety…

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#BeThe1To Be There

September 1, 2020
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| Mental Health

The next step in our campaign consists of a simple way to show those around you that you care. We are going to be there for them during this hard time. By simply being there for them, either physically, through a phone call, text, or a special little written note, etc., you are showing your support to their need. An important aspect of this step is to make sure you follow through with what you said you were going to do. If you support the person, make sure that they know what it is you are doing. It can be…

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#BeThe1To Ask

August 18, 2020
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| Mental Health

One of the hardest things to do is admit you have a problem. However, in a crucial situation like suicide, it could be the difference between life or death. How will a person ever be able to admit they have a problem if they are never asked about it in the first place? This isn’t something we can sweep under the rug.  That’s why our first step may be the most important – Ask. Why ask? It shows the person that you are open to talking about their problems, you are ready to acknowledge their pain alongside them, care, be…

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Student sees need for suicide prevention

March 3, 2020
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| Mental Health, Teen Suicide

By Lana Wright (Editor’s note: Lana Wright is the executive director of Wayne County Family Connection.) The following excerpt is from an essay is submitted by a 10th-grade student at Wayne County High School to bring awareness to a current social problem we have in our community: mental health. The essay is heart-wrenching but at the same time provides a valuable insight to what some of our students are feeling. Wayne County Family Connection’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 includes a goal of combating the current mental health issues within our community.  As you read this essay, please be…

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