From the SPC here in Wood County, we wish everyone a safe a Merry Christmas.

We know not everyone feels holly and bright during Christmas time. Please seek help if you are struggling this year. The crisis line is available from calling 419-502-HOPE, because there is always...HOPE.🎗️

40% of U.S. adults face a mental health or substance use challenge, making a complicated holiday season even more difficult time for many people. Regardless of whether you are living with a mental health challenge or know someone who is, you can take steps to prepare for the holidays and prioritize your mental health in the coming week

Use these tips to get started:

1. Manage your expectations. Remember that this year is different and may not feel like the holiday season we are used to. Whether you are sharing a meal over Zoom or sending well wishes to family across the country, managing your expectations for yourself and others will help you stay positive. Give yourself and those around you some grace – none of us have been through a time like this before, and we’re all trying to balance staying safe with feeling “normal.”
2. Pull back when you need to. If, at any point, you feel overwhelmed or anxious, know that it’s perfectly fine to take a step back. Healthy boundaries are necessary for your mental health. Practicing self-care can also help soothe feelings of anxiety or stress. Take a walk, watch a funny movie, or meditate.
3. Reach out to loved ones. In times like this, living in a digital age can feel like a saving grace. Stay connected with your loved ones via text, social media, video or phone. Make yourself available for those you cannot see in person and offer your support to loved ones who may be struggling — a simple text or email can make a difference.
4. Monitor your moods. The “holiday blues” are real, so it is important to stay in tune with how you’re feeling. It can be easy to put others before yourself during the holiday season but remember that how you’re feeling matters too. Practicing mindfulness, journaling, or even rating how you feel every day can help you better understand your emotions. Pay attention to what makes you happy and incorporate it into your daily life. And remember: It’s OK to not be OK, and you’re not alone.
5. Ask for help. If the holidays become more than you can handle, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Talk to a loved one, trusted peer, or even your primary care physician about how you’re feeling. If you notice a family member or loved one having a difficult time, encourage them to seek help too.

• With the adoption of any new system it is essential that the field has an accurate and consistent understanding of 988 services and how it fits into the broader ecosystem of other crisis support services—such as 911, 211, warmlines, and other local crisis call centers. This looks different in each community, which is why it’s important you work alongside local implementers of 988 to better understand how these services work together at the local level.
• 988 services are distinct and separate from the emergency medical and public safety response associated with 911. 988 crisis counselors are trained to use the least invasive interventions, when possible, and oftentimes the call, text, or chat itself is the only intervention needed. However, ongoing coordination—at the federal, state, and local levels—between 988 and 911 will help individuals in crisis get the appropriate support they need, such as deploying mobile crisis teams or social workers in place of police or EMS responders, when needed and where available.
  • Concerns about a potential law enforcement response may be a prominent consideration and potential barrier that prevents some communities (such as Black, Latino, or immigrant communities—among others) from utilizing 988. This is why understanding the needs of the audiences you are messaging to and whether your state or territory has mobile crisis teams (as opposed to police or EMS) available to respond if a crisis warrants follow-up care, will be key.
• Finally, once again it is important to remember that the adoption of 988 is an important first step in reimagining crisis support in our country, but it is not the final step. Transition to 988 is an opportunity for states and territories to reimagine their crisis service provision, and to ensure adequate financing for key services, such as crisis call centers, mobile crisis response teams, and crisis stabilization services.

For a partner toolkit, please visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/partner-toolkit

DECEMBER IS NATIONAL SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition in which some people experience a significant mood change when the seasons change. SAD is not considered a separate disorder but is a type of depression. Be sure to talk to your health care provider or mental health specialist if you are concerned and think you may be living with SAD. For more information, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health's website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

We are working to update our look and brand! For years now, the SPC has sported the lime green logo reminiscent of the 90's. At the start of the new fiscal year in July of 2024, we will begin using our new and updated logo that represents the colors of suicide prevention, the appropriate ribbon as well as being specific to Wood County. We hope you love it!

Here are all our subcommittee chairs and a little about what each of them do! Please learn about each subcommittee and see which one suits you best! Contact information for each chair is listed!

Contact Jodi Chappuis at Unison 419-352-4624 for more information.

Email: spc@wcadamh.org
Website: woodcountysuicideprevention.org
Location: 745 Haskins Road suite H, Bowling Green, OH, USA
Phone: 419-352-8475
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WoodCountySuicidePrevention/