Suicide Prevention: Back to School – Pack a Good Mental Health Toolkit
Event on 2015-09-08 09:30:00
In light of the ongoing suicide crisis among adolescents and the fact that half of all mental health disorders, a common factor in suicides, develop by the age of 14, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) and Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR) are eager to present our third annual Suicide Prevention Conference, Back to School: Take a Breath – and Pack a Good Mental Health Tool Kit. Our objectives are to demonstrate to professionals in the education, behavioral health and medical fields — as well as parents and others in the community — the vital importance of educating youth about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention; build awareness of AIR’s unique educational program and its new offering of Youth Mental Health First Aid training; illustrate the high prevalence of co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders, and the challenges in addressing them, including stigma; and reinforce the Overdose Prevention Act, or Good Samaritan Law. Event highlights will include: * Presentation by Kurtis Baker, YMHFA, CFP®, and Tricia Baker, YMHFA, CPDT-KA, Co-Founders of AIR, on the impact they have had through their educational program, Coming Up for AIR™ since they began presenting it to middle, high school and college students in 2010; their new offering of Youth Mental Health First Aid instruction for teachers and other adults; and their AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds™ program, through which dogs in need of homes are trained to serve as Emotional Support Animals for individuals with mental health disorders and other types of disabilities. * Presentation by Eriach Fox, Managing Director, Daytop New Jersey, Inc., The Many Therapeutic Benefits of Working with Dogs beyond Pet Therapy Per Se: Eric recently received a Star of Recognition award from St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center for his coordination of the Teen Animal Enrichment Program, a week-long program for at-risk teenagers in recovery from substance abuse that inspires in them compassion, empathy, respect, responsibility and teamwork. * Award presentation to State Senators and Assembly members who sponsored the Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law (S2503/A3435), which allows minors to give consent for behavioral health care * Presentation by Jen Jacob, actress on the HBO series Girls, who will share her experience with an eating disorder and her mission to help others, prevent the disorder and eliminate stigma * Presentation by Paul Ressler, President and CEO of The Overdose Prevention Agency Corporation, who will reinforce the importance of educating students about The Good Samaritan Law in order to save lives * Presentation by Celina Levy, Acting Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, who will discuss the high prevalence of co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and reinforce the need to eliminate stigma to help ensure people seek help when they need it Who should attend and why: Everyone because everyone has mental health and it is integral to our overall health. Mental health and substance use disorders are real illnesses, often co-occur and must be recognized and treated as soon as possible.
at Dept of Human Services, First Floor Conference Room
222 S Warren St
Trenton, United States
