Help Awareness

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) – Governor Hochul on Thursday received a $ 4.25 million grant over five years from Addiction and Mental Health Services to help prevent drug and opioid overdose deaths in the community .

The announcement coincides with the first-ever NYS Opioid Overdose Awareness Day hosted by the NYS Department of Health to mark those who have died of overdoses, celebrating families and dedicated frontline workers to save lives.

The grant will fund training for community providers, first responders, with overdose prevention initiatives, as well as individuals and families.

“In New York, we are stepping up our efforts to tackle the crisis by increasing education and awareness and promoting prevention and treatment services. Governor Hochul said. “On the occasion of the first Opioid Overdose Awareness Day in New York State, I encourage those struggling with drug addiction not to be discouraged in seeking help and support.

The NYS Office of Addiction Services (OASAS) will focus on expanding knowledge of overdose prevention strategies to “key community sectors” that work with pregnant people, postpartum people, their families, and domestic violence. The agency will also work closely with the Native American / Indigenous community and the LGBT + community.

OASAS Comm. Arlene González-Sánchez said: “Together with our partner agencies, we are developing innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations that we might not otherwise be able to reach. ”

Available addiction treatments, including crisis / detox care, inpatient, community residences, or outpatient care, can be found using the NYS OASAS Processing Availability Dashboard or by the NYS OASAS website.

VINTON, Virginia. – Local young veterans help raise awareness of veteran suicide by holding monthly meetings just to check in with their comrades.

A simple dinner at Macado’s can save lives. Every month on the 22nd, local veterans gather at Macado’s to not only enjoy the discounted meals, but also to express any thoughts that might weigh them down.

It’s called the “Buddy Check” and it’s an idea that started in Radford a few years ago to help prevent veteran suicide.

But Big Lick Mental Health Awareness Co. president Mark Shelton, who served in the military for three years, wants to expand the movement to other places.

“It’s always very difficult to find their group, to find their clique,” he said.

Shelton said the veterans just needed a safe space to remember the good times and reflect on the hard times as well.

The meetings take place on the 22nd due to a study carried out in 2013 by the Department of Veterans Affairs which declares 22 veterans committed suicide per day in the United States in 2010.

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But a 2021 report linked to Project Costs of War estimates more than 30,000 active-duty personnel and veterans of post-9/11 wars have died by suicide.

Shelton remembers losing a friend who served with him in Afghanistan when he was just 25 years old.

“It’s heartbreaking because he was one of the guys who kind of held the group together,” he said. “It’s really sad. I will never be able to see him again. I will never be able to have a cigar with him again.

Daniel McCulloch is an Army veteran who has said meetings can change the lives of veterans who may be on the fence.

“As veterans, we have a different sense of humor and a different way of thinking than our civilian counterparts,” he said. “So it’s like we’re able to talk about things that you can’t with other people. “

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McCulloch is working with Shelton on a new nonprofit called Big Lick Mental Health Awareness Co. It aims to address the stigma of mental health among veterans.

“Maybe they feel like they don’t have a voice,” McCulloch said. “So it’s being that representation for them to help them.”

With each contact check, a guest will highlight a local resource for veterans who may wish to seek help.

The Sunday Buddy Check rally will last from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Macado’s in Vinton.

Shelton encourages veterans to take advantage of local resources like the Roanoke Veterinary Center talk to staff one-on-one.

If you are looking for immediate help, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

TOPEKA, Kan. (Tribune News Service) – An 86-year-old woman abducted by a stranger on Thursday evening in downtown Topeka was rescued and her captor arrested over a tip provided by a veteran of the Army and Marine Corps traveling across the country doing push-ups to raise awareness about veteran suicides, police said.

Tipster Darren Hafford around 8:55 p.m. Thursday saw a man enter the driver’s side of a vehicle in the 800 block of SW Harrison, said Gretchen Spiker, public relations specialist for the Topeka Police Department.

Hafford called police after noticing a woman in the vehicle appeared to be in distress as the man walked away with her in the passenger seat, Spiker said.

Police located the vehicle, woman and man shortly thereafter nearby in the 300 block of SW 10th Avenue, she said. The woman was not injured.

“TPD would like to thank Hafford for immediately stepping in to help a stranger in need,” said Spiker.

No formal charges had been laid against the driver of the car, 54, who was being held on $ 10,000 bail Friday afternoon in the Shawnee County Jail on one count of kidnapping. aggravated burglary, theft, assault and driving. on a suspended license.

A GoFundMe page maintained by Hafford, a Dallas resident and Army and Marine Corps veteran, says he’s nearing the end of a fundraiser he started July 4 in Austin, Texas.

As part of this fundraiser, Hafford plans to do 50 push-ups in 50 U.S. capitals in 50 days to raise awareness and fund the fight against veteran suicide, according to the GoFundMe page.

The website for his fundraiser, said Topeka was the 47th stop for Hafford, who then planned to do 50 push-ups in state capitals Friday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Saturday in Juneau, Alaska, and Sunday in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Half of the money raised will go to One Tribe Foundation, which provides advice to military veterans and first responders, according to Hafford’s GoFundMe page.

The other half will go to “help pay for gas, food, coffee and a hotel room here and there when I can afford it,” this page said.

He said Hafford on Friday raised $ 4,955 of his goal of $ 10,000.

Hafford did 50 push-ups early Friday morning at the Oklahoma City Capitol and planned to catch later today flights that would take him from Dallas to Alaska, according to a video posted to his personal Facebook page.

(c) 2021 The Topeka Capital-Journal, Kan.

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TOPEKA (KSNT) – A veteran traveling the country to raise awareness about veteran suicide stopped in Topeka on Thursday, unaware he would save the life of an elderly woman kidnapped while in her family’s car.

Darren Hafford is raising awareness across 50 states by doing 50 push-ups in 50 days on the steps of every state capitol. When he finished the challenge in Topeka on August 19, Hafford took photos of the Capitol and its surroundings to remember his trip. It was then that he noticed a woman in panic.

“She said, ‘Do you have a cell phone? Do you have a cell phone? ‘ I said yes and she said, ‘My car left, my mother left. My purse and my phone are all gone, ”Hafford said.

So Hafford took action and called the police. He decided to drive around the state house in the meantime to look for the car and luckily found it across the street. Someone who had taken the car was in the driver’s seat and the 86-year-old victim, the woman’s mother, was sitting next to him.

“I said hey, what are you doing in there and he said, ‘Oh, I’m just trying to help,'” Hafford said. “I was like no, you’re not trying to help. This car was not parked here, you moved this vehicle.

The driver, who has now been identified as David Baker, 54, attempted to flee. Hafford then confined the man until police arrived to arrest him. Today, the 86-year-old is safe and has been reunited with her family.

The family are eternally grateful to Hafford and want to promote his organization.

“Darren, we love you and I really appreciate your help. And you also saved my mother and my life, ”said Li Yang, the 86-year-old woman’s daughter.

To learn more about Hafford’s journey and for a link to his GoFundMe page, click here.

Governor Hogan declares immunization awareness month August

ANNAPOLIS, MD–Governor Larry Hogan today announced “Don’t Wait, Get Vaccine,” a new campaign to encourage parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated before the start of the new school year.

To highlight the importance of routine immunizations, Governor Hogan has declared August Immunization Awareness Month. Additionally, thanks to the state’s $ 1 Million VaxU Promotion, all Marylanders between the ages of 12 and 17 who receive a COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a $ 50,000 scholarship. This week’s winners are from Baltimore County and the City of Baltimore.

Watch the PSA campaign here.

“We are working with pediatricians and other health care providers to prioritize visits to healthy children, and our local health services are setting up immunization clinics to help welcome children safely. at school, “said Assistant Secretary for Public Health Dr. Jinlene Chan of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

According to ImmuNet, the Maryland Immunization Information System, April 2020 saw the largest decline in the number of immunizations given to children from birth to 18 years old, with a 46% decrease from April 2019. For routine childhood immunizations, the largest drops have occurred. in the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine — a 71% decrease — and the chickenpox vaccine — a 68% decrease.

“As we reopen schools this year for full-time in-person learning, it’s important to remember that enrolling in school requires students to be up to date on routine immunizations,” said the superintendent. State of Mohammed Choudhury Schools. “Particularly after last year’s experience with extended shutdowns due to COVID-19, our children can no longer afford to move away from the academic and socio-emotional support of their school communities. “

‘Don’t Wait, Get Vaccine’ includes public service television announcements and digital media in English and Spanish featuring pediatricians and other health care professionals reminding parents to make appointments to educate children of their vaccinations. The campaign also encourages parents to view their children’s official immunization records online at MyIRMmobile.com, a free and secure portal where users can access official copies of their records and those of their family members.

The Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MDAAP) and the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians (MDAFP) recommend that children resume routine check-ups and get immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Routine childhood immunizations are essential to keep our children safe and delays can lead to regional and national epidemics of preventable diseases that put our most vulnerable at high risk,” said MDAAP President Debbie Badawi, MD, FAAP. “We strongly urge all families to check with their child’s pediatrician to make sure they are up to date and as protected as possible.”

“COVID-19 has not made other vaccine-preventable diseases disappear,” added MDAFP President Jocelyn Hines, MD, MBA. “All vaccines are extensively tested for safety and effectiveness before being approved or cleared for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Please have your children vaccinated now before the start of the school year.

Maryland back-to-school vaccination requirements are available from the MDH Vaccination Center. For a list of local health department back-to-school vaccination clinics, visit www.marylandvax.org.

To find a COVID-19 vaccination site for Marylanders aged 12 or older, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829). For more information on COVID-19 in Maryland, visit covidLINK.maryland.gov

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – In an official letter to Army personnel, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth reminded everyone to remain vigilant at home and abroad in the fight against terrorism, the extremism, insider threats and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

For the more than 6,000 Soldiers, Army civilians, local national employees and contractors assigned to the Army’s 405th Field Support Brigade, their home is overseas – making it extremely important to remain vigilant and maintain a strong threat awareness posture in order to deter, detect and mitigate risks.

August is the Army’s 12th annual celebration of Counterterrorism Awareness Month, and the 405th AFSB took the opportunity to remind its employees of the importance of being aware and vigilant of possible threats every day.

“We want to seize this opportunity – Counter Terrorism Awareness Month – and instill increased awareness and vigilance among all of our staff to help prevent terrorist attacks and protect resources from acts of terrorism and d ‘extremism,’ said Cpt. Ashley Dailey, AFSB’s 405th Chief Protection Officer.

“Our final state? We want our soldiers, army civilians, local nationals, contractors and all their families to understand key concepts, principles, responsibilities, safeguards and procedures for reporting suspicious counterterrorism activity, and we want to strengthen partnerships military, civilian and host nation focused on preventing terrorist attacks, ”Dailey said.

In his letter, Wormuth said lessons learned from past terrorist and extremist attacks reveal that one or more bystanders observed indicators before the attack but did not report them to law enforcement authorities. The success of Army-wide threat awareness and reporting depends on our entire team knowing what, when and how to report suspicious activity or behavior. Public advice remains one of law enforcement’s most powerful tools in combating these threats.

Cyber ​​security is also an important part of Army readiness.
Cyber ​​security attacks continuously target critical infrastructure in the United States and partner nations and can negatively impact military missions.
Cybersecurity awareness and training are critical to creating a culture of security, critical to protecting information in telecommuting-centric environments, and essential to ensuring combatant readiness, Wormuth said in his letter. Army leaders at all levels, in all components, must understand cybersecurity and apply its standards of protection in all aspects of military operations.

Being aware of and reporting concerns can help identify and prevent threats to national security and host countries. There are some things anyone can do to help prevent terrorism:
• Be observant and attentive
• Remember details about people, places, conversations and vehicles
• Report problems to authorities – install Military Police, Local Police or Army CID Crime Tips: www.cid.army.mil/report-a-crime.html

How to Report – iSALUTE: www.inscom.army.mil/isalute. When reporting something, remember the acronym SALUTE. Inform the authorities:
• Size (number and types)
• Activity (what is suspect)
• Location (address, neighborhood)
• Unit (which unit they belong to; marks / badges)
• Time (which day and time observed)
• Equipment (weapons, vehicles, communications)

The 405th AFSB is assigned to the US Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21th Theater Sustainment Command, of the US Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides corporate materiel support to US forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater support logistics; synchronize procurement, logistics and technology; and leveraging the US Army Materiel Command’s materiel business to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website at www.afsbeurope.army.mil and the official Facebook website at www.facebook.com/405thAFSB.

(Parts of this article are from an Army News article by Christine Mitchell of the US Army Material Command Public Affairs Office and located at the 405th Army Field Support Brigade)

For the first time ever, the Tyler Police Department partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness for a two-day advocacy training earlier this week to raise awareness and educate law enforcement on the Mental Health.

The goal of the initiative was to provide better outcomes for people with mental illness, their families and law enforcement as the needs increase in Tyler and Smith counties.

“We would like to thank NAMI and the instructors for coming to the police department and coordinating this training,” said Andy Erbaugh, public information manager for the Tyler Police Department.

The Tyler Police Department held three sessions over a two-day period, Monday and Tuesday.

Certified Professional Advisor Keren Acuna said NAMI Tyler and the Tyler Police Department have come together to create a mental health initiative to provide officers with an understanding of mental illness and resources to create a better cross-service outcome. order and those affected by mental illness.

NAMI, a national grassroots organization that focuses on advocacy for mental illness, has heard stories from people who think they don’t have many options.

“We hear from the community and our goal is to create better outcomes in their interactions with those affected by mental illness. We want to educate our officers more in Tyler, ”Acuna said.

In a board meeting with NAMI President Tyler, Sandra Brazil-Hamilton, Acuna said she brought up the idea, saying there was a need within the community and that many pressure was exerted on the officers.

“We want to bridge the gap between law enforcement and all they have to carry, and those affected by mental illness and suffering, and family members of those in pain,” said Acuna.

Brazil-Hamilton encouraged the idea. Representatives of NAMI Tyler arranged a meeting with Tyler’s Police Department chief Jimmy Toler, who Acuna said immediately agreed with the initiative.

“It was very proactive, I really wanted to move forward on how we can help each other in this mental health crisis that we are really going through,” Acuna said.

Acuna said mental illness is interesting because it’s something we don’t see.

“If someone breaks their arm, it’s visible. With sanity, it’s invisible. In a way, we can’t see someone suffering from anxiety and depression all the time. It’s not something that we automatically know you have a broken arm, for example, ”she said.

Acuna said that one in five people struggle with a mental illness and it takes 11 years to receive treatment.

” It’s long. We can’t imagine someone waiting 11 years to check on a broken bone, ”Acuna said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Acuna said mental health professionals see more people struggling with depression, anxiety and acute mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

“In Texas we rank the lowest mental health services, which is very sad because it means we then have more limited resources on hand to provide relief to those affected by this disease,” she said. declared.

Acuna said that although they saw an increase in mental illness after the onset of the pandemic, NAMI aimed to partner with local agencies ahead of COVID-19.

She said it’s a lot of pressure to put on law enforcement, but there is a duty to get all the education they can get to help provide support and assistance to those who are. suffer.

From the advocacy training, Acuna said NAMI hopes to see more empathy from law enforcement officers who respond to a call for people who may be experiencing a psychotic break. Since Texas has a low level of mental health resources, it is difficult to know where to call for help for people who need to be hospitalized.

“We hope to be a resource for law enforcement (and) let them know who they can try to connect with. The most important thing is to provide empathy and some understanding when responding to these calls and how they can defuse certain situations where the person they are responding to is not in good shape, ”Acuna said. “Overall, I hope that someday a clinician will come out with law enforcement to answer these calls when someone has a psychotic crisis or is in a very emotional situation so that we can support each other. ”

NAMI National has successfully established partnerships with other cities, such as San Antonio, Fort Worth and Houston.

NAMI offers free support groups for family members of people with mental illness, as well as other free community services, such as educational classes, available in English and Spanish.

“We want the community to know that we are here. Our efforts are again to continue to develop this initiative with law enforcement and hopefully the Sheriff’s Department as well. So that we can do all we can about mental health, ”Acuna said.

There is no lack of data and surveys suggesting that consumers are increasingly aware of the risks of climate change and expect governments and the private sector to do something about it.

However, both raising awareness and convincing citizens to act is difficult. Concerns about the Delta variant, as well as concerns that the economy that could collapse (demolish jobs) or soar (dry up more people of everything from housing to food) are some of the distractions that cause any focus on climate change to slip away. Then there are the daily distractions that many families now face, like getting the kids ready for back to school – or, of course, whether that household item you need will ever be available thanks to what appears to be a shortage of supplies. ‘about everything. And the days go by quickly as we take care of the daily routines of work, home and school.

But what if you could send a message about climate change by going out for a run, cycling or walking at night?

The fitness app Strava, along with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), believe they have an answer.

From August 16 to 31, Strava and UNOCHA want those who are able and willing to go there to burn calories and focus on how the risks of climate change will wreak havoc on those who are successful. daily to get by. the fewest resources available.

#Human race campaign urges Strava users to ensure that they exercise for at least 100 minutes during the second half of August. The tasks are pretty straightforward – although unlike that phone app or portable device that counts your steps or monitors your heart rate, you have to open the Strava app, choose an exercise, click on the timer to ‘activate’ and you. ensure that these minutes are recorded.

According to Strava and UNOCHA, whether or not Strava users complete 100 minutes of activity, every registration to this campaign will help send a key message to world leaders at the upcoming UN climate summit, COP26, in November. : Citizens and leaders of the richest countries must keep their 2009 pledge to followed with an annual amount of $ 100 billion for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.

Strava and UNOCHA are partnering with athletes around the world to get this message out. “I am delighted to be running for the most important goal of our life: to save our planet and the people who live on it” declared Fernanda Maciel, a Brazilian ultramarathon athlete and environmental lawyer in an emailed statement. “We run everyday, for ourselves. Why not run for something bigger? Everyone should join this campaign because we need compassion. It’s time to run together. “

Or, depending on where you live, it could involve canoeing, rowing, surfing, rock climbing, swimming or even walking – with or without your dog (as noted above) .

Image credit: Léon Kaye