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Greetings!

June is National Men's Health Month!
Nationwide, suicide rates are highest among males, particularly male veterans, teens and young adults, and senior populations. Organized to promote the "awareness of preventable health problems and the early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys," this Month offers an opportunity to become educated on the often preventable health problems men will face throughout their lives. The awareness period is sponsored by the Men's Health Network and The Congressional Health Education Program.

CrisisLink serves all populations with our comprehensive crisis and suicide prevention services, information and referrals, community trainings, and postvention support.

To learn more about men's health month, click here.

Also, check out the resources below to learn more about men's health:

 Senior Suicide: A Preventable Tragedy
 Fact: Each day, nearly 15 adults over the age of 65 die by suicide in the United States.

Senior populations in the United States have the highest rates of suicide. Older adult males, in particular, are seven times more likely to die by suicide than older females. Risk factors for older adult suicide include social isolation, loss of a spouse or loved one, mental and physical illness, and loss of memory. Barriers to care and heightened stigma are also risk factors. As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, this problem will continue to grow and the need for suicide prevention strategies will increase.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who lost his father to suicide, has introduced the Stop Senior Suicide Act (S. 1854, HR 4897) to give seniors better access to psychological care-a critical suicide prevention strategy.

The proposed legislation includes 4 key components: the development of an interagency planning council to discuss and generate suicide prevention strategies for older adults; grants to public and private institutions to plan and implement suicide prevention plans for seniors; funding for nonprofit programs serving seniors; and a revision to the Medicare outpatient co-payment policy for those seeking mental health services from 50% to 20%, bringing it in line with the co-payment for other, non-mental health outpatient services.


CrisisLink has long served seniors at risk of suicide. Our free and confidential 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention hotlines have been there for seniors since 1969. Our senior outreach expanded in 2002 with the launch of CareRing, a daily check-in phone service for the elderly, the chronically ill, and other homebound individuals

Funding from the Carson J. Spencer Foundation has allowed CrisisLink to develop and present multi-culturally sensitive depression awareness and suicide prevention workshops at middle- and low-income retirement communities throughout the region. Armed with this information, residents and staff are empowered to help themselves and each other cope with depression and thoughts of suicide.

CrisisLink's LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) responds to suicides and traumatic events at retirement homes and elsewhere in the community to guide those affected through the process of restoring order to chaotic situations and to provide the information and resources needed to continue with the healing process.

 


 Paradigm Shift in the Military Will Help Reduce Suicide Rate
 Fact: 120 veterans reportedly die by suicide each week.

The growing focus on mental health, suicide, and depression in our armed forces is causing a shift in the military's views on mental illness.

Stigma surrounding mental illness has long prevented soldiers and veterans from seeking mental health services, thus hampering efforts to recognize and treat depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and suicidal thoughts. Recent alarming reports demonstrate the need for more comprehensive mental health services and treatment.

Last month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that service members would no longer have to report whether they had sought treatment for mental health problems related to combat stress in order to gain security clearance for national security positions. This policy change marks a shift in thinking within the Department of Defense.

CrisisLink is proud to serve our troops facing crisis, suffering from depression, and experiencing other combat-related ailments such as PTSD. Seed funding from Azalea Charities, Inc. and Prince Leopold d'Arenberg of Europe is allowing CrisisLink to provide nationally recognized suicide and crisis prevention training for the staff of the U.S. Army's Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline (WSFH). CrisisLink is also working to establish a Vet-2-Vet Peer Hotline to allow veterans in crisis to speak with other veterans volunteering as Hotline Listeners. The military and veterans rely on CrisisLink's Hotlines as well. The Army's WSFH transfers serious, suicide-related calls to CrisisLink's highly trained Hotline Listeners and CrisisLink has been formally designated as a back-up center for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/Veteran's Affairs Hotline, meaning calls they're not able to answer are routed to our Hotlines and answered by our Listeners. The men and women serving our country deserve the best care possible and we're glad we can be of assistance.

Are you a veteran or currently serving in our armed forces? CrisisLink encourages people with military experience to join our Hotlines as volunteer Hotline Listeners. Click here for the training schedule or contact Lindsay Paulette-Chapman at 703-527-6016 to learn more about becoming a Hotline Listener.

 


 Top Needs/Issues of Callers
 While no two calls are the same, common needs are evident.

CrisisLink's crisis and suicide prevention hotlines are essential components of our region's suicide prevention efforts. Being there for people at risk of suicide before they reach the breaking point is vital to reducing the number of suicides in the region.

CrisisLink is handling more and more serious suicide calls during the critical overnight hours and is initiating more life-saving emergency interventions than ever before. However, we're also connecting with those at higher risk of suicide before they reach the breaking point, thus preventing many unnecessary tragedies.

In May, the top issues experienced by callers to CrisisLink's Hotlines were anxiety, depression, and mental illness-all high risk factors of suicide. Being there for these callers before they reach the breaking point helps them return to normalcy, preventing countless tragedies.

In addition to providing support for those in crisis and at risk of suicide through our crisis and suicide prevention hotlines, CrisisLink connects people to needed health and human services through 2-1-1 VIRGINIA.

In times of economic downturn, financial hardship increases the demand for services that provide aid to those in need. And our call data confirms this. The most common needs of callers to 2-1-1 last month were utility assistance, rent and mortgage aid, and emergency shelter and food. At a time when foreclosures are forcing people out of their homes, CrisisLink is connecting those who are struggling with sources of housing and financial assistance.

CrisisLink helps people keep their lives in balance mentally, physically, and emotionally.

 


 CrisisLink in the Community
 May Trainings demonstrate broad reach of services

Suicide does not single out any one age, race, gender, or ethnicity. CrisisLink's community trainings in suicide and crisis prevention reach all populations.

Soldiers and Veterans
CrisisLink continues to provide training in active listening, crisis de-escalation, and suicide prevention for call center staff of the Army's Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline.


Teens and Young Adults
Last month alone, CrisisLink provided 20 hours of teen and young adult depression awareness and suicide prevention trainings at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Annandale. CrisisLink also co-sponsored the 4th Annual "Bridging the Gap" Conference on Youth Depression on May 13 in Fairfax, a conference we originally founded with the Fairfax Partnership for Youth.


Other community education trainings in May included:
  • Seniors: Depression awareness & suicide prevention training for staff of Capital Hospice.
  • Homeless: A day-long training on stress reduction techniques for Arlington's A-SPAN employees who work with homless populations
  • Suicide Survivors: Through the Tara Sirmans Survivor HOPE Program, CrisisLink provided a day-long Postvention "Hope & Healing" workshop in Utica, New York, for a group of state agencies and non-profit organizations serving upper-central New York State.


 


 CrisisLink ON the News!
 

Wake up with CrisisLink!
On Thursday, June 19, CrisisLink will wake up Washington on ABC 7's Good Morning Washington program. Tune in and see us around 6:10 a.m.

CrisisLink's appearance is part of an effort by ABC 7 and the Catalogue for Philanthropy to highlight area nonprofits making a difference in the region. CrisisLink is proud to be a Catalogue for Philanthropy charity and thanks the Harman Family Foundation and ABC 7 for their commitment to our region's nonprofit community and those we serve.


Comcast will feature CrisisLink as a NewsMaker
Comcast cable network will feature an interview with CrisisLink on Comcast Newsmakers, a local news segment aired on CNN Headline News. The segment will air in late July and early August.


 


 Sponsors Sought for Event Recognizing Volunteer Commitment
 

CrisisLink seeks sponsors for an event honoring the 100+ volunteers who cumulatively donate more than 16,400 hours to CrisisLink each year to make our life saving programs possible. Sponsorship opportunities for the Volunteer Recognition Event, "Capital Housewarming," on June 27, 2008, range from $500 to $10,000 and will help support CrisisLink's extensive volunteer training program, hotline service, and operations.

Please view our sponsorship form [PDF] or contact Marshall Ellis, Director of Development at 703-516-6768 or [email protected] for more information or to sign on today!


 


 Participate in CrisisLink's Summer Giving Challenge on Facebook and Win!
 Help CrisisLink raise $5,000 before our fiscal year ends on June 30.

Raise $500 through the challenge and a day of Hotline service will be named in honor/memory of the person of your choosing.

Encourage your friends and family to support CrisisLink through our Facebook Cause this summer for your chance to see our hometown teams battle it out to rule the region!

Visit the Summer Giving Challenge for complete contest details and to get started today!

Not on Facebook yet? Not a problem. Sign up for your free account and get started today.

CrisisLink needs your support to be able to continue providing 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention hotline service to the region, as well as suicide prevention and depression awareness trainings for the community, and support services for those who have suffered a traumatic loss of a loved one.

The Summer Giving Challenge is our final fundraising push for this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2008) and is essential to getting us to our fundraising goals for the year. Get Started Now.

It truly takes a community to make CrisisLink's life saving programs possible. Thank you for being part of that community!

 


Thank you for your support!

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