Suicide Prevention Mini-Grants Available Now
Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA) is issuing this Request for Applications (RFA) to local community partnerships in Wisconsin to receive funding for Suicide Prevention activities as part of its Prevention/Early Intervention (PE) grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Grant activities must take place by and costs must be incurred by September 30th , 2014.
Letters of Intent due March 14, 2014. Applications due April 2, 2014.
Application also available on PSW website - under What's New
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School Climate & School Discipline: A Guidance Package
The U.S. Department of Education (ED), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), released a school discipline guidance package on January 8, 2014 that will assist states, districts and schools in developing solutions to enhance school climate, and improve school discipline policies and practices. Read More
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Heroin & Opiate Deaths in Wisconsin
submitted by Carol Zabel, Western Regional Coordinator
Heroin and opiate deaths is a growing concern around the state of Wisconsin according to Christy Niemuth, Prevention Coordinator the Department of Health Services Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Bureau of Prevention Treatment and Recovery. From 2000-2011, there has been over a 25% increase in opiate related deaths in Wisconsin. As a result of this alarming statistic, the Prevention Committee of the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) has convened an ad-hoc committee to develop recommendations related to heroin, specifically in regards to prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement. This group has produced two reports that might be of interest: Reducing Wisconsin's Prescription Drug Abuse: A Call to Action which contains recommendations and data related to prescription drug abuse. There is also a report called 911 Good Samaritan Recommendations. This report has data specific to heroin use in the state. Both of these reports as well as information on the heroin ad-hoc committee can be access through the SCAODA website at http://www.scaoda.state.wi.us/
According to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, Representatives John Nygren and Scott Krug co-authored four bills covering heroin opiate prevention and education. The bills introduce a multi-pronged approach to address the "heroin epidemic in Wisconsin including a provision to allow trained first responders to administer Narcan, a drug that counters the effects of a heroin overdose. The legislation nicknamed H.O.P.E. passed a voted a House vote two weeks ago 96-0. Legislators expect the vote in the state Senate to be similar when the bills come to the floor later in February.
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 E-Cigarettes and WI Youth Access State Statute
From
Vicki Stauffer, Section Chief
Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Section, Department of Health Services There have been many questions about youth access laws and e-cigarettes regarding whether retailers can sell e-cigarettes to minors and if minors are allowed to purchase and possess e-cigarettes. TPCP has received clarification from the Department of Health Services Office of Legal Counsel on both of these points. WI Statute 134.66 states no retailer may sell cigarettes, nicotine products or tobacco products to any person under the age of 18. WI Statute 254.92 states no person under 18 years of age may purchase, attempt to purchase, or possess any cigarette, nicotine product, or tobacco product. According to WI Statute 134.66(f), the definition of "nicotine product" is a product that contains nicotine and is not any of the following: - A tobacco product
- A cigarette
- A product that has been approved by the U.S. food and drug administration for sale as a smoking cessation product
Because e-cigarettes contain nicotine, they are covered by both state statues 134.66 and 254.92. Specifically, it is illegal for retailers to sell e-cigarettes with nicotine to anyone under the age of 18 years old. It is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase or possess e-cigarettes with nicotine. |
QPR Makes Suicide Preventable
submitted by Lynn Verage, Northern Regional Coordinator
Suicide takes over 750 lives in Wisconsin each year. It accounts for almost 1 in 5 of all deaths among Wisconsin youth. However, suicide is preventable. QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) is a program that is designed for youth and adults. It is easy to learn these steps to help prevent suicide.
- Question- learning how to see the signs of suicidal thoughts and asking the important question-"Are you thinking of killing yourself?"
- Persuade-offering hope and alternative solutions
- Refer-knowing how and where to go to help the person get help
The Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center, in partnership with DPI and Mental Health America of Wisconsin's Garrett Lee Smith Memorial, is offering FREE one hour trainings in QPR. Take this opportunity to train middle and high school youth and staff on three life-saving skills, Question, Persuade and Refer.
Contact your regional coordinator to schedule your training today!
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2014 WISH Professional Development Opportunities
| 3/12/14 | PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
| West Salem | | 3/19/14 & 4/9/14 | 12 Highly Structured Individual Behavior Interventions*
| Chippewa Falls | 3/20/14-3/21/14
| Using Restorative Practices and Circles in a School Setting* | Oshkosh
| 3/28/14
| PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
| Oshkosh
| 4/9/14
| School-Based Suicide Prevention Training | Green Bay | 4/11/14
| PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
| Gillett | |
4/15/14
| PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
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Ashland
| | 6/19/14-6/20/14 | PREPaRE Part 2 Crisis Intervention and Recovery: The Roles of the School-Based Mental Health Professional*
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Tomahawk
| | 6/24/14 | PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
| Wintergreen Resort-WI Dells | 6/25/14-6/26/14
| PREPaRE Part 2 Crisis Intervention and Recovery: The Roles of the School-Based Mental Health Professional*
| Wintergreen Resort-WI Dells
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*Graduate Credit Available
All events are contingent upon a minimum number of participants needed to hold event.
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