Monthly Messages

Bullying Prevention Month is an important time to elevate the conversation about addressing and preventing bullying of K – 12 children and youth.

What Is Bullying?
Bullying is when someone is hurt by unwanted words or actions, usually more than once and has a hard time stopping what is happening to them.

BULLYING CAN BE:

Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful actions around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.Suicidal thoughts, like mental health conditions, can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Suicide is often met with silence, stigma, or shame but they should never be seen as normal. More often this is a signal of deep emotional pain or an underlying mental health concern that deserves understanding, care, and professional support.

Why Teen Suicide Prevention is so critical

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 and one in five youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point during their life.Also 17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder and that is more than the number of children with Cancer, Diabetes and AIDS combined.

Mental Health Challenges

A significant percentage of high school students report struggling with feeling of sadness and hopelessness. Awareness campaigns in September help ensure that teens know they are not alone and that help is available.

• Suicide is preventable. Combining knowledge, care, and compassion can make a real impact.
• Suicide is complex and influenced by many interconnected factors. Knowing the warning signs of suicide saves lives.
• Preventing suicide means understanding risk, accessing supportive, proven care, and sharing hope because healing is possible.
• With the right support, people can heal, build resilience, and thrive after a crisis.
• Hope and resilience grow when people feel heard. This can guide people to find strength even in their darkest moments.
• There is no “right” way to heal and recover; support should meet people where they are. Healing is personal, every journey is different.

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS FOR YOUTH

It is time to take action if you notice these signs in family or friends:

1.)Talking about or making plans for suicide.

2.) Expressing hopelessness about the future.

3.) Displaying severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress.

4.) Showing worrisome changes in behavior, particularly in combination with the warning signs above, including significant:

• Withdrawal from changing social connection/situations.
• Change in sleep (increased or decreased).
• Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context.
• Recent increased agitation or irritability.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, or reach out to a mental health professional.
988 – Suicide & Crisis – LIFELINE

August is recognized as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month and we want to highlight the importance of children’s vision and eye health.  This Month is dedicated to raising awareness about the need for regular eye exams, it is also a timely reminder to prepare our children for the classroom and athletics.

• Early Detection is Key: Many eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) are treatable if caught early.

• Vision Affects Development: Good vision is crucial for a child’s physical and cognitive development, including learning and social interaction.

• Eye Safety: Children are naturally curious and can be prone to eye injuries, making eye safety awareness essential.

How to Participate:

Schedule Eye Exams: Encourage parents to schedule routine eye exams for their children during August.

Promote Awareness: Share information about children’s eye health and safety on social media using the hashtag #childrensEyeAndSafetyMonth.

Educate on Eye Safety: Teach children about eye safety precautions, especially when playing sports or engaging in activities with potential eye hazards.

Sports Organizations: Support organizations like Prevent Blindness that provide resources and education on children’s eye health.

Please join us in raising awareness of this chronic disease. The most common form is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sometimes called JA ) which has 6 distinct forms.

Nearly 300,000 children have been diagnosed with some form of Juvenile Arthritis, that is roughly 1 per 100 children. Juvenile Arthritis occurs in children under the age of 16, most types are more common in girls while enthesitis related juvenile idiopathic arthritis is more common in boys.

Increased awareness leads to better understanding and support and it also leads to reduced stigma and isolation. Increased awareness also helps children and young people feel less alone. Together, let us bust the myth that arthritis only affects older people.

To learn more about the condition and how you can help, please browse the Arthritis Foundation wide range of Juvenile Arthritis resources.

Let us all take the time to lean in together to curb gun violence that is changing our communities. First, our communities are becoming less safe. Second, our youth need our help to make more positive decisions as we are losing too many of our youth to the prison system and to an early grave.

It is never too late for all of us to get involved and turn things around for the better. We just have to believe that our communities and youth are worth saving. Remember that we are all in this together and that we can P.A.T.C.H. it up one day at a time.

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1994 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.

•  It is OK to speak up
•  It is OK to check in
•  It is OK to care deeply

•  Has unexplained injuries, such as burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
•  Has fading bruises or other noticeable marks after an absence from school
•  Seems scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn, or aggressive
•  Seems frightened of his or her parents a protests or cries when it is time to go home
•  Shrinks at the approach of adults
•  Shows changes in eating and sleeping habits
•  Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver 
•  Abuse animals or pets

•  Be the reason a child feels safe
•  Be the voice that speaks up
•  Be the light that shows them they matter

•  http://www.nctsn.org
•  https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/child abuse and neglect/consequences.html
•  https://www.child welfare.gov/pubs/issu-briefs/cm-prevention

Bullying Prevention Month is an important time to elevate the conversation about addressing and preventing bullying of K – 12 children and youth.

What Is Bullying?
Bullying is when someone is hurt by unwanted words or actions, usually more than once and has a hard time stopping what is happening to them.

BULLYING CAN BE:

Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful actions around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.Suicidal thoughts, like mental health conditions, can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Suicide is often met with silence, stigma, or shame but they should never be seen as normal. More often this is a signal of deep emotional pain or an underlying mental health concern that deserves understanding, care, and professional support.

Why Teen Suicide Prevention is so critical

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 and one in five youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point during their life.Also 17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder and that is more than the number of children with Cancer, Diabetes and AIDS combined.

Mental Health Challenges

A significant percentage of high school students report struggling with feeling of sadness and hopelessness. Awareness campaigns in September help ensure that teens know they are not alone and that help is available.

• Suicide is preventable. Combining knowledge, care, and compassion can make a real impact.
• Suicide is complex and influenced by many interconnected factors. Knowing the warning signs of suicide saves lives.
• Preventing suicide means understanding risk, accessing supportive, proven care, and sharing hope because healing is possible.
• With the right support, people can heal, build resilience, and thrive after a crisis.
• Hope and resilience grow when people feel heard. This can guide people to find strength even in their darkest moments.
• There is no “right” way to heal and recover; support should meet people where they are. Healing is personal, every journey is different.

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS FOR YOUTH

It is time to take action if you notice these signs in family or friends:

1.)Talking about or making plans for suicide.

2.) Expressing hopelessness about the future.

3.) Displaying severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress.

4.) Showing worrisome changes in behavior, particularly in combination with the warning signs above, including significant:

• Withdrawal from changing social connection/situations.
• Change in sleep (increased or decreased).
• Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context.
• Recent increased agitation or irritability.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, or reach out to a mental health professional.
988 – Suicide & Crisis – LIFELINE

August is recognized as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month and we want to highlight the importance of children’s vision and eye health.  This Month is dedicated to raising awareness about the need for regular eye exams, it is also a timely reminder to prepare our children for the classroom and athletics.

• Early Detection is Key: Many eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) are treatable if caught early.

• Vision Affects Development: Good vision is crucial for a child’s physical and cognitive development, including learning and social interaction.

• Eye Safety: Children are naturally curious and can be prone to eye injuries, making eye safety awareness essential.

How to Participate:

Schedule Eye Exams: Encourage parents to schedule routine eye exams for their children during August.

Promote Awareness: Share information about children’s eye health and safety on social media using the hashtag #childrensEyeAndSafetyMonth.

Educate on Eye Safety: Teach children about eye safety precautions, especially when playing sports or engaging in activities with potential eye hazards.

Sports Organizations: Support organizations like Prevent Blindness that provide resources and education on children’s eye health.

Please join us in raising awareness of this chronic disease. The most common form is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sometimes called JA ) which has 6 distinct forms.

Nearly 300,000 children have been diagnosed with some form of Juvenile Arthritis, that is roughly 1 per 100 children. Juvenile Arthritis occurs in children under the age of 16, most types are more common in girls while enthesitis related juvenile idiopathic arthritis is more common in boys.

Increased awareness leads to better understanding and support and it also leads to reduced stigma and isolation. Increased awareness also helps children and young people feel less alone. Together, let us bust the myth that arthritis only affects older people.

To learn more about the condition and how you can help, please browse the Arthritis Foundation wide range of Juvenile Arthritis resources.

Let us all take the time to lean in together to curb gun violence that is changing our communities. First, our communities are becoming less safe. Second, our youth need our help to make more positive decisions as we are losing too many of our youth to the prison system and to an early grave.

It is never too late for all of us to get involved and turn things around for the better. We just have to believe that our communities and youth are worth saving. Remember that we are all in this together and that we can P.A.T.C.H. it up one day at a time.

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1994 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.