Dissect & Connect

Jill Anderson and Patrick Halpern of New River Valley Community Services discuss the agency's long-running history with the Crisis Intervention Team model, as well as the development of a new crisis center for persons experiencing behavioral health emergencies.

Resources mentioned in this episode: New River Valley Community Services website - http://www.nrvcs.org

Virginia Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coalition website - http://www.virginiacit.org

National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care: A Best Practice Toolkit - http://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/national-guidelines-for-behavioral-health-crisis-care-02242020.pdf

Sponsor information: Teen Connections - https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-atlantic/education-programs/teen-connections Contact: Malinda Britt, PPSAT Community Health Educator [email protected] / (540) 315-2130

Gail Maddox Taylor is the Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Wellness (OBHW) for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). In this role, Gail provides leadership in the development and implementation of comprehensive substance use disorder prevention systems at the state and community levels – including efforts to address opioids and overdose. She also oversees Virginia’s initiatives in both suicide prevention and Mental Health First Aid, as well as the State’s new Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Initiative and Behavioral Health Disparities, including the Virginia Refugee Healing Partnership.

In our discussion, Gail explains the concept of 'behavioral health wellness' and the importance of prevention work happening throughout the Commonwealth - particularly given the social isolation being experienced during the current COVID-19 pandemic. She also shares the circumstances that led her to a career in prevention.

Resources mentioned in this episode: Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) Office of Behavioral Health Wellness website: http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/behavioral-health/behavioral-health-wellness

Virginia DBHDS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DBHDS/

Virginia DBHDS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VirginiaDBHDS

A Guide to SAMHSA's Straegic Prevention Framework: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/20190620-samhsa-strategic-prevention-framework-guide.pdf

Radford University graduate students discuss healthy ways to cope with everyday stressors.

Resources: National Institute for Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov)

SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

RAFT Hotline: 540-961-8400

Aimee Strong is a Board Certified Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at UVA Health who works in the Lung Cancer Screening Program.

In our conversation, Aimee explains the different types of lung cancer and the process involved with a routine screening. We also talk about the leading causes of lung cancer, including (but not limited to) smoking, and address some of the more common misconceptions about the disease.

Resources mentioned in this episode: American Cancer Society website - http://www.cancer.org American Lung Association website - http://www.lung.org Go 2 Foundation for Lung Cancer website - http://www.go2foundation.org Sponsor Information: Teen Connections - https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-atlantic/education-programs/teen-connections Contact: Malinda Britt, PPSAT Community Health Educator [email protected] / (540) 315-2130

Katherine Allen and Lisa Evanylo have both experienced the heartache of losing a child and the journey of grief and healing that follows. A little over a year ago, the two women decided to openly share their pain and launch a support group for other bereaved parents. The monthly group, which is now meeting via Zoom, now has participation from not only Virginia’s New River Valley but even other parts of the country.

In our conversation, Katherine and Lisa both recall the events surrounding the deaths of their sons: Katherine’s son, Matt, by suicide; and Lisa’s son, Dylan, from a drug overdose. The two also offer tips on how to cope with grief and warn against what not to say to a parent who has lost a child.

Resources mentioned in this episode: Parent Bereavement Support Group meetings are the 2nd Monday of each month at 6 p.m. For more information, call Katherine (540-230-8154) or Lisa (540-257-3612) Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP) Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/groups/grasphelp

Bereaved Parents of the USA – http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org

Compassionate Friends – http://www.compassionatefriends.org

Recommended Books: It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine (Amazon link) - https://www.amazon.com/Its-That-Youre-Not-Understand/dp/1622039076/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2H3O66BL51JO&dchild=1&keywords=it%27s+okay+that+you%27re+not+okay&qid=1606594509&sprefix=It%27s+Okay+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-2

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss by Pat Schwiebert (Amazon link) - https://www.amazon.com/Tear-Soup-Recipe-Healing-After/dp/0961519762/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=tear+soup&qid=1606594578&sr=8-2

The Courage to Grieve: The Classic Guide To Creative Living, Recovery, And Growth Through Grief by Judy Tatelbaum (Amazon link) - https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Grieve-Classic-Creative-Recovery/dp/0060911859/ref=sr_1_1dchild=1&keywords=The+Courage+to+Grieve&qid=1606594646&sr=8-1

My Son . . . My Son . . .: A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide by Iris Bolton (Amazon link) - https://www.amazon.com/My-Son-Guide-Healing-Suicide/dp/0961632607/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2R9O4Y30TDF3S&dchild=1&keywords=my+son%2C+my+son+by+iris+bolton&qid=1606594732&sprefix=My+Son%2C+My+Son+b%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1

Sponsor Information: Teen Connections - https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-atlantic/education-programs/teen-connections Contact: Malinda Britt, PPSAT Community Health Educator [email protected] (540) 315-2130