Members of the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCSAP) took stock of their work in 2022 during their final coalition meeting of the year, organized by Coordinator Ismael Luna and Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Gloria Marfo. After a lively round of member "speed dating" and a delicious taco bar lunch, members reviewed MCSAP’s impact.

Highlights include:

Expect great things in 2023, when MCSAP will have a new look and even greater impact.

How’s your quit journey coming along? Charlie Leonard, Coordinator of the City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance, spent their Great American Smokeout engaging students at UWM about the benefits of quitting smoking, even if the journey is rough. It’s always the right time to quit!

Submit a proposal to present a breakout session at the 13th Annual Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference: Holding Space. The conference will be held virtually on Zoom April 13-14, 2023. Preconference workshops will occur on April 12. Get details and submit your proposal before January 27, 2023, at this link.

Join Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee (SWIM) at the Marcus Performing Arts Center for a presentation by Sebastian Ssempijja, Ph.D., on how we can accommodate refugees and acknowledge and care for their mental health needs. This event will include an hour-long presentation followed by a Q&A session. Ssempijja is a licensed psychologist and CEO and Clinic Director of Sebastian Family Psychology Practice LLC in Glendale. This session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on December 8. Get details and register at this link.

During this two-hour virtual workshop, you will learn how to increase safety by utilizing verbal de-escalation techniques. Participants will explore foundational information on how to reduce the level of conflict through self-knowledge, understand how past experiences influence current behavior, and practice 10 tips of de-escalation. This workshop is aimed toward individuals who encounter conflict in the workplace, at home, or in the community, whether you are a parent or educator, work in the helping professions, or otherwise work with the public in potentially tense situations. This session will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on December 12. RSVP here.

Community Advocates is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The next session will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on December 16 (register by December 9).

Get in the holiday spirit with this fun event with Santa and friends, plus free pictures, a toy giveaway, face painting, and more. Kids must be present; registration is required. This gathering is presented by COA Youth & Family Centers and will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on December 17, at 2320 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee. If you would like to be a vendor, click here. To register your family, click here.

Community Advocates has updated its Milwaukee County Mental Health & Wellness Resource Guide. You can download it here.

A series of 10 technical assistance collaborative papers providing important resources for state leaders, policy makers, providers, peers and others to learn from examples around the country and hear from thought leaders about innovative services and the need for further 988 implementation. Produced by SAMHSA in conjunction with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Download it here.

Developed by the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC, this issue focuses on tools and resources to provide culturally informed suicide prevention services, especially for Native youth and young adults. Access it here.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through SAMHSA, released a new report, National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care, which describes the urgent need to improve crisis response services for children, youth, and families and provides guidance on how communities can address the existing gaps in care for youth.

Watch the videos at this link.

We can all #BeThere to prevent suicide by taking actions that can promote healing and help, and give hope. Many people find it difficult to talk about suicide, and especially difficult to know how to talk to someone that is having thoughts of suicide. But there are clear actions that we can take. We can all learn the five steps for how to talk to someone who might be suicidal. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org.

De “Better Ways to Cope”, aquí hay una entrevista con Ana Paula Soares sobre la salud mental y los residentes hispanos/latinos de Milwaukee.

La falta de información sobre los problemas de salud mental puede impedir que las personas de las comunidades hispanas/latinas obtengan la ayuda y el apoyo que necesitan.

Compartiendo Esperanza es una serie de videos de tres partes en inglés y español que explora el viaje del bienestar mental en las comunidades hispanas/latinx a través del diálogo, la narración de historias y una discusión guiada sobre los siguientes temas:

Mira los videos en este enlace.

Small Talks is how Wisconsin prevents underage drinking. Learn how these parents worked through their stage fright and started having short, frequent, casual conversations with their kids about alcohol.  Learn more about Small Talks at this link.

As people become more comfortable talking about and seeking help for mental health concerns, more and more people find themselves becoming caregivers. November is National Family Caregivers Month, and MHA has created an online guide to help new mental health caregivers navigate their role. Topics include getting started, challenging stigma, caregiving in the treatment setting, and understanding challenges during recovery. You can find the guide at this link.