Each year, September is devoted to learning more about how to prevent suicide and making note of the impact suicide has on our relationships and our community. This year, Suicide Prevention Month takes on more weight as we cope with an extended pandemic and social isolation. According to recent research, while suicide rates among white people have declined, they have increased among Black and Brown people during the pandemic. Overall, middle-aged white men have the highest suicide rates, but young people of color are seen as increasingly at risk of suicide.

This Suicide Prevention Month, please get involved in one of the many events or trainings devoted to suicide awareness so that you can be prepared if you encounter someone who is considering suicide. You can learn more about suicide prevention resources and events on our blog.

We can all save lives. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. This two-hour interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention will also cover statistics and intervention strategies. Community Advocates will offer this introductory session via Zoom at no cost five times during the month of September. Registration is required. You can check out and register for all sessions on our calendar.

You can check out coverage of the event from Milwaukee NNS, CBS 58, Fox 6, and MCSAP's Facebook page.

A New E-learning course, hosted via HealtheKnowledge, will teach attendants about the power of policy change. The two courses will take you from the roots of assessing a modern policy environment, to the final stages of strategizing and implementing effective change. You will learn the skills necessary to assess a policy environment and understand the steps needed to address the prevention needs of a community. To register for the e-learning courses, click here.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering a Peer-to-Peer education program. The program is an 8-session recovery-focused course for adults with mental health conditions. The education program will begin weekly on Saturday, September 11 – November 6, and will be held virtually from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. This is a great resource that is confidential and led by peers who successfully manage their recovery and wellness. To register, contact Theresa Jemison at: Direct- 414-326-3454, Office- 414-344-0447 or email at: tjemison@namisoutheastwi.org.

This webinar will utilize the Gestalt approach to enhance the clinical, theoretical, and culturally sensitive skills to work with the Latino community. The core elements of the Gestalt theory will be explored in order to help attendants foster relationships with Latino clients who live with a substance use disorder. This is a free webinar that will be presented by Gerardo Wence-Munoz (LCPC, NCSC, NCC) and Oscar Sida (LCPC, LCADC, CPGC). It will be held on Wednesday, September 15, at 2 p.m. To register, click here.

Auer Avenue Community School, 2319 W. Auer Ave., is the site of this resource fair, which will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations and immunizations, backpack and school supply giveaways for Auer students, and many more resources. Stop by between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. to get connected.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services has received a 988 State planning grant to work on preparing for implementation of a three-digit calling code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Additional stakeholders for 988 have been discussing opportunities and challenges the implementation could bring to the mental health continuum in Wisconsin. If you are interested in this conversation, you can join the virtual meeting that will be held on Wednesday, September 15, from 1-3 p.m. To register, click here.

With the theme of Stronger Together: Thriving in the New Normal, the Crisis Intervention Conference gives like-minded people who are directly involved with delivering crisis services an opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, and support. This conference, to be held on Zoom, is intended for consumers and family members, administrators, front-line workers, and community professionals involved in crisis intervention from the following areas: court personnel; emergency services personnel and faculty personnel; hospital personnel; jail personnel; law enforcement; mental health professionals; nursing professionals; mental health, jail and school nurses; school administrators; social workers; and substance abuse professionals. Early bird registration ends August 31. Click here for details.

Join the Your Choice 2021 Fall Webinar Series, which features talks from experts on topics and issues that matter most in preventing substance abuse for today’s youth. These webinars will be held virtually through Zoom and registration will be required for attendance. These sessions are free and will teach you how to identify different types of substances and their street names, summarize the impact of the rising surge of use, and evaluate various interventions for treatment. To register for these webinars, click here.

Wauwatosa Family Dental will be offering the Milwaukee community free dental services on Saturday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (hours will be extended if necessary). Registration begins at 8 a.m. and will be on a first come, first serve basis. All ages are welcome for the following services: cleaning, filling, or extraction. Wauwatosa Family Dental is located at 11904 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa. Any questions, call 414-454-0700.

Safe & Sound is hosting their annual event, "A Night to Unite," which will be held virtually and in person at Nō Studios. This event will feature a cocktail hour, silent auction, golden raffle, and an awards program that will honor individuals who are working to improve public safety in Milwaukee's neighborhoods. Funds will be raised for Safe & Sound's mission to unite residents, youth, and law enforcement to build safe and empowered neighborhoods. The event will be held on Friday, October 8; click here to register.

Medical College of Wisconsin is offering a nicotine addiction research opportunity for individuals between 25-65 years old who are a cigarette smoker and not currently trying to quit. The research will take about four hours over a two-day period and participants will be compensated for time and travel. If interested in this study, call or text 414-308-6044.