By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
C’YA
Thursday, May 1 starts the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. One year ago, a gift from the Women’s Christian Service Society (WCSS) gifted C’YA with funds to become a certified QPR instructor for suicide prevention. The past year we have taught a variety of free prevention classes in Los Alamos and White Rock.
The topic is extremely hard to ponder, but the one-hour presentation is easy. The goal is to teach warning signs to look for and how to offer some help to someone who is struggling. The program includes a great resource booklet covering the areas and a variety of helpful resources.
During this year, parents of two elementary-aged children in two different schools have shared that their student has a suicidal friend. Read that sentence again. Two students in our elementary schools are telling friends they want to kill themselves. Part of the presentation discusses how to manage that type of situation.
Then with a gift from “100 Men Who Care”, we will spend some time this month trying new things. Our first is the Health, Wellness and Resource Fair this Saturday at 2525 Canyon Road (the United Church). It is a one stop shop to see many programs in and around the community that you should know exist. Healing America’s Heroes will be on hand and is a tremendous resource to local Veterans of all ages. Veterans can learn to fly fish, tie flies, ride horses and more at no cost.
We will have a chance to make cards for local service members serving across the nation and more, free raffles and free snacks. While we hope you will donate some dog treats, canned pet food especially for kittens, or pet toys, there is no fee for any of the fun.
Chad the Sci Guy will be on hand wearing his volunteer hat for the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. You can meet his sweet friend Jolene and pets and smooches are also free!
The Los Alamos Medical Center team will have plenty of resources on hand and they have taken our work one step further. During Mental Health Awareness Month, they have scheduled two sessions on suicide prevention information for all their doctor’s offices and staff. This allows us to put the resources in the hands of the professionals without them needing to make an additional trip.
We will have participation from the Los Alamos Community Foundation, Al-Anon, Mesa to Mesa, First-Born program, Friends of the Library, Dr. Lisa Shinn, PRIDE events and Safety Town. If you are new to town, May is a REMARKABLY busy month here, so some programs are multi-tasking this weekend. If you can only spend a few minutes and we can always send additional information.
Next is The Great American Grump Out, May 7. The day was started in 2002 by a woman named Janice A. Hathy, founder of Smile Mania. It seemed fitting that we continued her legacy. The idea is to try and kick complaining to the curb for 24 hours. You will notice we did say TRY.
Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) will offer things to make you smile and resources if things are a little too hard. It will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 at Ashley Pond Park. It includes free hugs!
Finally, May 7 is National Anxiety Screening Day and while we are not trained professionals, we will have resources for those interested in learning more. We have lots of great professionals in the community and will have information for them on hand.
We are starting a new year this May and the WCSS has been proud of our work and has doubled their gift for it to continue. To learn more or request a free suicide prevention presentation, call us at 505.695.9139.
Meet sweet Jolene. Courtesy/C’YA
Chad the Sci Guy wearing his volunteer hat for the Santa Fe Animal Shelter will share his sweet friend Jolene at the Health, Wellness and Resource Fair Saturday at the United Church. Courtesy/C’YA