Did You Know? Dec. 1st is World AIDS Day

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day when individuals and world organizations unite to educate and bring attention to the global AIDS crisis. For more information, please visit these websites:

http://www.worldaidsday.org/
http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/
http://www.avert.org/worldaid.htm
http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/index.html

November 22 is National Survivors of Suicide Day

On November 22nd, join with other survivors of suicide loss at a local site near you or register to watch the 90-minute program from your home computer from 1-2:30pm Eastern Time and take part in a free online chat immediately afterwards.

The program includes a blend of emotional support and information about resources for healing for survivors of suicide loss. Survivors and mental health professionals discuss their experiences and answer the questions that so many survivors face: Why did this happen? How do I cope?

To find a conference site nearest you, or to register to watch the webcast from home, visit www.afsp.org/survivorday. When you register to watch from home, you are automatically registered for the online chat afterwards.

Public Interest Committee wins "OPA Committee of the Year" Award

At the 2008 OPA Annual Convention, the Public Interest Committee won the "OPA Committee of the Year" Award. The dedication and passion of the group, combined with the hard work of the members enabled the PIC to recieve this award. Congratulations to all the members!

From left to right in the picture: Mei Ng, Tasneem Khan, Todd Seibert, Kathleen Ashton, Lindsay Orchowski, Michele Evans, Mary Lewis, and past OPA president, Cathy McDaniels-Wilson.

Helping Military Families Cope

The American Red Cross today announced a new course, Coping With Deployments: Psychological First Aid for Military Families, is now available. The course, offered free of charge, is open to military family members of active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces, as well as veterans and their families.

For the entire article, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Red Cross or learning more about disaster relief or assisting with crisis situations, please contact the DRN co-chairs Kurt Jensen, Psy.D. & Jim Broyles, Ph.D., or visit the Red Cross website.

Reach Out and Read

If you are attending the OPA Convention, please consider bringing "gently used" books for children. This is a community outreach project by the OPA staff. There will be a collection box at the registration table for the books.

The books are donated to Operation Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read is a national organization that makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric care so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. Reach Out and Read trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age. A special focus is placed on children growing up in poverty. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities cultivate early literacy skills so that children enter school prepared to succeed at reading.

For more information, please visit the "Reach out and Read" website.

October is...

Did You Know? October is...

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Brain Injury Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Disability Awareness Month

Pregnancy Loss and Remembrance Day (Oct 15)

For more information, please visit the websites linked.

Celebrate Healthy Aging!

The Administration on Aging (AoA) has published information about some national programs that are devoted to the promotion of positive and healthy aging. These are evidenced-based programs located in specific states. For more information, please visit the AoA website.

Walking for a Cause

We've all been told that walking helps both our physical and emotional health. You can make your walking count even more by walking (or biking) for a cause! Here are some public walks & events across Ohio that you can participate in, and raise money for a good cause of your choosing.

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Lima
Saturday, September 13th
Faurot Park, Lima
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

2008 North to South Ohio AIDS Charity Ride
Friday & Saturday, September 19-20
http://www.firstgiving.com/north2southaidscharityride

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Toledo
Saturday, September 27th
Olander Park, Sylvania
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

NAMI Walk-- Akron
Saturday, October 4th
Munroe Falls Metro Park
http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?section=NAMIWALKS

Walk From Obesity - Columbus
Sunday, October 5th, 10 a.m.
Groveport Recreational Center in Columbus.
http://www.walkfromobesity.com/

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Bowling Green
Sunday, October 5th
Downtown Bowling Green
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

NAMI Walk - Butler County
Saturday, October 11th
The Fitton Center, 101 S Monument Ave.
http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?section=NAMIWALKS

Walk Now for Autism -Columbus
Sunday, October 12th
Schottenstein Center
http://www.walknowforautism.org/site/c.ddKFIMNrEqG/b.4045185/
(Nationwide Children's Hospital is sponsoring a large team including some OPA psychologists)

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Cleveland
Sunday, October 12th
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Clermont County Walk
Sunday, October 19th
Union Township Veterans Memorial Park
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Columbus
Sunday, October 26th
Fred Beekman Park
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/
(OPA/COPA Team Link: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=508&teamID=7248)

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk -- Cincinnati
Sunday, October 26th
University of Cincinnati
http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

APA Articles for Weather-Related Disaster Relief

In light of the recent weather conditions, APA has developed two new articles that have been posted on the homepage of the APA Help Center and are available to download in PDF form and distribute to your community.

Below you will find links to informationon the Red Cross and the CDC's efforts in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.

Websites Red Cross Update on Hurricane Gustav
CDC Update on Hurricane Gustav
CDC's Coping with a Disaster after a Traumatic Event

Kurt Jensen
OPA Disaster Response Co-Coordinator

Stand Up 2 Cancer

Did you know that cancer is the cause of death for almost 25,000 Ohioans per year (www.cancer.gov)? That cancer continues to be the #2 reason for death in the United States?

Research has indicated that depression and other mental health issues are also frequently found in individuals with cancer (Passik et al., 1997), and psychologists can be effective at helping individuals with cancer, as well as their families and caregivers.

On September 5th, a national campaign designed to raise money for cancer research was aired on all three major networks. Although the network campaign is over, you still have a chance to Stand Up 2 Cancer, by visiting the national website. This website provides opportunities to get involved, as well as information about the cause.