Oakland County invites individuals who work with youth to learn about suicide prevention resources available within the county at the 3rd Annual Youth Suicide Prevention Community event, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today via press release. Oakland County’s Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting the event in support of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week on Thursday, May 7 from 3-7 p.m. at the Oakland County Resource & Crisis Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 32 East, in Pontiac.
The event is open to parents, youth, teachers, clinicians, coaches, social workers, and other professionals.
“Suicide is an important public health issue,” said George J. Miller, Jr., director of Health and Human Services for the county. “Knowing the risk factors and when to take action can prevent a tragedy. Raising public awareness about resources available in Oakland County enables families to seek help as soon as warning signs emerge.”
There will be a special performance by the SaYes Theatre Troupe, a prevention-based theater program comprised of trained peer mentors ages 15-25 years-old, at 5 p.m. Attendees can also browse tables with community resources and listen to presentations about mental health and stigma, the Oakland County Resource & Crisis Center, and Mental Health First Aid.
“Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to join with more than a thousand communities across the country in celebrating the positive impact that we can have on the lives of children, youth and young adults,” said Willie Brooks, the CEO of Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority. “When we focus on building resilience and social-emotional skills in young children from birth, we can help young children, youth, and their families thrive.”
Please RSVP here. Attendees should use the Conference Center entrance on Hospital Drive on the Oakland County government campus.
For up-to-date public health information, visit www.OakGov.com/health or find Public Health Oakland on Facebook and Twitter @publichealthOC.
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