The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a one-day event intended to bring national awareness to the increasing prescription and controlled substance misuse. The service is free and anonymous, “no questions asked.” This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Unused or expired medicines that are stored in home cabinets…
One call can save a life. But, when a person is in a mental health crisis and has to look-up or remember a 10-digit number, precious minutes can be lost. We need a readily accessible crisis response system as an essential component of our nation’s strategy for mental health intervention and suicide prevention. Having a…
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Oklahoma has the tenth highest suicide rate in the country and suicide is the second leading cause of death for Oklahoma youth ages 10-24. That is 31% higher than the national average. And since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in suicide…
As educators and parents grapple with the uncertainly of schools reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Family & Children’s Services Counseling & Mental Health teams continue to work on-site at schools providing individually tailored services designed to overcome a wide range of emotional, behavioral or relationship problems — from mild to severe. Faith Crittenden, senior program director of Family…
Navigating amid a worldwide pandemic is one of the hardest experiences to handle. Many are in areas where the coronavirus infection rates are getting worse. Others are bracing for what may come next. And most of the country are watching the headlines and wondering, “When is this going to end?” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the coronavirus pandemic…
