Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 18

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 18, 2023

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog consists of topics on how a young lady’s suicide attempt has changed the lives of people far and near to how Native Americans seeking treatment for substance use disorders are being deceived by service providers to how organized shoplifters are placing retail workers’ lives in peril. Today, I wish to shed some light on how each one of us can play an important role in reducing suicides in this nation by limiting the access to lethal means. US stats indicate that over 50% of recent suicides involved firearms. While a closer look at the veteran community reveals that more than 70% of suicide deaths are gun-related. Putting time and distance between your loved one and his/her firearm is essential. This can take the form of temporary offsite storage or the use of gun safes and/or gun locks. In closing I have 3 asks: 1) Make a safety plan now with your loved ones who have access to lethal means (i.e., firearms, medications, poison, etc.) in their living space; 2) Contact your local VA…they often supply free gun locks; and 3) Take the CALM training course linked below.

Sources: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/veteran-gun-shop-stored-firearms-started-saving-lives/

https://zerosuicidetraining.edc.org/enrol/index.php?id=20

LiUNA & Mental Health (10:40 mark)

Talent / MH / Benefits

Emma’s Ascension

Vet stores firearms for others

Suicide Prevention: Reframing gun control

The 4^th Wave: Polysubstances & Fentanyl

Fentanyl & Black Men

Sober homes & Fraud

Kroger’s Opioids Settlement

Cocaine production on the rise