Debbie Lurie-Smith debbie@jcnews.com
app. Information is also available on the Jones County Suicide Prevention Coalition Facebook and Instagram pages.
Prager announced that the coalition’s first workshop would be held at the May 27 meeting on the topic of Risk and Proactive Factors.
Carr said she has been in conversation with a top law enforcement official in Washington County who implemented the QPR and CALM training in the county. She said he is willing to come to Jones County to assist with similar programs here.
with Jones County Family Connection and Shana Backus of Jones County Early Intervention Coordinator spearhead the training.
Prager said the “My Ascension” documentary is still available to organizations. The film is about a teenager who attempted to take her life, the challenges she has faced and her physical and spiritual journey to recovery.
The speaker said the coalition is working on window clings that can be placed in local businesses, featuring the 988 crisis line and other resource information. She said they are also investigating again placing ads on grocery carts at Ingles Market in Gray.
Prager thanked Leslie Poythress and other coalition members who have visited local businesses to place the 988 information. Poythress said 2,500 pieces of material were put in local businesses, and every business they visited in Jones County and Gray agreed to displaying the information.
Carr said the Hope Givers program was given at Clifton Ridge Middle School April 16. With that performance, all students at Jones County High School and both middle schools had the opportunity to view and participate in the presentations.
The Hope Givers are a group of social influencers and celebrities promoting the importance of good mental health. Their performances present positive messages that have students on their feet, having a good time, but most importantly, paying efforts are in local schools.
Ajero said they are continuing the positive messaging at each school and have gotten help and feedback about the posters from students that emphasize that their peers who do not vape or use tobacco products are in the large majority.
The programs presented in the schools include Catch My Breath and Project Alert with the goal of providing information so students can make good choices and skills to help them resist using alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes.
It was suggested that information about vaping and tobacco use could also be included in window clings.
The next meeting of the coalition is scheduled May 27 at 10 a.m. at Jones County High School.
The good news in the April meeting of the Jones County Suicide Prevention Coalition is there were no deaths by suicide reported in March.
The April 29 meeting was held in the community room of Jones County High School and was led by Ashley Prager with Augusta University Medical College. Updates at the meeting included the availability of QPR (Question, Persuade, Report) training and training for CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means). The trainings teach ways to identify and help those experiencing crisis situations.
Both trainings are offered locally and are free of charge. Joy Carr attention.
It also includes curriculum
PIPP
that is available to Ariel Ajero gave updates about Jones County’s Partners in Prevention Project in the schools. She said the recent focus has been on how effective and sustainable the current schools.
Local, state and nationwide resources are available to anyone and can be found using the Link Tree QR code and MyGCal
