Our quarterly blood drive will be at the County Courthouse Annex building in Hondo this Thursday, 9/14/23. Call Virginia at 830-741-6191, we still have slots to fill!
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Every year, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health advocates across the U.S. and around the world work together to raise awareness. “Working to change the conversation” is what the 988 Lifeline’s messaging is trying to do. Together with their partners, they are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention by focusing on actions we can do to help, heal, and give hope. We can help by learning more about it. While you’re scrolling through your phone, look up 988lifeline, NAMI, or SAMHSA. You can also learn more by getting some training on how to identify someone in a mental health crisis situation. If you have an organization or group or maybe you are looking for training for your workplace consider a Mental Health First Aid training course. It will teach you techniques on how to identify someone in crisis and direct them to helpful services. Our local Hill Country MHDDC team does this training for free (see their number below for details). You won’t be an expert on mental health but you will learn how to help others and possibly prevent a crisis. If you or someone is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. This number is 24/7 and provides confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call 911 in life-threatening situations. Our local county resource for mental health is Hill Country Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Center at 830-426-4362 and their crisis hotline is 1-877-466-0660.