Reminder: Physician Assisted Suicide presentation St Mary’s - May 11

Physician Assisted Suicide presentation St Mary’s Parish Hall in Franklin on Wednesday May 11th 7:00-8:00 PM.

Mr. Jim Driscoll, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference of the Archdiocese of Boston, will be presenting the Catholic perspective regarding physician assisted suicide. Jim will be accompanied by Ms. Tahni Morell. who will share a personal family story.  

Please join us and bring a friend to 1 Church Square, Franklin. If you can not make it, we are making this presentation available through Zoom link on the St Mary’s website (https://www.stmarysfranklin.org/).

Physician Assisted Suicide presentation at St Mary's - May 11

Physician Assisted Suicide presentation at St Mary's - May 11

Physician Assisted Suicide presentation St Mary’s Parish Hall in Franklin on Wednesday May 11th 7:00-8:00 PM.

Mr. Jim Driscoll, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference of the Archdiocese of Boston, will be presenting the Catholic perspective regarding physician assisted suicide. Jim will be accompanied by Ms. Tahni Morell. who will share a personal family story.  

Please join us and bring a friend to 1 Church Square, Franklin. If you can not make it, we are making this presentation available through Zoom link on the St Mary’s website (https://www.stmarysfranklin.org/).

Physician Assisted Suicide presentation at St Mary's - May 11

22MOHAWKS OPEN SKATE NIGHT 100% of admission will be donated!

JOIN 22MOHAWKS AT THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON AT 750 UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN NORWOOD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 26.

ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO VETERAN SUICIDE AWARENESS.

22Mohawks is proud to provide assistance to veterans who need help navigating the struggles of everyday life when they return home from military duty. Be it mental, physical or financial support, 22Mohawks strives to improve the lives of veterans while combating PTSD and raising awareness about the prevalence of veteran suicide among our former service members.

Date: March 26

Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

VENUE - The Skating Club of Boston, 750 University Ave, Norwood, Ma

More info: https://22mohawks.com/event/open-skate-night/

22MOHAWKS OPEN SKATE NIGHT 100% of admission will be donated!

MA Public Health reminds us to practice self-care and support your mental health; Boston announces pilot program

"It's more important than ever to practice self-care and support your mental health. Relax, stay socially connected at a safe distance, and take a deep breath. 

If you're in a crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. #StopSuicide" https://t.co/745s6GoH8i

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassDPH/status/1440380331077496835?s=03

Mass. Public Health reminds us to practice self-care and support your mental health

Franklin participates in a grant program with Medway to implement this support for 911 calls and now Boston is starting a pilot program.

"Amid a nationwide push to rethink policing strategies and reduce the use of force when possible, a new Boston program seeks to scale back police involvement in 911 mental-health calls.

Last month, Acting Mayor Kim Janey announced a pilot program encouraging greater use of mental-health workers, EMTs and trained community members during 911 mental health calls. In a city that received 10,000 such calls last year, officials are seeking to de-escalate fragile mental-health interactions while easing the strain on police resources.

“This mental-health response will help us evaluate how to deliver the best possible response for our residents when they are in crisis,” Janey said during an Aug. 5 press conference. “These investments will help connect residents and their families with the care they need. They will also help us send officers to where they are needed most.”

Continue reading online 
https://www.mma.org/boston-launches-pilot-program-to-address-911-mental-health-calls/

Grant announced in 2018
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/08/franklin-and-medway-police-receive-jail.html

Franklin Police in its Annual Report section for 2020 touted the program

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/franklin-annual-report-2020-police.html 

In the News: new 3-digit number suicide hotline; some marijuana vaping products back on sale

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Federal regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline in order to make it easier to seek help and reduce the stigma associated with mental health. 

Once it’s implemented, people will just need to dial 988 to seek help, similar to calling 911 for emergencies or 311 for city services. Currently, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline uses a 10-digit number, 800-273-TALK (8255). Callers are routed to one of 163 crisis centers, where counselors answered 2.2 million calls last year. 

A law last year required the Federal Communications Commission to study assigning a three-digit number for suicide prevention. The FCC said in a report that there is overwhelming support for a three-digit number because it would be easier for distressed people to get help. 

Thursday’s vote starts the months-long process to make that happen. The next step is a comment period before the FCC moves to an order."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191212/house-senate-agree-on-541m-surplus-spending-bill

"State marijuana regulators on Thursday eased their ban on vaping product sales, allowing certain types of products to return to store shelves one day after state public health officials backed off a ban on nicotine vape sales. 

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the Cannabis Control Commission permitted licensed marijuana retailers to sell devices that vaporize marijuana flower for medical marijuana patients and non-medical users, devices that are used to vaporize marijuana concentrate but do not actually contain any marijuana themselves, and vaporizer cartridges that are manufactured beginning Thursday and pass a screening for contaminants like vitamin E acetate. 

Still off-limits are any vaping products manufactured before Thursday that contain marijuana, meaning retailers cannot sell any vape cartridges that they have been holding in quarantine. 

Marijuana vaping products have been unavailable to consumers since September, when Gov. Charlie Baker imposed a temporary ban on the sale of any vaping product amid a national outbreak of vaping-related lung disease, including three deaths in Massachusetts. When a judge ruled the CCC is the only agency that can regulate marijuana vapes, the CCC put in place an indefinite quarantine of all vaping products."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191212/marijuana-vape-sales-can-resume-ccc-declares

In the News: MBTA on suicide alert; transportation and carbon emissions

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"THE ISSUE: Since July, trains have struck and killed 11 people in Massachusetts. THE IMPACT: The MBTA is working with suicide prevention organizations and other partners to identify ways to reduce accidental deaths and suicides on its tracks. 

A recent surge in the number of suicides and accidental deaths on Massachusetts train tracks has transit officials and suicide prevention advocates searching for answers. 

“I can’t tell you why there’s been this increase on the railways,” said Steve Mongeau, executive director of the suicide-prevention organization Samaritans. “One of the challenges in the suicide prevention arena is there has not been a significant amount of research done specifically on railways.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171020/mbta-focuses-on-suicide-prevention

MBTA commuter rail at Franklin/Dean Station

"THE ISSUE: Transportation is the state’s largest source of carbon emissions. THE IMPACT: State leaders are soliciting input on strategies to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. 

In the face of President Donald Trump’s proposals to loosen environmental protections, Massachusetts leaders are doubling down on the state’s commitment to fight climate change. 

The state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Department of Transportation plan to hold a series of listening sessions across the state to solicit public input on environmental issues such as reducing carbon emissions from vehicles and making the state’s transportation infrastructure more resilient in the face of climate change. The listening tour will feature sessions on Oct. 31 in Boston, Nov. 2 in Worcester, Nov. 6 in Amherst and Nov. 9 in Brockton."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171020/state-leaders-seek-ideas-on-reducing-vehicle-emissions

In the News: suicide prevention; gas prices

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"For some, a cry for help can come from a few taps on a touch screen. 

While suicide prevention phone lines have long provided an outlet for people seeking help in times of crisis, text-based help lines have become increasingly common in recent years. 

“We had kicked around the idea for a number of years because we had seen an ongoing transition of younger people who prefer to communicate by texting instead of with their voice over the phone,” said Steve Mongeau, executive director of Samaritans Inc. “For younger people, not just teens but people under the age of 30, we thought a text option might open up more of an opportunity.” 

Since October 2015, Boston-based Samaritans has provided text messaging support on the Massachusetts Statewide Helpline, 1-877-870-HOPE (4673). Helpline staff and trained volunteers have responded to more than 6,000 text messages, an average of close to 500 per month and growing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/suicide-prevention-text-lines-open-new-doors-to-help

Take a walk on the Town Common - World Suicide Prevention Day - Sep 10

"It could take several more weeks for gas prices to come back down to earth as oil refineries begin coming back online after Hurricane Harvey battered the Texas coast. 

“Harvey’s geographic path looks like it was crafted by the devil himself in terms of the impact on the refineries, said Tom Kloza, the global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service. “It lead to precautionary shutdowns of all Texas refineries, and, at worst, reduced about 40 percent of capacity east of the Rockies. In terms of scale, it was unprecedented.” 

In Massachusetts, gas prices surged 44 cents in the course of a week, according to AAA Northeast’s Sept. 5 survey of fuel prices. The $2.70 statewide average was the highest average price recorded in Massachusetts in two years, and the spike represents the sharpest increase since Hurricane Katrina lashed Louisiana in 2005."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/gas-prices-expected-to-remain-high-for-several-weeks-following-hurricane

Take a walk on the Town Common - World Suicide Prevention Day - Sep 10

I wanted to send you this little flyer I made up for an informal event I'm trying to get started to bring awareness to World Suicide Prevention Day, which is Sunday 9/10/17. 

I am hoping to build a walk of greater magnitude for next year. Thanks for sharing!

World Suicide Prevention Day - Sep 10

For more info on the Worldwide Event https://iasp.info/wspd2017/

Franklin TV: "It Takes a Village" features Judy Giovangelo from 'Ben Speaks'

Steve - 

Hope you might notify  people about the next program in our series around the substance abuse disorder issue.

Judy Giovangelo talks about the suicide of her creative, but troubled son who committed suicide just six days after his 18th birthday.  She turned her grief into a non-profit foundation, Ben Speaks Louder than Words, with a mission to empower youth and reduce self-destructive behavior.

She shares her wisdom and offers gentle guidance for young people and the people who love them.

•      Tuesday:  9:00 a.m.
•      Wednesday:  7:30 a.m.
•      Saturday :  8:30 p.m.

    Verizon - Channel 26

    Comcast - Channel 8

Thanks Steve -

       Anne Bergen

screen grab of Ben Speaks webpage

Did you know?

How do you Remember the Warning Signs of Suicide?

Here’s an Easy-to-Remember Mnemonic:

IS PATH WARM?

I	Ideation
S	Substance Abuse
P	Purposelessness
A	Anxiety
T	Trapped
H	Hopelessness
W	Withdrawal
A	Anger
R	Recklessness
M	Mood Changes

 Read more about suicide and how to detect early warning signs here:

National Suicide Prevention Week - Sep 6-12

Did you know that? 

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds;
• One youth completes suicide every 2 hours and 5 minutes, which approximates 11.5 persons each day;
• For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made; and
• In 2006, more than 33,000 people died by suicide in the U.S.

National Suicide Prevention Week is September 6 – 12, 2009. This year’s theme is “A Global Agenda on the Science of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.  According to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), suicide prevention is everyone’s business and anyone can participate in Suicide Prevention Week, including schools. BoardBuzz agrees: the statistics above communicate the need for schools to be more proactive about increasing awareness of suicide warnings and signs and helping prevent its incidence among youth.