The City of North College Hill has proclaimed September Suicide

Prevention Awareness Month. The City Administration will be working

with NAMI SWOH, North College Hill City Schools, St. Paul United
Church of Christ, NCH, WeTHRIVE North College Hill, as well as
other community stakeholders to provide programs & resources
throughout NCH all month long. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
is a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this
highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We will reach out to those affected by
suicide, raise awareness and provide pathways for individuals with suicidal
ideation to connect to treatment services. It is also important to ensure
that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they
need to help.

Questions? wethrivench@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/nchSuicidePrevention/

Date Location Topic

Mon, Aug 12 NCH Board of Education Heather Smith, Executive Director of NAMI SWOH, will present to the NCH
6:30 p.m. 1731 Goodman Ave, 45239 School Board an overview of the national program, ENDING THE SILENCE.
ENDING THE SILENCE--developed for middle and high school students, parents
and caregivers, and staff--presents information about mental health and warning
signs of suicide.
Tues, Sept 3 NCH City Center Representatives from The City of North College Hill, NAMI SWOH, North
6:30 p.m. 1500 West Galbraith, 45231 College Hill City Schools, St. Paul United Church of Christ NCH, and
WeTHRIVE North College Hill will be available for a press conference
concerning the city’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month activities and
events.
Tues, Sept 3 NCH Council Chambers NAMI Southwest Ohio (SWOH) will present to the NCH City Council an
7:00 p.m. 1500 West Galbraith, 45231 overview of the presentations planned for the city of NCH on the topics of suicide
prevention and mental health during the month of September. Heather Smith,
Executive Director of NAMI SWOH, will also talk about the resources that
NAMI SWOH provides to the community.
Thurs, Sept 12 NCH High School PAC Communities can bond together to fight suicide, but often we are unsure about
7:00-8:00 p.m. 1620 West Galbraith, 45239 what our role should be in the fight. There are a number of ways that we, as
community members, can address suicide in our homes, neighborhoods, schools,
churches, and other public and private areas in our communities. Dr. Wright-
Berryman, a suicidologist and assistant professor of social work at the
University of Cincinnati will discuss 1) What suicide is (debunking myths), 2)
What we know about what works to combat suicide (the evidence base of
programs), and 3) How we can determine and develop our role in community-
based suicide prevention efforts (public health approaches).
Mon, Sept 16 NCH Council Chambers A NAMI-trained program leader will share his or her personal story of living with a
7:00 p.m. 1500 West Galbraith, 45231 mental health challenge and his or her own struggle with suicide. Their message is
one of hope as they share how it is possible to live well with the right resources
and support.
Tues, Sept 17 NCH High School PAC ENDING THE SILENCE Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation about
7:00-8:00 p.m. 1620 West Galbraith, 45239 mental health for middle and high school students, parents, and school staff.
Specifically, Ending the Silence for Families is a module designed for parents
and caregivers of young students.
Wed, Sept 18 St. Paul UCC IN OUR OWN VOICE NAMI’s IN OUR OWN VOICE presentation changes
7:30-8:30 p.m. 6997 Hamilton Ave, 45239 attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health
conditions. The presentations combine a video in three parts along with two NAMI
trained presenters who talk about their mental health journey. It provides a
personal perspective of mental illness, as presenters with lived experience talk
openly about what it's like to live with a mental health condition.
Wed, Sept 25 NCH Senior Center IN OUR OWN VOICE NAMI’s IN OUR OWN VOICE presentation changes
7:00-8:00 p.m. 1586 Goodman Ave, 45224 attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health
conditions. The presentations combine a video in three parts along with two NAMI
trained presenters who talk about their mental health journey. It provides a
personal perspective of mental illness, as presenters with lived experience talk
openly about what it's like to live with a mental health condition.
ENDING THE SILENCE FOR FAMILIES programs will also be incorporated into the curriculum for the Middle School and High School
students. Lunch ‘n’ Learns can be requested by local businesses, featuring IN OUR OWN VOICE program leaders.
 NCH Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Presentation Content
CITY WIDE PRESENTATION
KEYNOTE BY Dr. Jennifer Wright-Berryman

Communities can bond together to fight suicide, but often we are unsure about what our role should be in the fight. There are a
number of ways that we, as community members, can address suicide in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and other
public and private areas in our communities. Dr. Wright-Berryman, a suicidologist and assistant professor of social work at the
University of Cincinnati will discuss 1) What suicide is (debunking myths), 2) What we know about what works to combat suicide (the
evidence base of programs), and 3) How we can determine and develop our role in community-based suicide prevention efforts (public
health approaches).
Dr. Jennifer Wright-Berryman is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati. Jennifer is a mental health and
suicide researcher, and has over eighteen years of experience in both interpersonal clinical and community-based practice. Currently,
Jennifer works with states around the country to implement school-based suicide (elementary through college/university) prevention
programs called Hope Squads. As the national lead researcher for the Hope Squad program, Jennifer evaluates program outcomes, and
designs research to test the program effectiveness in a variety of settings. Jennifer consults with all levels schools and a number of
different organizations in areas of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and gives talks, lectures, workshops, and trainings
around the country. Additionally, Jennifer is the chair of the University of Cincinnati Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force,
and is a member of the Ohio State Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Group through the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

IN OUR OWN VOICE

IN OUR OWN VOICE

NAMI’s IN OUR OWN VOICE presentation changes attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health
conditions. The presentations combine a video in three parts along with two NAMI trained presenters who talk about their mental
health journey. It provides a personal perspective of mental illness, as presenters with lived experience talk openly about what it's like
to live with a mental health condition.

Our presenters humanize the misunderstood, highly stigmatized topic of mental illness by showing that it's possible—and common—to
live well with a mental health condition. This presentation also provides:

 A chance to ask presenters questions, allowing for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions and dispelling of
stereotypes and misconceptions.
 The understanding that every person with a mental health condition can hope for a brighter future.
 Information on how to learn more about mental health and get involved with the mental health community.

ENDING THE SILENCE FOR FAMILIES

ENDING THE SILENCE

Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation about mental health for middle and high school students, parents, and school staff.
Specifically, Ending the Silence for Families is a module designed for parents and caregivers of young students. In presentations, a
lead presenter shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a mental health condition shares their journey of recovery.

The presentation gives an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and learn more about an often-misunderstood topic. The
message of empathy and hope encourages people to actively care for themselves and for their peers, whether by reaching out for help,
encouraging a friend or family member to seek help, or by reducing stigma. The goal of NAMI ETS is to create a generation of
individuals who are well-positioned to end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness.

Topics include:
 Signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide
 Statistics on how mental illness affects youth
 Personal perspectives on the experience of living with mental illness
 Recovery and coping strategies and resources available
 Ways to seek help for themselves, a child or for a friend
 Ways to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
 How to work with school staff to get help for your child