September 29, 2016
-Joy Gray, Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Program Manager for Suicide Prevention Program. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Suicide Prevention Program was started at the ADH in 2014 through a federal grant in order to combat the issue of suicide. They provide awareness campaigns, professional training, data and materials to help people learn about suicide prevention, as well as train anyone in the community who may want to learn more about how to become a suicide-alert helper. Suicide is the leading cause of violent death in Arkansas. In 2014, 503 Arkansans died by suicide, and 206 died from homicide that same year, (source ADH Vital Statistics). Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death overall for Arkansans ages 10-34. In 2014, 43,000 Americans died by suicide. (source CDC). Arkansas is currently ranked 16th in the nation in death by suicide (source CDC).
Ways to get help:
- Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 24 hours 7 day a week in a crisis
- If you think a person is in immediate danger, call 911
- For mental health services or substance abuse treatment, visit www.humanservices.arkansas.gov/dbhs and click “how to get help” to find a community mental health center in your area.
For more information, visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
-Nicole Winstead, CEO/Founder of Full Swing Golf Academy (FSGA). The academy is a youth golf program that was established in 2012 to honor Dr. Arthur Winstead, III (father of the CEO/Founder) who was an avid golfer. The non-profit golf program has as to date, taught fifty under-served and under-represented middle school aged children ages 8-15 the fundamentals of golf. Its core values are “Honesty, Respect and Discipline” and their mission is to “diversify golf one swing at a time.” FSGA has incorporated a STEM program which will allow children to mix every day academics into a sport they are fond of, introducing “the STEM of golf” and golf fundamentals that will help to build a strong foundation academically and fortify their place within society as they transition through their education and matriculate. The introduction of golf to children ensures the longevity of golf and all careers associated with it, it helps to create a new generation of golfers that will diversify the sport on golf one swing as a time. To learn more or to make an investment in a child’s future, visit fullswinggolfacademy.org or call, 501-436-9562 or email [email protected] or Like em’ on Facebook.
-Red for the 2016 Pine-Bluff Altheimer Fall Fest. This annual event will be held Saturday, October 1st at Cooke Family Park, 11712 Hwy 79 North in Altheimer. Gates open at 12 noon and the show starts at 4pm. Featured artists will be Bobby Rush, Bishop Bullwinkle, Nellie Tiger Travis, Ms. Jody, Jaye Hammer, Willie P., and The Platinum Blues Band of Pine Bluff. Broadway Joe and Comedian Keith Glason will be the hosts. Tickets are available at Uncle T’s Food Mart, Ugly Mike’s Records, Butler Furniture Depot, Record Rack in Pine Bluff, Kibb’s BBQ in Pine Bluff and Stuttgart. For more information, call 501-413-7683 or visit www.pinebluffbluesfest.com.