Director

Purdue University Fort Wayne 
Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute

Center of Excellence

The institute focuses on issues that relate to the prevention of behavioral dysfunction and the restoration of mental health functioning across the life span within an individual, family, and community context with the goal of increasing the quality of life for the citizens of northeast Indiana.

The Institute is modeled after the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute and enhances the quality of life in the region by:

• Providing leadership to the northeast Indiana community in concerns related to behavioral health and family studies.
• Offering professional training to behavioral health and family services providers.
• Providing a central source of information related to behavioral health and family studies topics for the citizens of northeastern Indiana.
• Encouraging high school students, college students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other scientists to pursue careers in behavioral health and family studies fields.
• Collaborating with other Purdue Fort Wayne Centers of Excellence to provide northeastern Indiana human service and government agencies consultation, needs assessment, program planning, and evaluation.

Mission

The mission of the Purdue University Fort Wayne Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute is to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary center offering leadership for community concerns related to behavioral health and family studies and providing professional education, community training, professional practice experience, consultation, research, and dissemination of knowledge related to behavioral health and family studies topics.

Community Outreach

The Behavioral Health Institute is committed to working with the community on projects that enhance mental health and decrease health disparities. The Institute coordinates the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition (ISPC) and Empowered! Minds.

House Enrolled Act 1430 – Suicide Awareness and Prevention Effective- July 18, 2017

Background:

The Indiana General Assembly recently passed legislation requiring all school corporations to adopt a policy intended to increase child suicide awareness and prevention.  The statute sets forth specific items that must be addressed in this policy. The law is effective July 1, 2017; however schools likely will be unable to adopt a policy by this date. Therefore, schools should adopt a policy as close to the beginning of the 2017-18 school year as practical.  In the coming weeks the department will post additional information to assist schools in adopting a policy, so check http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/suicide-prevention-and-response for more information. 
Additionally, beginning after June 30, 2018, each school corporation, charter school, and accredited nonpublic school shall require all teachers (as defined in IC 20-18-2-22) and other appropriate school employees in schools with grades 5-12 to attend or participate in at least two hours of evidence-based in-service youth suicide awareness and prevention training every three school years. The statute also sets forth specific training requirements.

Guidance:  
Suicide Prevention Policy: 

Per IC 20-26-5-34.4, the required school corporation policy must address the following: 

1) Counseling services for the child and the child’s family related to suicide prevention.

2) Availability of referral information for crisis intervention to children, parents, and school corporation staff.

3) Increasing awareness of the relationship between suicide and drug and alcohol use. 

4) Training on warning signs and tendencies that may evidence that a child is considering suicide. 

5) Availability of information concerning suicide prevention services in the community. 

6) Cooperation among the school corporation and suicide prevention services in the community.

7) Development of a plan to assist survivors of attempted suicide and to assist children and school corporation staff in coping with an attempted suicide or death of a student or school employee.

8) Development of any other program or activity that is appropriate. 

Evidence-based Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training:

Per IC 20-28-3-6, the training:

• beginning after June 30, 2018, is required for all teachers, including a Superintendent licensed under IC 20-28-5; principal; teacher; librarian; school counselor; school psychologist; school nurse; school social worker; and also may include any other appropriate school employees; who are employed at schools that provide instruction in any combination of grades 5-12;
• must be during the teacher’s or school employee’s contracted day or at a time chosen by the teacher or employee;
• may include an in-person presentation; electronic or technology-based medium, including self-review modules available on an online system; an individual program of study of designated materials; or any other method approved by the governing body that is consistent with current professional development standards;
• shall count toward the requirements for professional development required by the governing body; and
• must be approved, recommended, or listed as approved by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center or the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

A school or school corporation may leverage any existing or new state and federal grant funds or free or reduced cost evidence based youth suicide awareness and prevention training provided by any state agency or qualified statewide or local organization to cover the costs of the training.  

Additional resources, including potential funding options, will be posted in the near future to:  http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/suicide-prevention-and-response.

Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition

Statewide Map of Coalition

Mental Health
Headlines and Trainings

January Edition - 2022

Headlines

• The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for immediate action to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis. The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health shows how everyone has a role to play in protecting and promoting the mental health of our nation’s youth.
• Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network – several great features including a searchable catalog – click on Products and Resources Catalog
• Click on Transitioning Back to School During COVID-19 for Anxious Youth
• The Center for Diseases Control (CDC) announced a new training website - UrgentRelatedPreventable.org
• The Action Alliance, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the
• Office of the Surgeon General, released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• The Action Alliance’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19  National Response) aims to address both the short-term and long-term mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Tips for holiday resilience during uncertain times - Read More >
• How to support your employees’ mental health during the holidays - https://www.inc.com/gabrielle- bienasz/mental-health-recovery-holidays-tips.html#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20paid,extra%20time%20this%20holiday%20season
• Nationwide holiday mental health poll reveals Americans are worried about contracting COVID, missing family members and procuring and affording gifts - https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/nationwide- holiday-mental-health-poll-reveals-americans-are-worried-about-contracting-covid-missing-family-members- and-procuring-and-affording-gifts
• Click on Dealing With Uncertainty in the Face of Omicron: How to stay positive and manage stress
• Click on Anxiety Over School Shootings: Finding proactive ways to deal with worried feelings
• How to be present for loved ones during the holidays - https://www.instagram.com/p/CXTwQXbrTJG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
• How does anxiety affect kids in school? Click on READ MORE ▸
• Should kids take mental health days? Click on READ MORE ▸
• What’s ADHD (and What’s Not) in the classroom? Click on READ MORE ▸
• U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Protecting Youth Mental Health – click on READ MORE ▸
• Click on The Best Gifts For A Loved One With Depression, According To Therapists
• Psychological First Aid – custom training for your organization: schools, workplaces and more. Click on Register Now
• Grant announcement - Harm Reduction Grant Program
• Click  on  https://afsp.org/story/we-asked-you-answered-what-do-you-find-difficult-about-the-holidays
• Click on https://afsp.org/talk-saves-lives#talk-saves-lives--an-introduction-to-suicide-prevention-in-the- correctional-environment
• Click on https://afsp.org/story/providing-tools-and-understanding-for-people-caring-for-those-at-risk-for-suicide
• Click on https://afsp.org/story/supporting-the-future-988-crisis-line-through-a-week-of-action
• Click  on https://afsp.org/story/bake-my-day-making-something-sweet-for-suicide-prevention
• Family-based Treatment for Eating Disorders – click on READ MORE ▸
• Click on New Perspectives on Suicide Risk Among Military Personnel and Veterans
• Breaking Intergenerational Patterns – view recorded presentation here

Virtual Events

 (unless indicated, all events listed below are FREE)

• January 5 – IN PERSON / Fort Wayne – Creativity, Horses and Healing – 5:30pm to 7:30pm – see attached flyer for further details
• January 13 – March 3, 2022 – Mindful Self-Compassion Workshop – 6 to 8:30pmEST - Cost: $275 – Online via ZOOM - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindful-self-compassion-msc-eight-week- workshop-tickets-186251442077
• January 18 – Big Emotions & the Grief That Follows – noon to 1pmEST – 1 CEU provided - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-emotions-the-grief- that-follows-lunch-learn-tickets-227246539517
• January 20 – IN PERSON / Fort Wayne – Reducing the Demand for Commercial Sexual Exploitation – noon to 2pmEST – two CEU’s provided – click to register - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reducing-the-demand- for-commercial-sexual-exploitation-tickets-230880258067
• January 25 – IN PERSON / Fort Wayne – Involuntary Detentions and Commitments: Legal Aspects and Practical Implementation in Allen County – 7pm to 9pmEST – see attached flyer for further details
• February 4 – IN PERSON / Fort Wayne - Procedural Justice: Are You a Leader Who is Willing to be Led? – 10am to 12:30pmEST – Cost: $30 – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/procedural-justice-are-you-a-leader-who- is-willing-to-be-led-workshop-tickets-191240915727
• February 8 – SAVE THE DATE: Healing School Communities – Shifting the Dominant Paradigm to Center Student Wellness! – click on for more info https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/global-mhttc/coming-february-8- healing-school-communities-shifting-dominant-paradigm-center
• March 11 – SAVE THE DATE: NAMI Mental Health & Criminal Justice Summit

 Download the latest Blast Newsletter

Survivors of Suicide

• Coping
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Surviving a Suicide Loss:  A Resource and Healing Guide.
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) - Suicide Prevention Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Talking to Children About Suicide
• Margo Requarth - Talking to Children about Suicide
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Surviving a Suicide Loss: A Financial Guide
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) - After a Suicide:  Recommendations for Religious Services & Other Public Memorial Observances

 Suicide Attempt Survivors

• American Association of Suicidology - Helping Survivors of Suicide

 Other Resources

• 13 Reasons Why Information and Resources 
• www.jedfoundation.org
• www.ulifeline.org
• Informational Flyers on upcoming events
• www.thecampusprogram.org
• www.halfofus.com
• www.transitionyear.org
• www.loveislouder.com

Coronavirus Resources

Community Outreach

When people click please list the following documents in which they can access:

• 2020.Allen County.Resources
• 2020.statewide
• 2020.covid-19.northeast indiana resources
• 2020.apps.mental health apps

Statewide Outreach

• 2020.nationwide
• 2020.covid.information and resources from NAMI
• 2020.covid-19.northeast indiana resources
• 2020.covid-19.parent handout
• 2020.how to talk with children
• 2020.children coping factsheet
• 2020.taking care of yourself virus
• 2020.coping with stress during infectious disease outbreaks

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources & Information

The social, economic, and emotional stress this pandemic is adding to the burdens of many people. Society has been faced with one the greatest public health challenges in our lifetime. Below, is a list of helpful resources for mental health information and resources related to COVID-19, isolation, anxiety, stress, and more. As a community, we can become more knowledgable about this pandemic, support one another, and get through this!

 Mental Health Information For Disease Outbreaks

• Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana is hosting an online anxiety and depression support group using Zoom web conferencing software. They have started a new support group, meeting every Monday from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm using Zoom. You can sign up for next Monday's free support group on Eventbrite. There will be a new Eventbrite for each week's session, so they ask that all attendees to continue signing up for the support group through Eventbrite.

• Living With Mental Illness During COVID-19 Outbreak– Preparing For Your Wellness
• Managing Stress and Anxiety related to COVID-19
• Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak
• COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
• Coronavirus and Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreak Response
• Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak
• Frequently Asked Questions on Mental Health, Mental Illness, and COVID-19
• Dermatillomania During COVID-19

Financial Support

• COVID-19 Ancillary Costs

Tools And Information On Anxiety

• Anxiety Screening Tool
• What is Anxiety?
• Anxiety Information and Support
• Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety
• Staying Grounded
• Meditations and Calming Exercises
• Manage Anxiety & Stress
• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health

Tools To Connect With Others

• Social Support: Getting And Staying Connected
• MHA’s Inspire Community
• Lyf App
• Wamlines

Resources For Immediate Response

• Disaster Distress Helpline Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health
• Crisis Text Line Text MHA to 741741 and you’ll be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line provides free, text-based support 24/7.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -- 24 Hour Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255

Resources For Mental Health Providers

• A Guide to Transitioning Your Clinic to a Remote Work Environment
• Medicare Telehealth Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet
• Use of Telemedicine While Providing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Guidance
• COVID-19 and Opioid Treatment Programs FAQ

Resources For Parents

• Talking to Kids about COVID-19
• Cómo hablar con los niños sobre el coronavirus
• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
• Supporting Kids During the COVID-19 Crisis
• How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids
• Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
• List of Live Webcams, Virtual Tours, and Virtual Field Trips
• Scholastic Learn at Home Free Resources
• Smithsonian Distance Learning Resources
• Virtual Field Trips from Discovery Education
• How to Help Your Teen Through the Coronavirus Shutdown
• 75+ Entertaining and Educational Activities for When You’re Stuck Indoors
• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
• Supporting Your Child

Resources For Caregivers

• Caregiving for a Person with a Mental Illness
• Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators
• Caregiver Action Network
• National Alliance for Caregiving

Resources For Older Adults

• National Council on Aging
• Do Your Part to Stem COVID-19: An Intergenerational Call to Action

wikiHow-To Articles

• How to Deal with Coronavirus Anxiety
• Prepare for Coronavirus
• Deal with the Coronavirus Outbreak: Your Most Common Questions Answered
• How To Talk To Kids About Coronavirus

General Information About COVID-19

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Hub from the CDC
• Fact Sheets on COVID-19 in Spanish and Other Languages
• Coronavisrus (COVID-19) Situation Report from the World Health Organization (WHO)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public
• Preguntas y respuestas sobre la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19)
• American Psychological Association (APA) Resources on Pandemics
• Parkview COVID-19 Resources

Schools Offering Meals (For specific locations & directions, click the hyperlink)

• Fort Wayne Community Schools will provide free breakfast & lunch for children at ALL elementary schools starting Tuesday, March 17. Meals are available by walk-up/drive-up for all kids, regardless of the school they attend, ages birth through high school from 10:30am-1:30pm, Monday to Friday. Children MUST be
• East Allen County Schools will provide each child with two bags of food.. The first bag will have a five-day allotment of breakfast and the second bag will have a five-day allotment of lunch items. Please be prepared to provide your child’s name upon meal pick-up. Meals can be picked up March 24th, March 31st, and April 7th from 11am-1pm and 4pm-6pm.
• Northwest Allen County Schools is pleased to offer both breakfast and lunch meals starting Wednesday, March

18. Meals will be available for pick-up: Mondays-Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm at Huntertown Elementary School at 15330 Lima Rd., and Carroll High School, 3701 Carroll Rd.

• Southwest Allen County Schools will offer lunches during e-learning and available for pick-up to all Southwest Allen County schools students at Homestead High School from 11am- 1 pm and 4pm- 6pm, Monday through Friday. Meals will be handed out by SACS Food Service staff at door 10-A, located on the east side of Homestead High School.