Sedona News – Village Rotarians hosted Ivy Chamberlin from Matforce Youth Services at our recent Rotary meeting. Ivy provided valuable insights into Matforce’s mission to combat substance abuse through education, focusing on K-12 drug prevention programs in the Verde Valley. She highlighted the critical role mental health plays, noting that anxiety and depression among young people often lead to substance use if not addressed with appropriate tools and strategies.
In light of these pressing issues, Carol Hess, President-Elect introduced the Rotary International Mental Health Initiative Rotary Action Group (RAG). The Rotary District and local Rotary Clubs have recognized the urgent need for community support in this area.
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is spearheading an initiative to address this need. We are collaborating with all Rotary Clubs in Sedona and the Verde Valley to offer a comprehensive full-day training on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The training will commence at 9 AM, and participants will be required to complete an hour of pre-training homework to prepare effectively.
For additional details about the training, please contact Ivy at 928-708-0100 or Carol Hess at 916-690-7085.
During this training, the following essential skills will be addressed:
- Assessing the risk of suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression
- Listening non-judgmentally
- Providing reassurance and information
- Encouraging appropriate professional help
- Promoting self-help strategies and other support resources
- Recognizing common signs and symptoms of mental health issues and substance use
- Offering information about local resources
While this training primarily focuses on youth, the skills and knowledge gained will also be beneficial for addressing similar issues in adults.
We encourage everyone involved with youth in our community to mark your calendars and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance skills and support our young people effectively.