Ending Deaths from Despair Webinar Series

Upcoming Webinars

Hosted by Ending Deaths from Despair Task Force 

Friday, June 2, 2023
Noon to 1:00 pm
Overdose Spike Alerts: Responding to Increasing Overdoses

Presenters: Julia Olsen, MSEd and Masami Glines, MPH, Public Health Madison Dane County

Watch via FACTv.

Intended audience: ALL

Past Webinars

You can watch any of the webinars below by clicking on the FACTv Webinar Replay text. You’ll be redirected to the FACTv City of Fitchburg YouTube page.

How to Save a Life (Episode 1)

Presenters:  Tom Duval, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator, Safe Communities Madison Dane County and Jean Papalia, Suicide Prevention Specialist, Safe Communities Madison Dane County

FACTv Webinar Replay from March 25, 2022

Intended audience: All

S.A.V.E Veteran Suicide Prevention (Episode 2)

Presenter:  Andrea Bailey, LCSW, Lead Suicide Prevention Coordinator, William S. Middleton VA Hospital

FACTv Webinar Replay from April 8, 2022

Intended audience: All

Finding a Reason to Live: Etiology of Suicide and Provider Self-Care (Episode 3)

Presenter: Meghan Henderson, MSSW, LCSW, Clinical Program Supervisor Behavioral Services, UPH-Meriter

FACTv Webinar Replay from May 20, 2022

Intended audience: Clinicians and helping professionals

The S is Silent in the Black Village: Suicide, The Unspoken Word (Episode 4)

Panel Facilitator: Ms. Charlie Daniel, Founder, African American Opioid Coalition (AAOC) of Safe Communities

FACTv Webinar Replay from June 17, 2022

Intended audience: All

Harm Reduction and Chronic Alcoholism (Episode 5)

Presenter: John Ewing, MD, Addictionologist, UPH-Meriter NewStart

FACTv Webinar Replay from July 15, 2022

Intended audience: All

Preventing Farmer Suicides (Episode 6)

Presenter: Sara Kohlbeck, MPH, Director, Division of Suicide Prevention, Medical College of Wisconsin

FACTv Webinar Replay from September 23, 2022

Intended audience: All

Chronic Alcoholism and Poverty (Episode 7)

Presenters: John Ewing, MD, Addictionologist, UPH-Meriter NewStart and Courtney Spears, Peer Advocates in Recovery Supervisor, Tellurian, Inc. 

FACTv Webinar Replay from October 2022 

 Intended audience: All

Trauma from Domestic Violence and the Correlation with Suicidality (Episode 8)

Missy Mael, Associate Director, RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center and Zoe Heitzinger, Prevention Outreach Coordinator, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)

FACTv Webinar Replay from October 21, 2022

Intended audience: All

Lock, Stock, and Barrel: Coming Together on Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention with a Physician, Gun Shop Owner, and the Community (Episode 9)

Presenters: James Bigham, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Chuck Lovelace, Owner, Essential Shooting Supplies

FACTv Webinar Replay from November 4, 2022

Intended audience: Clinicians, gun shop owners, policy makers, property managers, school staff, and anyone caring for patients (ex. social workers, medical students, nurses) – everyone welcome!

To receive CME credits for watching this webinar, please complete the following evaluation at this website.

You Can Do It: A Guide to Collaborative Safety Planning (Episode 10)

Presenters: Meghan Henderson, MSSW, LCSW, Clinical Program Supervisor Behavioral Services, UPH-Meriter and Jacob Austin, PsyD, Primary Care Behavioral Health Program Coordinator, Group Health Cooperative

FACTv Webinar Replay from December 16, 2022  

Intended audience: All

To receive CME credits for watching this webinar, please complete the following evaluation at this website.

Change is Possible: Life after Incarceration  (Episode 11)

Presenter: Anthony Cooper, Sr., President and CEO, Focused Interruption

FACTv Webinar Replay from April 28, 2023

Intended audience: Family, professional supporters and anyone who has been incarcerated

How do you know which exercises or activities improve balance?

By Ashley Hillman, Safe Communities’ Falls Prevention Program Manager

Did you know that there are certain types of exercise that are better for enhancing balance? Walking is great aerobic exercise for your overall health, but it’s actually not an activity that has been proven to help improve balance. However, dancing, pickleball, yoga, ping pong, and Tai Chi are examples of activities that DO improve balance, thus decreasing your risk of a fall. There are certain types of exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine that help improve balance. Let’s explore!

Static Balance means practicing while your feet or your seat are NOT moving. An example of this may be standing on one leg (maybe try it while you brush your teeth!). While practicing, it’s always a good idea to have a surface available for you to hold onto.

Dynamic Balance means practicing while your feet or your seat ARE moving. It might be time to pull out your dancing shoes because we’ve learned that dancing improves balance. In Dane County, we have Ballroom Basics for Balance™, a super fun dance class where you might learn the East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, or Waltz all while having fun and improving balance. Another example of practicing dynamic balance is stepping over something that might be in your path.

Dual-Task Training means doing something with your body then doing something else with your body OR your brain. This can be a tricky exercise, so while you want to challenge yourself, you don’t want it to be too difficult. Some examples might include walking sideways while counting backward or following a dance routine.

Strength building in the context of improving balance focuses on your legs and core (trunk) area. The goal is to be able to move your body while minimally using your arms and hands. We use our leg and core muscles for many daily activities, such as getting up from a chair, sitting into a chair, or stepping onto a sidewalk.

Now that we know which types of specific activities improve balance, it’s helpful to know how often or long one should engage in such activities. The recommendation is 3 hours per week, but these 3 hours can be broken into “snack size” activities. You don’t need to do them all at once. Incorporate activities into your daily routine. While you’re brushing your teeth, try standing on one leg. While cooking in the kitchen and moving to get something further down the counter, walk sideways and count backwards, all the while ensuring there is a counter or sturdy surface in reach should you need it. The key is to start small and gradually increase the challenge.

There are numerous community classes that have been identified as having the key components to improve balance. These include Tai Chi, dance, yoga, and numerous others that can be found on the Safe Communities website. If you see a “b” next to a class, you’ll know that it has been given the “Balance Stamp of Approval”. And if you’re currently taking a class and would like it to be evaluated to see if it contains the key types of activities to improve balance, contact Ashley Hillman at 608-235-1957 or ahillman@safercommunity.net. We hope to see you in one of Dane County’s many balance enhancing classes soon!

Local Home Safety Resources

Elderly man and woman participating in yoga

Home Safety Resources:

Safety Checklist from the CDC (PDF)

SSM Health Medical Equipment
4639 Hammersley Road
Madison, WI 53711
(800) 924-2273
https://www.homehealthunited.org/home-medical-equipment

All our retail stores have an extensive supply of home medical equipment and supplies to assist patients and caregivers with treatments and care as well as increase mobility, safety, independence and comfort.

SSM Health Voicecare (Personal Emergency Response System)
4639 Hammersley Road
Madison, WI 53711
(855) 332-6882
https://www.ssmhealth.com/health-at-home/community-health-resources/voicecare

Subscribers wear a pendant, and in the event of a fall or other emergency, pressing the activator button will alert monitoring personnel who will contact the subscriber to ensure they are safe, or will contact other designated emergency responders as needed. VoiceCare gives subscribers and their loved ones peace of mind knowing help is available with the push of a button.

Supporting Active Independent Lives (SAIL)
Oakwood Village University Woods Campus
6209 Mineral Point Road #210
Madison, WI 53705
(608)230-4321
www.sailtoday.org

Supporting Active Independent Lives (SAIL) is a vibrant non-profit membership organization of people 55+ who reside in the Dane county area. SAIL members wish to remain active, independent, in their own homes, and socially connected, and have found that navigating the many changes brought on by age is much easier with the resources offered by SAIL. Membership includes referrals to pre-screened service providers, discounted emergency pendants, daily automated check-in service, house checks, shredding services, wellness services, social events and clubs, member-helping-member volunteer opportunities, discounts to Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) programs, Home Health United medical equipment, quarterly mattress flipping and other member perks!

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
(available to veterans who qualify-contact your VA physician)

Adaptive Remodeling Solutions
6200 Sylvan Ln
Monona, WI 53716
(608)234-7440

http://www.adaptiveremodelingsolutions.com

Adaptive Remodeling Solutions, LLC work to provide older adults and individuals with special needs with the home remodeling solutions that they need to remain independent. This includes remodeling kitchens, bathrooms, and other home modifications that make a home more accessible.

Accessibility Plus
125 Garnet Ln.
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 335-6779

Accessibility Plus is focused exclusively on making the home a safer place for individuals who are physically challenged due to a disability or aging. Our in-home safety assessments and home safety modification services are provided by an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).

Project Home
3841 Kipp St.
Madison, WI 53718
(608)246-3737

http://www.projecthomewi.org

Makes home repairs, accessibility modifications and energy improvements to make homes healthier, safer and to ease the financial burden of high energy bills for people who are struggling financially.

UW Health Care Direct
Including Home Health & Home Medical Equipment and Supplies
1345 Deming Way
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 203-2273

Website

Home Medical Equipment & Supplies services include:

  • Oxygen (concentrators, liquid and portables)
  • Sleep disorder evaluations and equipment
  • Home ventilators
  • Infant apnea monitors
  • Home beds and patient lifts
  • Mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, canes,
    crutches, etc.)
  • Home medical supplies
  • Caregiver education programs
  • Clinical consultation and training
  • Clinical respiratory services
  • 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service