Wellness Wave Wisdom

By Abigail (Abby) Burd, MSW, LCSW, QPR Instructor Every week is Suicide Prevention Week in my book.  But this week is an opportunity to join the national message that we can all help save a life. You don't need to be a mental health professional to help someone. Here is one recent example. Patricia, a MiraCosta student working as a Peer Educator in Health Services, recently encountered a student on campus who was struggling. As a nursing student, she had previously done a QPR training, and was confident in using these three steps: Q: Question. She asked the student if they were having thoughts of suicide. The student said yes. P: Persuade. She encouraged the student to talk to a mental health counselor. R: Refer. She brought the student to Health Services, where a drop in counselor was able to have an immediate session and create a safety plan. Are you interested in taking a QPR training?  The two full time Mental Health Counselors in Health Services are certified QPR traine...

  By Arianna Escobar, LPCC Arianna received her M.S. in multicultural community counseling and social justice education from SDSU (CBB) program. She has worked with diverse populations including adults, adolescents, system-involved youth and families, and is passionate about strengthening clients’ relationships with themselves and increasing their sense of self-compassion and authenticity in order to live a more fulfilling life.   Substance abuse recovery Recovery is possible! There are many ways to reach recovery, some may choose to go to an inpatient/outpatient treatment facility, a medical hospital or an outpatient mental health professional. Some people also choose to recover without clinical support. Regardless of the route you choose “Recovery always requires changing behavior, learning new coping skills, and finding new sources of interest.” ( Recovery from Addiction | Psychology Today). Exercise is one of many coping skills that can aid in the recovery process ...