Why We Are Better Together
June 2019 – Park Center has developed a public service announcement in response to increased loss of life from “Deaths of Despair”.
Deaths of Despair fall into 3 categories. They are problems people often do not address properly because of social misunderstanding. However, these problems are medical in nature and can be treated. They are:
•Alcoholism
•Substance Use
•Suicide
Inspiration for the PSA grew from local discussions on the impact these debilitating diseases are having on our communities. Allen County suicide rates have risen by 50 percent over the last five years. Fourteen of the 75-recorded suicides in 2017 were individuals aged 24 and younger.
“It is our hope that informative videos like this one will encourage individuals from all walks of life to seek help if they are suffering,” said Park Center CEO Paul Wilson.
The PSA was developed in partnership with RemedyLive. The local crisis text-to-chat provider has been influential in helping youth find the support of their community through its Get Schooled tour and meaningful discussions.
Intern seeks quality education through Park Center programs
What is it like to be an intern at Park Center? Jaida Reece has spent the past six months as an MSW intern at the Inpatient Unit, a 16-bed facility that provides assistance to seriously mentally ill adults in need of hospitalization. Below, Jaida discusses her experience at Park Center, her journey into social work, and the advice she gives to future interns.