Prevention & Intervention
Overview
Prevention and Intervention Services of the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services (MHSADS) provides mental health education for the general public and substance abuse prevention programs for high risk populations in both schools and community settings.
Free Webinars: Parenting Strategies to Support Teens
Join Aaron Weiner, Ph.D., Board-certified psychologist and addiction specialist, for these two webinars:
- How to Talk About the Portrayal of Drug Use in Popular Media: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Register here. - Supporting Adolescent Mental Health: Thursday, April 20, 2023, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Register here.
Marcus Alert
If someone in your household has a behavioral health condition, you are encouraged to create a RapidSOS profile. Learn more.
ACEs Training
This is a training on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their impact on overall public health. To learn more about preventing ACEs in your community with a class or presentation, visit loudoun.gov/childhoodadversitytraining or send an email. ACEs training is also offered in Spanish.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a public education program that helps communities understand mental illnesses, seek timely intervention, and save lives. There are two program tracks. The Adult MHFA class teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older. The Youth MHFA class is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with youth people, e.g., school staff, caregivers, parents. Registration is required. For more information, visit loudoun.gov/mhfirstaid or send an email.
REVIVE!
REVIVE! is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. REVIVE! provides training on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone. There is no cost. For more information, visit loudoun.gov/revive.
QPR Training
Question Persuade and Refer (QPR) Training is a one-hour educational program designed to assist people in recognizing the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to refer someone for professional help. The QPR suicide prevention training teaches three simple yet powerful steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide - Question, Persuade and Refer. For more information, visit loudoun.gov/suicidepreventiontraining or send an email.
Know the RxSK Use with Caution
Know the RxSK Use with Caution (knowrx.org) provides information and strategies regarding the safe use, storage, and disposal of medications to prevent and reduce the misuse of prescription pain medications in Northern Virginia. To obtain a lock box for medications, send an email.
Lock and Talk Virginia
Lock and Talk Virginia (locakandtalk.org) provides information and strategies regarding how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide, encouraging community conversations about mental wellness, and restricting access to firearms and poisons during a mental health crisis to help prevent suicide. To obtain a trigger lock or cable lock for firearms or lock boxes for medications, send an email.
Promoting Mental Health and Wellness
The Prevention Alliance of Loudoun (PAL) is a coalition of youth, Loudoun County agencies, faith-based organizations, and other community stakeholders and parents dedicated to mental health awareness and substance misuse prevention efforts.
PAL works on a variety of mental health, wellness and substance misuse related issues. PAL activities include:
- Coordinate events and activities that promote mental health and wellness.
- Develop and distribute educational materials.
- Distribute drug deactivation bags and medication lock boxes.
- Support the modification of alcohol and tobacco product policies/laws.
About PAL
PAL was formalized in 2017 and is made up of stakeholders relevant to the Loudoun County Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services (MHSADS) Prevention and Intervention Needs Assessment mandated by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). This informal coalition was formalized to help provide momentum to the Strategic Planning surrounding mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention in Loudoun County. PAL is a member of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA).
PAL utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) developed by SAMHSA which details how coalitions can create strategies tailored to each communities’ characteristics. The SPF process assists our coalition in developing the infrastructure needed for community-based, public health approaches that can lead to effective and sustainable reductions in alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) misuse and abuse. PAL utilizes environmental strategies recognizing that risks associated with substance use are, in part, a function of the interplay between the environments where youth use and the substances he/she uses. In the environmental approach, place matters.
PAL receives funding via the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Loudoun County Community Services Board from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to address opioid prevention specifically. PAL also collaborates with other public health and prevention efforts across Loudoun County.
Contact Information
For more information or to ask a question, send us an email.