August 2025: E-Newsletter

MHA E-newsletter
Written By MHA Staff
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Organization Updates

In case you missed it, we launched our Back to School Mental Health Toolkit this week to help families and educators prepare to get back to school. This toolkit covers resources for:

Our goal for this toolkit was to offer resources for all of those impacted by the back-to-school flow. While we have done our best to collect as much information as possible, these lists are not exhaustive. If you know of any additional tools or resources that would benefit families and teachers, please reach out to us using our contact form or by emailing egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org with any new information.

During our last board meeting, one of our board members informed us about an upcoming DivorceCare Support Group beginning on Thursday, September 4. DivorceCare is a 13-week support group designed to help people heal from the pain of divorce and separation.

Meetings will take place every Thursday from September 4 through December 4, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at Calvary Baptist Church (320 Old Boiling Springs Rd, Shelby, NC 28152). Meetings are free and have childcare available. To learn more, click here.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We will be sharing a prevention toolkit late this month with details and resources on how you can make a difference in suicide prevention. In the meantime, here is some information and resources:

Ask the Question.

If you believe someone in your life is at risk for attempting suicide, it is important to address it and ask the questions: "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" It can be difficult to be direct, so remember that it is more important to ask at all than how you word it. Generally, it is best to:

  • Be persistent

  • Talk alone in a private setting

  • Allow the person to talk freely

  • Give yourself plenty of time

  • Have resources ready

  • Be non judgemental (avoid questions like "You're not thinking about killing yourself are you?" or "You wouldn't do anything stupid would you?"

Remember: If you cannot ask the question, find someone who can.

What Next?

Connect them with support an help they need. Is the person at risk in the immediate moment? If so, stay with them and help them connect with crisis support. Some crisis numbers you can call are:

  • Partners Crisis Line - call 1-833-353-2093

  • 24 Hour Mobile Crisis by Phoenix Counseling - 855-5CRISIS (855-527-4747)

  • National Suicide and Crisis Line (24/7/365) - 988 (call or text)

  • Crisis Text Line (24 hours) - Text HOME to 741741

  • Youthline - Call 8779688491 or text teen2teen to 839863

  • Call 4 - 10 pm PST (7 pm - 1 am EST) to talk to with a trained youth for peer-to-peer support

  • Adults are available by phone all other times

  • The Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth (24/7/365) - 1-866-488-7386

If the person is not at immediate risk (not within the next 24 hours), talk to them and listen to their concerns. Give them space to talk. It is also helpful to get them to promise to stay alive in the moment and get professional help. You are not their therapist, so focus on listening and offering hope. If they do not want to talk, don't push but rather encourage them to stay safe. Instead try:

  • "Will you go with me to get help?”

  • “Will you let me help you get help?”

  • “What can we do to keep you safe for now?”

  • "We can go see the counselor together, or I can call them and see if they can come to us. Which option are you more comfortable with?”

  • “I can call 988 for help and guidance or you can call, and I will sit here with you. Which would you like to do?“

Take them to someone who can directly help them. If you are not in a position to do this, the next best referral is getting a commitment from them to accept help, then make arrangements to get that help.

Any willingness to accept help at some time, even in the future, is a good outcome.

Please note: This information is a small piece of information provided by QPR: Suicide Prevention Training. MHA Cleveland County has a staff member available to lead QPR Suicide Prevention Trainings. If your organization, agency, school, or workplace might benefit from this type of training, email them at egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org to get started.

Upcoming Events Hosted by MHA

This list contains all events that are led by or in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County. You can also find these listed on our calendar.

Happening Locally

Here are some things you can do locally to help get you connected to activities that can support your mental health. All activities are free (F) or low-cost (LC). If you know of any things to do in Cleveland County and think we should include it in our monthly newsletter, send an to egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org.

Events in Shelby

Broad River Market -

  • Every Monday, 4:30 pm - until out of food at Jefferson Park (801 Jefferson St.)

  • Wednesday 3 & 17, 4:30 pm - until out at Grover Town Hall (207 Mulberry Road)

  • 100% FREE food - fresh produce and groceries

  • Follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates

Cleveland County Mutual Aid Pop Ups

  • Next Pop Up:

    • September 14, 1 - 4 PM at 212 W Warren St., Shelby, NC

  • Once a month, announced via Facebook and Instagram

  • 100% FREE items - toiletries, books, clothes, OTC medications, etc.

  • Facebook group open to helping people connect with resources and help

Cleveland County Libraries (various locations) (F)

  • Makers Meetup - Diamond Painting (Eugenia H. Young)

    • Thursday, September 4, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Our Special Grandparents Celebration (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Saturday, September 6, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

  • Monday Night Book Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Monday, September 8, 5:30 - 6:00 pm

  • Hilltop Book Club (Adult) (Spangler Branch)

    • Tuesday, September 9, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  • Teen Tuesday (Eugenia H. Young)

    • Tuesday, September 9 & 23, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Learn and Grow Garden (Spangler Branch)

    • Saturday, September 13, 10:00 - 11:00 am

  • Line Dancing (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Monday, September 15 10, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Manga Club (Teen) (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

  • Chess Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)

    • Monday, September 22, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Expanding Your Toolkit: Support Groups and Trainings

Trainings by Partners

Substance Use Disorder: Overview, Recovery, and Resources

  • Wednesday, September 17, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual | register here

Trauma Part Two: Trauma Informed Care

  • Thursday, September 18, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual |register here

Active Listening & De-escalation

Non-Suicidal Self Injury

Domestic Violence: How to Help

  • Tuesday, September 23, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual |register here

Community Resiliency Model (CRM)

  • Wednesday, September 24, 2:00 - 4:00 pm | virtual | register here

Diabetes 101

Mental Health 101

  • Friday, September 26, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |virtual | register here

Risk and Resilience: Buffering Toxic Stress Modules 1- 5

  • Wednesday, September 10, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual |register here

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training

  • Wednesday, September 10, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual | register here

  • Tuesday, September 30, 2:00 - 4:00 pm | virtual | register here

Nutritional Impacts on Mental Health

Trauma Part One: Trauma and Resilience

  • Thursday, September 11, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual | register here

Maternal Mental Health

  • Friday, September 12, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | virtual | register here

Understanding Grief


 

Support Groups

MHA’s Depression and Anxiety Support Group

  • Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

  • 205 S Washington St. (Upstairs Conference Room), Shelby, NC - please note: building does not have an elevator.

Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland Brain Injury Support Group

  • Third Tuesday of each month, 6-7 pm

  • ComServe, 1541 Delta Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052;

  • Contact: Patricia Haithcox at phaithcox@comserve.org, 704-736-5307 or Shanda Daniels at 704-772-4291

Divorce Care Group

Starting Thursday, September 4 and meeting every Thursday through December 4, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Meetings will take place at Calvary Baptist Church (320 Old Boiling Springs Rd, Shelby, NC 28152).

Meetings are free, in person, and have child care available on site. To learn more click here.

NAMI Family Support Group

  • Online: Reoccurring biweekly, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

  • Access here.

Hickory Brain Injury Support Group

Postpartum Support International Support Groups

  • PSI offers 50+ FREE and virtual support groups for perinatal parents. Click here to begin your search.

EmotionsAnonymous

  • 12-step style program for emotional health struggles

  • Visit site to find virtual meetings


Know of an existing support group or want assistance starting one? Contact us by emailing egrimsey@clevelandcountymha.org to get added to this list or develop one.

MHA Staff

Next

Back to School Toolkit: Resources for Families, Teachers, and Students