Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Safe Communitty Coalition Suicide Prevention and Awareness Task Group met Jan. 14.

Here is the agenda provided by the task group:

1. Call to Order / Attendance

2. Approval of Minutes from the November 12, 2024 Task Group Meeting

3. Old Business

a. “safeTALK”

i. This class was held from 8:30am to 12:30pm on Monday, November 18, 2024 in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class was taught by Sertoma Star Services. Thirty-four people registered via Eventbrite and approximately 20 attended.

b. VA S.A.V.E. Training

i. This class was held via Zoom videoconference from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Michelle Augoustatos, Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital provided the presentation. Seventy-eight people registered via Eventbrite and approximately 50 attended.

4. New Business

a. “The Grief Experience – How to Cope *or* The Grief Experience – How to Support Someone Who Is Grieving”

i. Patrice Martin, Director of Grief Support, Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care, has offered to do one or both of these presentations. Both of these presentations can be done in person or via Zoom.

ii. Discussion as to which presentation to select, format, date, time, etc…

b. “Question, Persuade, Refer” (QPR)

i. This class will be held from 7:00pm to 8:30pm on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Sertoma Star Services.

c. “RELAX: 5 Tips to Master Anxiety”

i. This presentation will be given from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. Dr. Mike Mecozzi will be the presenter.

d. “Mental Health First Aid” (MHFA) – Adult Version

i. This class will be held from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Sertoma Star Services.

e. “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills” (ASIST)

i. This class will be held from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 and Thursday, June 19, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Sertoma Star Services.

f. “Out of Darkness Walk” (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) 

i. Marie Kress led our team last year (September 28, 2024) at the Kankakee County Walk, which was held at Riverside Healthcare in Bourbonnais, IL. No date is available for 2025 at this time, but it will likely be around the same time (September). Who is interested in being on Marie’s team this year?

g. “A Pathway to Hope and Healing”

i. World Suicide Prevention Week is September 7-13th this year. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th. “A Pathway to Hope and Healing” is typically held around this time of year in support of this campaign. A date, time, format and location need to be chosen and a Planning Team should to be assembled as well.

h. “Mental Health First Aid” (MHFA) – Youth Version

i. This class will be held from 8:30am to 4:00pm on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Sertoma Star Services.

i. Dr. Mike Mecozzi (NEW) Presentation

i. This presentation will be given from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (tentatively) on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall.

j. “safeTALK”

i. This class will be held from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Sertoma Star Services.

5. Good of the Order / Organization Updates

6. The next New Lenox Safe Community Coalition meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 via Zoom videoconference.

7. Next Task Group Meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 / 1:30pm, via Zoom videoconference.

8. Adjournment

https://www.newlenox.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142025-287