The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Know the dangers of secondhand smoke

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The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County and Tobacco Free Florida are working together to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a news release.

Most people may not be familiar with the dangers posed by secondhand smoke. (Christine Holtzman)

Most people are aware of the dangers associated with using tobacco products like cigarettes, but may not be as familiar with the dangers posed by secondhand smoke.

Here are some facts about secondhand smoke:

  • It poses dangers whether you’re in confined spaces or outdoors.
  • It contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are toxic and around 70 can cause cancer.

Secondhand smoke is known as environmental tobacco smoke. It includes smoke that is exhaled by a smoker, and also smoke that comes directly from a burning tobacco product, according to the release.

For people with a heart condition, being exposed to secondhand smoke can even trigger a heart attack, the release adds.

When a nonsmoker is exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work, their risk of developing a heart condition increases by 25 percent to 30 percent.

Wait staff and diners on a patio who are exposed to secondhand smoke for long periods of time are at risk of being exposed to fine particulate matter pollution at levels that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency limit.

Published April 3, 2019

Sheriff’s Office adds innovative fitness program

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The Land O’ Lakes Detention Center has been outfitted with a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility equipped with top-of-the-line resistance machines, exercise bikes, ski machines, adjustable weights, kettlebells, plyometric boxes, battling ropes, medicine balls and more.

Known as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Resilience Center, it’s the initial phase of the agency’s newly formed Human Performance Program.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco unveiled the agency’s new Resilience Center and Human Performance Program at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, during a March 18 news conference. The state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility is equipped with top-of-the-line resistance machines, exercise bikes, ski machines, adjustable weights, kettlebells, plyometric boxes, battling ropes, medicine balls and more. The sheriff said the program gives the agency ‘the best tools possible to be successful.’ (Kevin Weiss)

The program aims to improve law enforcement officers’ career longevity, injury prevention and overall fitness for on-the-job tasks.

The Resilience Center opened last month in partnership with EXOS, a worldwide human performance company that primarily services professional athletes, the military and corporations.

The Human Performance Program is eventually expected to staff dietitians, physical therapists, a sports psychologist, and strength and conditioning coaches, to better address the specific needs of members.

The sheriff’s office is using grant money to fund the wellness program, which is free to its members. It is believed to be the first time EXOS has partnered with a law enforcement agency.

At the Resilience Center,  the physical training regimen utilizes “functional techniques,” such as Olympic lifts and quick, explosive movements, said Chris Jacquard, who’s contracted by EXOS to serve as the sheriff’s office human performance advisor.

In other words, it’s not the conventional workout routine you’d find at your local gym, whether it be jogging on the treadmill or throwing up some weights.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office deputy trainees go through workouts at the agency’s new Resilience Center at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center. The Resilience Center is one aspect of the agency’s new Human Performance Program that aims to improve law enforcement officers’ career longevity, injury prevention and overall fitness for on-the-job tasks.

Instead, many of the prescribed workouts are designed to best translate to the everyday environment of a law enforcement officer, said Jacquard, who offers one-on-one wellness consultations and organizes group trainings for the agency at the Resilience Center.

That includes, for instance, exercises that strengthen lower backs and lower legs — important for deputies who wear burdensome gun belts and bulletproof vests throughout the course of a 12-hour shift.

Jacquard explained of the fitness program: “Running 5 miles, you’re not going to do that on the job (as a law enforcement officer). You’re going to sprint a quarter-mile as fast as you can and then non-lethally subdue a suspect. How do we train for that type of task? That’s really what we’re going to try to mirror in our approach.”

The Resilience Center also features a body composition scanner, so users can track muscle development, fat levels and so on.

Jacquard noted the machine “is definitely not cheap,” but “mirrors the investment of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in terms of the health and well-being of their members.”

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Human Performance Advisor Chris Jacquard, pictured right, coaches a deputy trainee on the proper execution of a split squat at the agency’s new Resilience Center at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center. The Resilience Center opened last month in partnership with EXOS, a worldwide human performance company that primarily services professional athletes, the military and corporations.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the Resilience Center and Human Performance Program is all about giving the agency “the best tools possible to be successful.”

Said Nocco, “This is a physical job. You know, we’re expected to jump over fences, to chase people down, to run in somewhere to save somebody, have to get into a fight sometimes, and so, we have to be in the top physical performance, so this is going to help our deputies in the fact that we’ll be in a better performance to go out there and save people.”

He continued, “When you have a good regimen, when you’re exercising the right way, sleeping the right way, drinking plenty of water, and physically exercising, you’re performing at a much higher level.”

The sheriff said about a quarter of the agency has already begun to utilize EXOS programming and the Resilience Center in the short time it’s been around.

It’s been well-received thus far.

“The reaction we’re getting is they’re very excited about it,” Nocco said. “As the word spreads, as success spreads, people want to get involved in this.”

“We’re seeing a lot of interest,” Jacquard added. “The deputies, for the most part, have been highly receptive. You look at an opportunity to perform better, and accessing resources like this that (you) wouldn’t typically see in a civilian setting. We’ve had a lot of participation in the program so far and we’ve really only been around for four weeks.”

The Resilience Center was instituted at the Land O’ Lakes jail, Nocco said, because of its centralized location in the county and because it features “the largest amount of members we have at the sheriff’s office congregated at one place.”

The agency, however, plans to add similar training facilities and related wellness programming to its other district offices in Dade City, Trinity and New Port Richey.

Published March 27, 2019

Health News 03/27/2019

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Ombudsman program
Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has advocate positions available in Hillsborough County.

Volunteers visit with residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult-family care homes to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.

Training and certification are provided, and volunteers participate in council meetings, administrative assessments and complaint resolution in facilities.

If interested in becoming a volunteer/ombudsman, visit Ombudsman.myflorida.com, or call (888) 831-0404.

Hospitalist joins Access Health
Access Health Care Physicians has announced that Dr. Kemisha L. Key, board certified in internal medicine, has joined its medical staff as a hospitalist.

She completed her internal medicine residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center/University of Illinois at Chicago.

She received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health, healthy policy and management, from Emory University in Georgia.

Key also has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Michigan.

She joins Access Health from Georgia, where she served as a hospitalist in various facilities.

Casino night will support Sunrise of Pasco

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Sunrise of Pasco, Domestic & Sexual Violence Center will present a Casino Night on April 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at 4G Ranch, 22501 State Road 52 in Land O’ Lakes.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to benefit participants of Sunrise of Pasco.

The event will include a bourbon bar, appetizers, cigars, an open bar, blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo and slot machines.

Sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Individual tickets are $150 and include the open bar, heavy appetizers, a free cigar or wine glass, live entertainment, casino games and $2,500 in ‘funny money’ to get you started.

To purchase tickets, call (352) 521-3358.

For more information about the fundraiser, visit SunrisePasco.org, or email .

Sponsorship forms also can be secured by calling the above number or using the website.

Published March 20, 2019

Volunteer stars announced

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From left: Shelli Ginther, Nancy McCann and Pat Edington are outstanding volunteers. (Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced the recipients of its fourth quarter volunteer Star Awards.

Nancy McCann has served every Monday morning for the past 18 years in the hospital’s gift shop. She is known for her knowledge and professionalism as a retail salesperson, as well as her smile.

Shelli Ginther has accumulated nearly 1,500 life hours and more than 1,700 merit hours of service. She has volunteered as a chaplain’s aide for 3.5 years, providing patients, visitors, staff and peers with spiritual nourishment.

Pat Edington has been performing her duties for more than two decades in the emergency department. She has given more than 6,000 hours of service and has nearly 8,000 merit hours volunteering. She has a reputation for providing support to patients, families and staff, and her interactions set the example for what Bayonet Point is all about.

Breaking the cycle of domestic violence

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Melissa Dohme Hill was just 20 years old when her ex-boyfriend viciously attacked her.

He stabbed her 32 times in the neck, face, arms and hands — as he attempted to murder her.

She’d broken up with him three months earlier. The attack occurred when she went outside to fulfill his request for a final goodbye hug.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she flatlined four times and suffered a stroke in the emergency room. Her entire blood volume was replaced twice.

Melissa Dohme Hill, who lives in San Antonio, survived a vicious attack from an ex-boyfriend and now gives talks around the country about how to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship, and how to extricate yourself from the situation. (B.C. Manion)

Today, she is married to Cameron Hill, a retired Clearwater firefighter, who was one of the first responders. They live in San Antonio.

Her attacker is in prison, serving a life sentence.

During the past seven years, Hill has shared her story in national and international publications.

She has appeared on 48 Hours: Live to Tell, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, The Today Show, BBC News, Fox News, CNN, Nancy Grace on HLN, and other programs.

Recently, she spoke at a breakfast meeting of WOW TOO, which stands for Women of Trinity and Odessa (It’s a spinoff group from Women of Wesley Chapel).

“The media attention has given me this platform, but I truly feel that speaking out has been what’s healed my heart during these last seven years,” Hill told the group.

“Through Hands Across The Bay, I’m heard as an advocate. I am heard in the community, I’m heard in schools.

“The only spotlight that matters to me is the one in this room that today we’re shining on domestic violence. It’s dark and hidden, but a completely preventable issue,” Hill said.

After playing a 30-second video clip that recounted her horrific experience, Hill said: “The attack was one night of my life, so I’m not here to tell you the story of the attack. That night does not define me. It really was one night in my life.”

Instead, she seeks to raise awareness about the danger signs of abusive relationships and to offer tools to help end the cycle of violence.

Domestic violence is an epidemic, Hill said.

“One in three women and one in four men, right now, have been victims of some form of rape, physical violence or stalking; and, really frightening — one in three teenagers.

“These are startling numbers,” she said.

“People think of domestic violence as happening to poor, uneducated, minorities. That is false. It is a myth. It happens to individuals of all walks of life.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, how much money you make, your social status, if you’re a male or female, LBGTQ relationships, all walks of life. This does not discriminate.

“This doesn’t happen on the first date. It’s over time and gradual, and happens in a cycle of abuse,” she said.

It also can happen in all kinds of relationships, including friendships, and can occur in many ways.

“People think that domestic violence has to be physical or sexual violence. Those are just two forms. There are many forms of abuse that may not cause physical harm, but they cause emotional pain, mental abuse, verbal abuse, financial and emotional abuse,” she said.

Learning about the cycle of violence is important, so people — both young and old — can recognize unhealthy relationships, Hill said.

Heed early warning signs
“It’s all about power and control. That means alcohol does not cause abuse to happen. Your negative childhood experiences does not cause abuse to happen. It’s strictly a desire to gain and maintain power and control, whatever form they can do that,” she said.

“In an abusive relationship, everything starts in the honeymoon phase, and everything is amazing, and perfect, and loving. Almost too good to be true.

“But, as time goes on, they may start nitpicking you, and criticizing you, and isolating you, withdrawing affection. They may start yelling at you.

“All of these things are building up to something physical happening. You’re hit. You’re pushed. You’re slapped. You’re imprisoned to where you can’t leave. Rape or strangulation. Something happens,” she said.

Her ex-boyfriend strangled her three times before they broke up. The murder attempt happened three months after she left.

After a breakup is a dangerous time, she said: “It’s when the majority of murders occur.”

She now believes she never would have experienced her attack, if she’d known the early warning signs.

In retrospect, she realizes that the change in their relationship happened when she was getting ready to graduate from high school.

“I planned to move on. I had scholarships. I was getting all of this attention. I was going to get into the Early Learners program. I was going to be a (neonatal) nurse. I had all of these goals.

“He hated this. He belittled me. He would put me down. He started calling me names. He was angry. He just had a temper.

“I didn’t want to be treated this way,” she said, so she tried to break it off.

He told her that as his girlfriend, she should be helping him, not abandoning him.

He threatened to kill himself if she left.

She stayed thinking she could help.

Now, she realizes: “If somebody is saying these things to you, you need to seek help; they need to seek help. You can’t hold your life, or someone else’s life, over their head to make them do what you want them to do.”

It’s important to pay attention to patterns. If your friends are voicing concerns, it’s a good idea to listen, she said.

“If you see a red flag popping up, you need to see that as a warning flag that’s saying, ‘Turn around the other direction. This is dangerous, if you continue.’

“Once you are aware of the cycle of abuse, you can break the cycle,” she said.

As Hill makes her appearances, she refers to herself as a ‘sur-thriver.’

“As it’s said, ‘For every wound there’s a scar and every scar tells a story.’

“I survived.

“I don’t blame anyone, but my attacker, for what happened.

“I feel God saved my life to speak across our country to youth.

“Every single one of you in this room, and all of us on this earth, has a very special purpose.

“You can’t live out the purpose of the woman next to you,” she told the women at the breakfast meeting in Trinity.

“You were given this God-given purpose. You have a story, and your story could be the words that someone else needs to hear to unlock their prison,” Hill said.

“I’ve learned through all of this: Change your choices, change your life,” she said.

Help is available
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
National Dating Abuse Text Line: Text: “loveis” to 22522
Pasco-Sunrise: (352) 521-3120

Red flags, warning signs of an abuser:

  • Extreme jealousy
  • Possessiveness
  • Unpredictability/bad temper
  • Cruelty to animals
  • Verbal abuse
  • Extremely controlling behavior
  • Forced sex
  • Blaming the victim for everything
  • Controls all finances
  • Makes accusations of cheating/flirting
  • Controls what the victim wears and how he/she acts
  • Embarrasses or demeans the victim in front of others
  • Harasses the victim at work

Source: www.HandsAcrossTheBay.org (Information was adapted from NCADV.org)

Loves me …

  • Makes me feel safe, loved and comfortable
  • Trusts me
  • Is truthful
  • Likes that I have other friends
  • Supports what I want to do in life
  • Respects me and my family
  • Treats me as an equal
  • Understands my need to be alone, or with family and friends
  • Listens to my opinions and is understanding of my feelings
  • Admits to being wrong

Loves me not …

  • My partner is jealous and possessive
  • Tries to control me
  • Gets violent or loses temper quickly
  • Always blames me
  • Keeps me from seeing friends and family
  • Makes all of the decisions
  • Hurts me and makes me cry
  • Is always ‘checking in’ on me with excessive calls, texts and social media
  • Takes money or controls finances
  • Embarrasses, bullies or puts me down
  • Makes me feel afraid
  • Rushes into relationship
  • Threatens suicide if I don’t listen or stay quiet

Source: www.HandsAcrossTheBay.org

Safety Plan
Before leaving, consider having an “escape bag,” and keep it somewhere the abuser is unlikely to find it. It should include:

  • Birth certificates, social security cards, credit cards, cash, credit cards, checkbook
  • Medications, important records, insurance policies
  • Extra set of car keys, baby items, change of clothes. (If you think your abuser will find it, put clothes in, too, and call it a ‘hurricane bag’)

After you leave
This is most dangerous time. It is vital you have a plan. There is no reason to ever meet up or talk to your abuser alone.

  • Get to a safe place. See if you can stay with a friend or family members. If not, seek shelter at a domestic violence shelter.
  • Consider filing for a restraining order and don’t drop it for any reason.
  • Change your phone number and service provider.
  • Change the locks on your doors and locks on your windows; install a security system with alarms.
  • Inform work, school, friends, family and neighbors of the situation. Tell them to call 911 if they see the abuser, suspect suspicious activity or hear screaming.
  • If you have children: Be sure to change the pick-up authorization for your child and inform your child.
  • Take different routes while traveling.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Carry mace, your keys between your fingers and have your phone out, ready to call 911. Check around and under your car.
  • Seek counseling.

Published March 13, 2019

Addiction recovery community organization forming in Pasco

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New long-term addiction recovery services may soon be headed to Pasco County, by way of what’s called a Recovery Community Organization.

A Recovery Community Organization, otherwise known as an RCO, is an independent, nonprofit organization led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery, which organizes recovery-focused policy advocacy activities, carries out recovery-focused community education and outreach programs, and provides peer-based recovery support services.

Dozens of community members participated in a Feb 26 listening session in Land O’ Lakes on the possible formation of a Recovery Community Organization, to help bring more long-term addiction recovery services coming to Pasco. A Recovery Community Organization is an independent nonprofit, which promotes recovery-focused policy advocacy activities, carries out recovery-focused community education and outreach programs, and provides peer-based recovery support services. (Kevin Weiss)

The project is being facilitated by Clearwater-based Recovery Epicenter Foundation, which has operated an RCO without borders since 2016.

Guidance and technical assistance on the program is coming from the Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Foundation (FADAA), through a three-year Aetna Foundation grant called All in for Florida: A Recovery Project; the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse (ASAP) is also providing support in the RCO development process.

Details about RCO programming were discussed during a Feb. 26 community listening session at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes.

While there’s no definitive timetable for the formation of an RCO in Pasco, it’s expected to take many months at least, officials said.

The community listening session brought together dozens of stakeholders, including persons in recovery and professionals in health care, criminal justice, faith-based organizations and others.

Attendees suggested an RCO in Pasco needs to, among other initiatives, find ways address the following:

  • More affordable housing opportunities
  • More homeless shelters and treatment facilities
  • More residential treatment beds
  • Better public transportation opportunities
  • Recovery-friendly employment and workforce training
  • Greater access to recovery at all levels of care
  • Decriminalization of substance use disorder
  • Additional 12-step recovery meetings
  • Greater access to peer support services

In many cases, RCOs shift the focus of recovery programming from clinically driven acute care to recovery management, speakers said.

A significant component of that is mobilizing recovery peer specialists — people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others battling addiction through shared experience, understanding, respect and mutual empowerment.

Such methodology helps reduce relapse rates over time, according to Ken Brown, a recovery-oriented system of care specialist for the Florida Department of Children and Families Suncoast Region, who spoke at the community listening session.

Brown said RCOs and related support services provide “a key element for communities to help people in recovery.”

He emphasized the need for more placement on long-term recovery management, as opposed to routine substance abuse treatment.

Brown put it like this: “So many times, our system falls short because we address the acute care needs that go into treatment for 30 days or whatever and then they get out — and that’s not how (recovery) happens.

“We have to shift our thought process from acute care to recovery management, ‘What are the hopes and dreams of those going through recovery? What can we do to advance their recovery? And, most importantly, what can we do to keep you in recovery?’”

The listening session also featured FADAA recovery project director Ginny LaRue, who is developing RCOs in nine Florida counties, including Pasco.

In other counties, LaRue explained, RCOs have primarily focused facilitating programs that offer employment assistance, transportation, health and wellness, and recreational opportunities, independent support groups and so on.

While FADAA assists in forming RCOs, LaRue said the onus is on the local community “to make it sustainable, through partnerships (and) through collaboration.”

She added RCOs are successful because they’re grassroots, community-driven efforts that get “more of the voice of recovery.”

LaRue added: “This is not clinical. This is lived experience helping lived experience. It’s a matter of all these people in the community saying, ‘This is what we’re going to do. This is how we’re going to do it.’”

LaRue herself is a former addict who’s been in recovery for the last 15 years.

In addition to her work with FADAA, she also operates a sober-living house in Daytona Beach.

She, like others at the meeting, underscored the importance of wide-ranging, accessible long-term recovery services.

For her, “things didn’t get better” immediately stepping out of drug treatment, LaRue said.

Instead, she said she needed years of peer mentoring and recovery support services to become “a responsible member of my community.”

“You cannot live on an island and try to recover,” LaRue said. “I needed the community to wrap their arms around me and help me through that process, and restore me.”

The next step in the RCO formation process is scheduling a recovery symposium.

That will be followed by a series of recovery community visioning meetings to determine action steps and program implementation.

A symposium planning session is scheduled for March 20 at 11 a.m., at Trinity Church of Christ, 4234 St. Lawrence Drive in New Port Richey.

The meeting is open to the public.

Published March 13, 2019

Team Member of the Year

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(Courtesy of Tiffany Scalone)

The St. Joseph’s Hospital-North Imaging Services team congratulates Gabe Barreto, CT technologist, after he was named the 2018 Team Member of the Year. From left: Kari Jackson, Jackie Noonan, Jessica Reilly, Natasha Beckel, Lorraine Sargent, Gabe Barreto, Chris Blanchard, Maria Reynolds, Dr. Troy Woeste, Jennie Cusmano and Ann Ross-Compton. Barreto was recognized for his professional, knowledgeable and kind manner with patients, and for his dependability and hard work within the Imaging Services department.

Health News 03/06/2019

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

In support of healthy hearts
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club supports women’s cardiac health and promotes the education of the warning signs for heart attacks and strokes. The club turned out in the color red for each of its February meetings and gatherings, to symbolize this serious health issue, for women in particular. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

Pilot program
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) is piloting a new program, Baby on Board, which allows exclusively breast-feeding mothers/employees of the department to bring their babies to work until the baby is 6 months old.

The program was introduced last year after DOH-Pasco received a Gold Level Florida Breast-feeding Friendly Employer Award.

DOH-Pasco also received the 2018 Gold Level Loving Support Award of Excellence for providing exemplary breast-feeding promotion and support activities.

The Baby on Board program complies with the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breast-feeding.

An internal survey revealed that the Baby on Board program was supported by 97.2 percent of the DOH-Pasco staff.

Summit addresses mental health challenges

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Overcoming mental health and substance abuse issues in local communities seems a daunting undertaking — but offering a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on may be a good place to start.

At least that’s what a group of educators and faith-based leaders asserted at a recent mental health summit at Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco-Hernando State College hosted a mental health summit on Feb. 18 at its Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. It featured a panel discussion between educators and faith leaders in the community. (Kevin Weiss)

The state college’s Bridging Faith and Mental Health Communities Summit brought together dozens of faith-based leaders, public and private clinical agencies, students, educators and community members. They discussed ongoing problems and solutions on topics such as depression, suicide and substance abuse, wellness and recovery.

A plenary panel discussion addressed those topics head-on.

University of South Florida philosophy and religious studies professor Garrett Potts tried to pinpoint the root of mental health issues.

He suggested that depression and addiction have been exacerbated because there’s “a crisis of meaning” and “a loss of hope” in society and culture today.

And, as a result, he said, people have turned to drugs and alcohol, as a coping mechanism.

The panelist advised that if you think someone may be suffering from substance abuse or a mental health crisis, empathy and guidance without judgement can go a long way.

“We have to be able to sort of lay our cards on the table and say, ‘Hey, I’m with you,’” Potts said.

“Try at all costs to avoid the shame cycle that our fellow addicts and sufferers are already stuck in. They don’t need any more shame than they’re already placing on themselves.”

He added, “A lot of times, what you hear with individuals who are struggling with suicide, is they’ve found themselves in a place where they’re isolated. Either something they’re struggling with is stigmatized to the point that they don’t feel loved, or they feel like no one around them cares about them or can help them.”

Another panelist, Dr. Eddie Williams, director of PHSC’s behavioral health department, pointed out those dealing with depression and suicide “often disengage from everybody” in their personal and social life, and in the workplace.

Williams underscored the importance of reaching out before a particular mental illness worsens.

A decreased functioning in everyday life and a general feeling of sadness are some warning signs to watch out for, he said.

“We need to make sure that person gets reconnected,” Williams said, “to let them know that they’re loved and understood.”

He added: “Don’t take no for an answer, if you start to see someone disengaging from life. Sometimes, it just takes that one act of courage and that could save someone’s life.”

Williams also observed those who’ve successfully recovered from substance abuse or mental illness must “give it back and try to help someone else reach that level of recovery.”

Williams added: “You’ve got to have that support from people who’ve been in similar situations.”

Pastor Doug Zipperer, of Shady Hills’ United Methodist Church, called for more fellowship and outreach groups.

He mentioned organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous do a good job of bringing people together and helping each other, so they’re not fighting mental health and addiction battles alone.

Zipperer put it like this: “The words and encouragement and counsel of a real close friend is probably more lasting than hours of clinical counseling or the professional help of somebody they don’t trust.”

Another panelist, Taiwan Simmons, the co-founder of Inside Reach Ministries in Wesley Chapel, suggested there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to people struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse.

Offering care and affection to loved ones may not be enough, Simmons said.

Still, the panelist said there’s a responsibility to reach out to those dealing with those troubles — even in the face of getting rejected by that person.

“We have people who are hurting,” he said. “They need our prayer, they need our support, they need our attention, they need our encouragement.

“You have to be engaged and you have to empower not just yourself, but the people around you,” he said.

The panel also included Imam Hassan Sultan, CEO of the Muslim Connection; Ryan Morris, PHSC student government president; and, John Mitten, Hernando County commissioner and PHSC board trustee.

Along with the panel discussion, the event also included breakout sessions focused on suicide, and substance abuse awareness and prevention.

In addition to the state college, community partners involved in the summit included the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, BayCare Behavioral Health – Community Health Activation Team (CHAT), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Take Stock in Children, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center and Pasco Aware.

Published February 27, 2019