What is Prevention?
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District (NLHSD) offers prevention services throughout the District directly and through contracted services. They are family-focused, evidenced-based, outcome-driven services which decrease and prevent addictive disorders and compulsive gambling.
Prevention uses evidenced-based curriculums, environmental strategies, coalition-building and other proactive and data driven strategies to prevent and reduce risk taking behaviors. Prevention programs are frequently implemented in school-based settings that teach problem solving, conflict resolution and refusal skills while promoting mental health wellness.
For more information about our prevention services, please contact: Serenitie E. Garner, LPP
District Prevention Coordinator
(318) 676-5795
What about Prevention Training?
NLHSD offers the following training workshops to governmental agencies, community organizations and prevention contract programs:
safeTALK
safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST
ASIST
Virtually anyone age 16 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, can become an ASIST-trained caregiver. During the two-day interactive session, participants learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
Adult Mental Health First Aid
The Adult Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
The Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.