Willowbrooke suicide awareness event returns to PSD

♦ Upcoming mid-month event coming to Van Wert Elementary in Rockmart this year

Willowbrooke at Floyd has again organized a free educational event in Polk County to help parents, teachers and families learn more about recognizing the warning signs of adolescent suicide and where to get help.

The event in Rockmart will take place Oct. 18 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Van Wert Elementary School.

Joseph Weatherspoon, District Manager of Business Development for Willowbrooke, said he anticipates a good turnout based on last year’s event in Cedartown.

“The turnout was very good, and we were particularly impressed with one teenager who really helped keep the dialogue going,” he said. “That is what we are hoping for, open dialogue between parents and their children.”

Participants will watch the trailer for “13 Reasons Why,” followed by a roundtable discussion led by counselors and therapists who have worked closely with teens and adolescents and have first-hand experience in treating young people who have suicidal thoughts.

The streaming service Netflix carries the series “13 Reasons Why” and follows teenager Clay Jensen as he tries to understand why his friend and classmate, Hannah Baker, committed suicide. The series has been a popular topic of conversation.

The discussion will feature current regional statistics related to suicide, suicide signs and symptoms to watch for, healthy talking points for parents, teachers, teens and peers, and a question-and-answer session with the panel.

The roundtable discussions and dinner are free, but registration is required. Visit floyd.org/ willowbrooke to register. For more information, contact Daniel Bevels with Floyd Medical at 706.509.3242.

Willowbrooke at Floyd is a freestanding, acute care behavioral health facility operated through a partnership between Floyd Medical Center and Willowbrooke at Tanner. It provides treatment for children, teens and adults.

The cool days of October and early November often bring a sigh of relief to those of us living in the Southeast who have been exercising outside in 90-degree heat most of the summer.

But we all know what comes next: rain.

After spending days inside relaxing with the air conditioner going full blast, soon we’ll be inside with the heater on wishing the rain would stop. But don’t let the drizzly weather curtail your exercise regimen – if you have one. There are lots of ways to get fit indoors.

The most obvious way but often the most expensive alternative is to join a local gym. While this might seem to be an expensive alternative to becoming a sofa potato during the winter, it’s really not.

Many gyms offer inexpensive sign-up fees and you can often pay by the month. If you can, avoid paying ahead of time over an extended period, even if it seems like a good deal. If you have never joined a gym, you might find it’s just not the thing for you and it would be a shame to invest too much money up front.

If you are looking for a less rigorous exercise routine, walking is always a good option.

While you might prefer walking outdoors, during the rainy winter months, that can be difficult. Shopping malls are a great option and many of them welcome walkers in the morning before the stores open.

Malls also offer a safe, secure and well-lighted place where you can lace up yoursneakers and feel fairly comfortable. There’s also a side benefit – companionship. You can often see people walking around local tracks in the summertime chatting with their neighbors. The same thing can take place at a shopping mall and you never know when you might make a new friend.

There are also many ways you can work up a sweat in the comfort of your own home or apartment. There are three pieces of workout equipment that can fit nicely in a small living space – a treadmill, an elliptical machine or a stationary bicycle. But beware. DO NOT get snagged by the latest infomercial promising you fun and enjoyment from your own living room as you shed the pounds.

Such equipment is not outrageously expensive, but it does not come cheap and you better make sure you have a way to store it. Also, check to see if what you want to purchase can be folded up in some way. Do not buy an exercise machine you have never tried. Most gyms will allow you a tryout period. Visit and walk on the treadmill; take a few strides on the elliptical; pedal on the stationary bike. Find out what you like BEFORE you buy it.

There are also tons of online apps as well as videos you can rent or buy that offer exercise routines in your own living room, ranging from short but intense cardio drills to Pilates, yoga and even Zumba, complete with music. Find what works for you.

If you decide you want to go out in the rain for a run, almost every sportswear company makes waterproof or water-resistant workout material that can keep you from getting chilled to the bone. Not everyone likes getting wet, but on a warm day you might enjoy nature’s way of cooling you down.

The most important thing is to keep moving. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, finding creative ways to stay in shape might help you avoid the holiday weight gain so many of us struggle with.