Prevention

Prevention Services is dedicated to the prevention of suicide and substance use within James City County, City of Poquoson, City of Williamsburg and York County. Our goal is to help cultivate a healthier and more connected community through education and outreach to the leaders and youth of our community. 

We focus on suicide and substance use education and prevention through evidence-based trainings and community cultivated lectures, and offer more advanced trainings such as Mental Health First Aid (Adult/Youth) and LivingWorks ASIST.

Prevention Services also participates in outreach campaigns  and partnerships with other community members such as Lock and Talk, Tobacco Merchant Education, the Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition, Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network, SAFE Kids and many more.

Read the Virginia Substance Abuse Prevention Block Grant FY2022 Annual Report to see the impact of Prevention Services in our community.

Prevention Services are operated out of our Child & Adolescent Services Office:

921 Capitol Landing Road
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Phone: 757-253-4074
Fax: 757-253-4018

Click here to contact a Prevention Specialist.

A strength of prevention work is having a strong connection to the community we serve. Our program offers to attend community events and can participate in a variety of ways. Participation can include informational tables, activities for youth and group presentations.

If you would like us to participate in a community event contact us.

Counter Tools is a Tobacco Merchant Education project that addresses the prevention of tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 21. This is an annual event to educate tobacco retailers in our service area on Virginia’s tobacco laws and provide training materials and signage for their establishment.

Prevention Services partners with local agencies to address prevention needs in our community. This team is need-based and action oriented. Topics such as substance use and suicide prevention have been focus areas. If you are interested in joining our team or sharing prevention resources contact us. 

 Community Partnerships

Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network (GW-TICN) mission is supporting a trauma-aware, resilient and compassionate community.

To learn more about the GW-TICN and its efforts, visit their website.

Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition's (HTDPC) mission is to have a coordinated and collaborative approach to prevention, education and advocacy to decrease the negative impacts of substance use in the counties of James City and York and cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg.

To learn more about the HTDPC and its efforts, visit their website.

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) - Williamsburg

NAMI - Williamsburg  is a support, education and advocacy organization for and by individuals with serious mental illnesses, their families and friends. 

To learn more about NAMI - Williamsburg and its efforts, visit their website.

 Safe Kids - Historic Triangle Williamsburg

Based on the needs of the community, this coalition implements evidence-based programs, such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics, that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.

To learn more about Safe Kids and its efforts, visit their website.

Lock and Talk Virginia is a suicide prevention initiative promoting safe and responsible care of lethal means (firearm safety, safe medication storage), while encouraging community conversations around mental wellness. 

Some of the materials that we distribute to individuals include trigger locks, medication lock boxes, Lock and Talk posters and brochures. 

If you are interested in receiving a trigger lock or medication lock box, please contact us.

Depression 101, is a community-based presentation focusing on the signs and symptoms of depression, its causes and risks factors and where to go for help.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a presentation, please contact us.

Community-based presentation on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs - their side-effects, the warnings signs of misuse, how to safety store and dispose, online parent resources and where to go for help.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a presentation, please contact us.

Community-based presentation on stimulant drugs - types, use and side-effects, the warnings signs of misuse, how to safety store and dispose, online parent resources and where to go for help.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a presentation, please contact us.

Talk Saves Lives is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide, and how together, we can help prevent it.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a presentation, please contact us.

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Interface Training (December 2023)
• Shatter the Silence 2023 (November 2023)
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Youth) (October 2023)
• Alcohol and Cannabis Awareness Month (April 2023)
• Problem Gambling Awareness Month (March 2023)
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Interface Training (March 20 & April 11, 2023)
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Youth) (Feb. 21, 2023)
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (Jan. 23 & 24, 2023)
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Interface Training (Jan. 12 & Feb. 9, 2023)
• Shatter the Silence (Sept. 24, 2022)
• CBH Offers Free Mental Health First Aid Trainings (August 22, 2022)
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Youth) (May 19, 2022)
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Adult) (May 2, 2022)
• National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (April 13, 2022)
• 2022 Virginia Young Adult Survey (YAS) (April 14, 2022)
• HTDPC 2022 Drug-Free Placemat Contest Flier (Jan. 17, 2022)
• International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Nov 20)
• Great American Smoke-Out (Nov 18)
• Scattering CJ: Free Virtual Screening (May 5 & 12)
• National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (April 24)
• Stimulant Drugs - Free Virtual Presenation (March 30)
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs - Free Virtual Presentation (March 25)
• Free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)-Youth Training (March 12 and 25)
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs - Free Virtual Presentation (Feb.11)
• Scattering CJ - Free Virtual Screening (Jan. 13, 2021)
• Mental Health During the Holidays: 5 Tips to Ease the Struggle
• Aetna Waives Co-pay for Opioid Overdose Drug
• Blackouts from College Binge Drinking Lead to Costly Emergency Room Visits
• Smoking Marijuana and Driving
• Teen Substance Abuse Expert Sees Dark Side of Opioid Abuse
• Why Teens are Wired for Risk
• Whip-Its Again Becoming Popular Among Teens, Experts Say

Prevention Services has created a monthly newsletter series to educate the community about behavioral health wellness, support and recovery efforts.

April 2023: Alcohol and Cannabis Awareness Month

March 2023: Problem Gambling Awareness Month

May 2022: Mental Health Awareness Month

November 2021: Veterans Day (Stress Management/Suicide Awareness)

October 2021: Mental Illness Awareness Week/Talk About Your Medicines Month

September 2021: Suicide Awareness and National Recovery Month

July 2021: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month/Day Against Trafficking Persons

June 2021: PTSD/Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

May 2021: Mental Health Awareness Month

April 2021: National Child Abuse and Neglect and National Alcohol Abuse Awareness Month

November 2020: International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

• Cannabis 101
• Cannabis Conversations - Ages 8-12
• Cannabis Conversations - Ages 13-17
• Cannabis Conversations - Ages 18-21
• Glossary of Terms for Marijuana Concentrates
• Marijuana - The Risk are Real
• Youth & Cannabidiol (CBD)
• Youth & Intoxicating Hemp-derived Products
• Youth & Marijuana
• Youth & Marijuana - Virginia

• "Said No Teen Ever"
• Above the Influence
• Partnership for Drug-Free America
• Parents: the Anti-Drug
• The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY)
• Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
• Monitoring the Future
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• Do Something
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
• Youth Leadership Institute (YLI)
• Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project (YADAPP)

ACEs Interface training teaches participants about adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress, and how early adversity as a child can impact adult health.

Learn the steps to address trauma and how to create safe environments and relationships in which trauma can begin to heal, allowing all children to reach their full potential.

Audience: Parents/Guardians, Teachers, Medical/Mental Health Professionals and Community Members.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a training, please contact us.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

Audience: Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don't need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a training, please contact us.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Audience: Parents/Guardians, Teachers, Medical/Mental Health Professionals and Community Members.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a training, please contact us.

SafeTALK is a 4 hour LivingWorks workshop that teaches participants to be more alert to people thinking about suicide and better able to connect them to suicide intervention resources. Participants will be better able to reach out to someone thinking about suicide, promptly connect them to further support, overcome personal and community attitudes that act as barriers to help and learn the powerful 4-step TALK model.

Audience: Anyone over 15 or older who is interested in learning how to recognize signs of person with thoughts of suicide can attend the training.

If you are interested in hosting or participating in a training, please contact us.

Colonial Behavioral Health - Prevention Services partnered with GSTV to create short videos highlighting our awareness/prevention initiatives - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Lock and Talk, Marijuana, and Problem Gambling, to help cultivate a healthier and more connected community. These videos are currently airing on select BP, Exxon, Shell, Speedway and Sunoco owned gas pump monitors in the Greater Williamsburg area.

If you would like to learn more about our initiatives and training opportunities, contact Prevention Services at prevention@colonialbh.org.

To view the videos, click on the video thumbnail and/or title.

			988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
			Lock and Talk Virginia is a suicide prevention initiative promoting safe and responsible care of lethal means (firearm safety, safe medication storage), while encouraging community conversations around mental wellness.
			Marijuana: Talk to your kids about the dangers of underage marijuana use. Legalization does not mean it's safe. Marijuana affects the brain, emotions, memory and impairs driving.
			Problem Gambling: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call Virginia's Problem Gambling confidential and toll-free helpline at (888) 532-3500.

Colonial Behavioral Health in collaboration with SpiritWorks Foundation, have created the Start Your Conversation video to bring awareness to substance use and mental health issues and offer support, education, and resources for individuals, families, and community members.

If you would like to learn more about our initiatives and trainings opportunities, contact Prevention Services at prevention@colonialbh.org.

To view the videos, click on the video thumbnail and/or title.

		Start the Conversation - Playlist
		Start the Conversation - Intro Together we’re working to break the intergenerational cycle of addiction in families by educating, equipping, empowering, and celebrating individuals, families, faith leaders, and communities on the journey from addiction to recovery.
		Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) is an interactive drug prevention and education program for parents of tweens and teens about risky behavior associated with drug and alcohol use and misuse.
		Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition's (HTDPC) mission is to have a coordinated and collaborative approach to prevention, education and advocacy to decrease the negative impacts of substance use in the counties of James City and York and cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg.
		National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public health and safety issue by providing safe and convenient means of disposing of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs. This is a FREE service to the community. This program is anonymous, and no questions will be asked.
		Lock and Talk Virginia is a suicide prevention initiative promoting safe and responsible care of lethal means (firearm safety, safe medication storage), while encouraging community conversations around mental wellness.
		Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network (GW-TICN) mission is to support a trauma-aware, resilient and compassionate community.
		Start the Conversation - Closing Starting the Conversation is the most difficult step - local treatment and support resources are available to help family members and others with take the next step to help their loved one on the road to recovery.