Prevention

What is 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.

Contact Us

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.

Community Events

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

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.

Community Partnerships

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

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

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.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs

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.

Stimulant Drugs

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

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.

In the News

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

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 Skill Training (ASIST)

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.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

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

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.

GSTV - Gas Pump Videos

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 Logo             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 Logo With Border     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 Use     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 Thumbnail     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.

 

 
  Rectangle: Rounded Corners: The 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 the cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg.

Start the Conversation

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 Closing   Start the Conversation - Playlist
   

 

Start the conversation intro   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.
   

 

HIPS Logo

  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.
     
HTDPC Logo   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.
     
Drug Take Back Day Logo      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 & Talk Logo   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.
     
GWTICN Logo   Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network (GW-TICN) mission is to support a trauma-aware, resilient and compassionate community.
     
Start the Conversation Closing   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. 
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