WV ARNG Resilience, Risk Reduction & Suicide Prevention

09/23/2025

http://afsp.org/charlestonwv

09/23/2025

As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience, relationships, and connection across the West Virginia National Guard, I’m excited to share several upcoming Trunk or Treat events happening across the state this October. These Guard-heavy events are a great way to bring our families together, build stronger bonds within our community, and show our kids the pride and spirit of the WVNG.

These events have been organized by the Child and Youth Programs within Family Programs, who continue to play a critical role in providing opportunities for our Guard families to connect, recharge, and invest in one another.

Here’s the lineup for 2025:

• JFHQ Coonskin – October 7, 6–7:30 p.m. (Military Affiliated Kids Only)
• Millwood Armory – October 16, 5:30–7 p.m. (Military Affiliated Kids Only)
• Eleanor City National Bank – October 23, 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Community Event)
• Parkersburg American Legion – October 23, 6–7:30 p.m. (Community Event)
• Glen Jean Boy Scout Welcome Center – October 23, 5–7 p.m. (Community Event)
• Fairmont Armory – October 24, 6–8 p.m. (Community Event)

These events are about more than candy and costumes—they’re about investing in our families, building resilience, and reinforcing the relationships that make us stronger as One Guard. I encourage you to attend, bring your families, and enjoy a fun evening surrounded by your WVNG teammates and community.

For questions or more details, contact:

• Susan Izzo at 304-561-6720 or susan.c.izzo.nfg@army.mil
• Lisa Dixon at 304-791-4055 or lisa.a.dixon22.nfg@army.mil

A special thanks to our Family Programs team and their Child and Youth Programs staff for leading the charge on these events and continually finding ways to invest in our most important resource—our families.

Let’s make this Halloween season another opportunity to show that resilience begins with our families. I look forward to seeing you all there!

09/22/2025

Coming next month! 🧩

09/16/2025

Valued Red Cross Partner,

The Central Appalachia Region of the American Red Cross has numerous workshop opportunities on our schedule for this year. These opportunities are virtual workshops, facilitated by a licensed counselor, designed to be interactive, assisting the participant in building upon and developing much needed coping, communication, and stress management skills. Please share this information with your military and veteran community, family members, caregivers, and Veteran Service Organizations. See the events below to join us:

• September 16th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Creating Calmness: a virtual workshop that teaches stress-management and relaxation techniques for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion around the challenges of living through times of stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-16th-creating-calmness-workshop-tickets-1131000857009?aff=oddtdtcreator

• September 23rd, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Effective Communication: a virtual workshop that teaches the skills needed to achieve effective communication styles through non-verbals, seeking clarification, self-reflection, “I” statements and other activities for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-23rd-effective-communication-workshop-tickets-1131021298149?aff=oddtdtcreator

• October 14th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Stress Solutions: a virtual workshop that teaches stress management through learning the signs of stress, practicing relaxation techniques, discussing sleep issues, learning to help others, and changing the way you think about stress. This workshop is for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. It is a live, facilitated discussion about solutions for stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-14th-stress-solutions-workshop-tickets-1131040475509?aff=oddtdtcreator

• October 21st , 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Creating Calmness: a virtual workshop that teaches stress-management and relaxation techniques for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion around the challenges of living through times of stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-21st-creating-calmness-tickets-1131057125309?aff=oddtdtcreator

• November 11th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Effective Communication: a virtual workshop that teaches the skills needed to achieve effective communication styles through non-verbals, seeking clarification, self-reflection, “I” statements and other activities for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-11th-effective-communication-tickets-1131069883469?aff=oddtdtcreator

• November 18th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Stress Solutions: a virtual workshop that teaches stress management through learning the signs of stress, practicing relaxation techniques, discussing sleep issues, learning to help others, and changing the way you think about stress. This workshop is for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. It is a live, facilitated discussion about solutions for stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-18th-stress-solutions-workshop-tickets-1131102200129?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you for sharing this information with your networks. We offer the following in-person or virtual, confidential workshops: Stress Solutions, Effective Communication, Creating Calmness, and Mind Body. If you have any questions, would like a flyer to post at your location, or if your organization is interested in scheduling an exclusive in-person or virtual workshop for your team, please contact me.

Respectfully,
Ed

Ed Helphinstine
Regional Program Director

Service to the Armed Forces
& International Services
American Red Cross
Central Appalachia Region
113 Lakeview Drive
Charleston, WV 25313
(740) 503-0587
Ed.Helphinstine@redcross.org





People First, Mission Always!

Please join us for this virtual workshop on stress management techniques.

09/04/2025

🎗 "Su***de Prevention Week" 🎗

These are the events will be happening at JFHQ next week. We hope to see you there!

09/02/2025

It’s Su***de Prevention Month! 🎗️

07/23/2025

07/23/2025

https://arngcys.com/resources-for-families -1352-4265-83a9-76cf32600923

Locate various resources available to Army National Guard Families by visiting this page.

06/10/2025

06/05/2025

Valued Red Cross Partner,

The Central Appalachia Region of the American Red Cross has numerous workshop opportunities on our schedule for this year. These opportunities are virtual workshops, facilitated by a licensed counselor, designed to be interactive, assisting the participant in building upon and developing much needed coping, communication, and stress management skills. Please share this information with your military and veteran community, family members, caregivers, and Veteran Service Organizations. See the events below to join us:
•
• July 15th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Effective Communication: a virtual workshop that teaches the skills needed to achieve effective communication styles through non-verbals, seeking clarification, self-reflection, “I” statements and other activities for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-15th-effective-communication-workshop-tickets-1130840387039?aff=oddtdtcreator
• July 22nd, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Stress Solutions: a virtual workshop that teaches stress management through learning the signs of stress, practicing relaxation techniques, discussing sleep issues, learning to help others, and changing the way you think about stress. This workshop is for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. It is a live, facilitated discussion about solutions for stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-22nd-stress-solutions-workshop-tickets-1130907878909?aff=oddtdtcreator
• August 12th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Effective Communication: a virtual workshop that teaches the skills needed to achieve effective communication styles through non-verbals, seeking clarification, self-reflection, “I” statements and other activities for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/august-12th-effective-communication-tickets-1130925712249?aff=oddtdtcreator
• August 19th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Stress Solutions: a virtual workshop that teaches stress management through learning the signs of stress, practicing relaxation techniques, discussing sleep issues, learning to help others, and changing the way you think about stress. This workshop is for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. It is a live, facilitated discussion about solutions for stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/august-19th-stress-solutions-workshop-tickets-1130961168299?aff=oddtdtcreator
• September 16th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Creating Calmness: a virtual workshop that teaches stress-management and relaxation techniques for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion around the challenges of living through times of stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-16th-creating-calmness-workshop-tickets-1131000857009?aff=oddtdtcreator
• September 23rd, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Effective Communication: a virtual workshop that teaches the skills needed to achieve effective communication styles through non-verbals, seeking clarification, self-reflection, “I” statements and other activities for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-23rd-effective-communication-workshop-tickets-1131021298149?aff=oddtdtcreator
• October 14th, 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Stress Solutions: a virtual workshop that teaches stress management through learning the signs of stress, practicing relaxation techniques, discussing sleep issues, learning to help others, and changing the way you think about stress. This workshop is for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. It is a live, facilitated discussion about solutions for stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-14th-stress-solutions-workshop-tickets-1131040475509?aff=oddtdtcreator
• October 21st , 8PM – Central Appalachia Region - Creating Calmness: a virtual workshop that teaches stress-management and relaxation techniques for service members, veterans, their families, and those who serve the military and veteran community. This will be a live, facilitated discussion around the challenges of living through times of stress. You will have an opportunity to share with others, learn and practice new skills and ask questions in a small online group. To register for this opportunity please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-21st-creating-calmness-tickets-1131057125309?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you for sharing this information with your networks. We offer the following in-person or virtual, confidential workshops: Stress Solutions, Effective Communication, Creating Calmness, and Mind Body. If you have any questions, would like a flyer to post at your location, or if your organization is interested in scheduling an exclusive in-person or virtual workshop for your team, please contact me.

Respectfully,
Ed

Ed Helphinstine
Regional Program Director

Service to the Armed Forces
& International Services
American Red Cross
Central Appalachia Region
113 Lakeview Drive
Charleston, WV 25313
(740) 503-0587
Ed.Helphinstine@redcross.org





People First, Mission Always!

Please join us for this virtual workshop on stress management and relaxation techniques.

05/22/2025

https://www.army.mil/article/284980/a_mental_health_diagnosis_doesnt_have_to_impact_your_career?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery