March 2022

Self-injury, sometimes referred to as self-harm, is intentional, non-lethal behavior that causes physical injury to your body. March 1 of each year is Self-Injury Awareness Day, which leads into Self-Injury Awareness Month. The day and month serve to draw attention to the struggles of those affected by this condition.

On Zero Discrimination Day (March 1) we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination. This year's theme is “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower.” UNAIDS is highlighting the urgent need to take action against discriminatory laws. Learn more here.

The Ryan Bartel Foundation's original series of teen workshops uses evidence-led best practices in mindfulness and positive psychology and have been created for teens to promote a positive sense of identity and well-being. They are designed to help teens that may be struggling with anxiety, low self-worth, loneliness, or depression ward off negative thoughts and teach the skills that will support a lifetime of positive mental health. The "I Am Powerful" series will run twice in March. Register here for the March 1-22 (Tuesdays) run at the Rust Library in Leesburg or register here for the March 24-April 7 (Thursdays) run at the Brambleton Library in Brambleton: a $40 refundable deposit is required to participate.

Launched in 1998, Sleep Awareness Week is the National Sleep Foundation's (NSF) national public education campaign that celebrates sleep health and encourages the public to prioritize sleep to improve health and well-being. The campaign commences with the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. NSF provides valuable information during Sleep Awareness Week about the benefits of optimal sleep and how sleep affects health, well-being, and safety.

This presentation by Dr. Tracy Jackson (supervisor of school counseling services), Leigh Bennett (supervisor of assessment services), and Nykea Purnell (special education supervisor) provides information to parents of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) about diploma options, graduation requirements, credit accommodations, and locally verified credits. What do these things mean and how does it impact your child's future? Registration is required via this link, which parents can also use to submit questions. A link to the session will be emailed on the day of the presentation.

World Down Syndrome Day (March 21) is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date for World Down Syndrome Day was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. This year, we are asking, "What does inclusion mean?" In doing this, we can get a global conversation going, which will empower people around the world to advocate for full inclusion in society for people with Down syndrome and for everyone.

Held since 2010, National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week brings teens and scientific experts together to discuss the scientific facts about drugs, as well as their potential health effects on teen bodies and brains. Be sure to check out the National Institute on Drug Abuse's website for videos, resources, and activities you can engage in this week.

FORTitude for Parents is an online discussion series where invite mental health professionals and wellness experts are invited to provide parents with resources and guidance on how to better understand, support and improve their relationship with their teens. This month's discussion will focus on how to handle your child's panic attacks, mood swings, and outbursts. Parenting experts will share advice on how to support a child when they are acting or feeling out of control. Learn how to keep an open line of communication and how to remain calm and effective during a crisis, so you can guide your teen to safer mental ground. Learn more about the panelists and register here (admission is free).

The FORT by the Ryan Bartel Foundation is a community space where teens meet once a month to connect and grow stronger together through a holistic and integrative experience that nourishes the mind and body. This month, teens will have the opportunity to explore the power of music in self-expression with A Place To Be, create friendship bracelets, and participate in their first-ever escape room to build communication skills. Register here ($25 fee).

Celebrated every year on March 30, World Bipolar Day is a world-wide awareness initiative of International Society for Bipolar Disorders. The vision of World Bipolar Day is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma. Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms are severe and different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. It is estimated that the global prevalence of bipolar disorder is between 1 and 2% and has been said to be as high as 5%. Through international collaboration, World Bipolar Day provides a platform for global education, open discussion, and improved sensitivity about bipolar disorder,