City Of Stow: February 2022 Mayor Letter

Press release from the City of Stow:

February 1, 2022

Dear Residents,

"Happy Winter! Not to worry – Spring will arrive as it always does.

Here we are in the month of February already!! As we continue to mull through this winter, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our service department workers. They have gone the distance, above and beyond, to serve our community. So many of you have
reached out with kind words and gestures, and it’s so appreciated by our workers!! With the upcoming storm forecasted this week, don’t forget that “Kindness is Contagious.” Practice patience and drive cautiously with the ice and snow that is predicted. Check on neighbors and help
where you can.

As we move further into winter, I am sure you have noticed that the daylight is getting longer but we are continuing to navigate this pandemic. I remain concerned about our residents and their well-being. I encourage you to take advantage of the few more minutes of daylight, bundle up, and get outside if possible. And, don’t forget to check out our events and programs. We have a wonderful array of activities being planned! https://stowohio.org/special-events/

With that in mind, the current climate seems like an appropriate time to launch a new phase of our city-wide initiative, #YouMatter, designed to promote mental health awareness and acts of kindness among residents. The City of Stow Mental Health Coalition is a collaboration with the Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools District, Holy Family School, and several Summit County non-profit agencies comprised of community leaders and other local and regional stakeholders whose vision is to raise awareness of the rising number of suicides in Stow and surrounding communities. I am proud of the work our team has done to support the #YouMatter initiative, and I truly believe this work will make a difference in our community. This collaboration will continue in 2022 with continued focus on education and awareness of important mental health and wellness topics.

This Spring, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A NEW TRAINING PROGRAM – QPR: Question. Persuade. Refer. Three steps anyone can learn to prevent suicide. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. ALL CITY OF STOW EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THIS TRAINING and residents will be
invited to attend free training sessions. Q.P.R. Question, Persuade, Refer is an evidence-based gatekeeper training used to help an individual in crisis. Similar to CPR, this skills-based training teaches us how to respond when someone is in distress, by asking the suicide question, persuading them to stay alive, and making a quality referral for help. The QPR training will be led by trained mental health professionals, offered for free, and is open to those 18+ years of age. Registration will be required and will open online in March for the 90 minute sessions. There will be 4 sessions offered on two evenings in April, three at the Stow-Munroe Falls High School on April 20 and one at Holy Family School on April 25.

Visit https://stowohio.org/mental-health-resources/ for resources available for help if you are in crisis.

Great things are happening in our City! We have so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to, after all, we are tradition centered, and future focused. AS always, I pledge to continue my accessibility to our residents and businesses. Your ideas, input and feedback are so very beneficial in understanding the concerns of our community. I have the best interest of Stow at heart and I hope you do as well."

Sincerely,

John Pribonic

Mayor, City of Stow

This press release was produced by the City of Stow. The views expressed here are the author’s own.