Resilience through Connection ECHO (Virtual, ND Suicide Prevention Community Programming)

Target Audience: Health and Human Service Professionals (i.e. case managers, DSPs, QSPs, agency leadership, etc.), Social Workers

Register here.

Research shows that our relationships and interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors are critical yet underappreciated contributors to our health. However, many Americans report feeling lonely and socially isolated, which contributes to poor health and other negative outcomes. Studies indicate that a lack of social connection can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, Robles, & Sbarra, 2017). Loneliness and social isolation disproportionately affect people with disabilities. In 2021, research by the disability charity Sense revealed that nearly two-thirds (61%) of disabled people were chronically lonely, with loneliness significantly impacting their mental health and wellbeing.

The Resilience Through Connection ECHO® aims to provide a deep exploration of the various factors that impact social connection and the predictors of loneliness. Sessions will be tailored with strategies to increase life skills, resilience, and foster a sense of connectedness for people with disabilities and individuals with poor mental health. This includes enhancing knowledge of protective factors against suicide, emphasizing the importance of social connectedness, and raising awareness of ND resources and activities that promote a sense of belonging.

The Resilience Through Connection ECHO® aims to:

• Highlight the health impacts associated with loneliness among people with disabilities and individuals with poor mental health, while acknowledging the additional risk factors inherent in the intersectionality of this target population.

• Provide evidence-based strategies to increase protective factors against social isolation.

• Equip the target population with coping techniques and problem-solving skills based on best practices.

• Connect participants with North Dakota resources to enhance connections to friends, family, and community support

  
  

This effort is associated with North Dakota’s State Suicide Prevention Program, funded by the ND Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Behavioral Health Division (BHD).