VitAL

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VitAL An initiative in the State of Alabama to support the integration of physical and behavioral health services.

Vital is committed to improving wellness in Alabama through engagement, collaboration, research and education.

We're excited to announce our next QPR Training! Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is an emergency mental health intervent...
10/20/2026

We're excited to announce our next QPR Training! Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is an emergency mental health intervention designed to teach everyday people how to recognize and respond to warning signs of a suicidal crisis, functioning much like CPR does for a physical medical emergency.

After the QPR training, you will be able to:

✔️Recognize the warning signs of su***de
✔️Know how to offer hope
✔️Know how to get help and save a life

🗓️ November 10, 2026
🕔 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Register for free today: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0030-0030-fab264f54e784ac1a728289cd06c5458

Who should attend:
➡️ Educators and school staff
➡️ Social workers and counselors
➡️ Behavioral and mental health professionals
➡️ Healthcare professionals
➡️ Faith-based and community leaders
➡️ First responders
➡️ Anyone passionate about su***de prevention

One the Blog: Perinatal Mental Health in Alabama: The Struggle You Can't SeeWhen someone says “healthy pregnancy”, they’...
10/20/2026

One the Blog: Perinatal Mental Health in Alabama: The Struggle You Can't See

When someone says “healthy pregnancy”, they’re usually referring to the things we can measure: blood pressure, weight, the baby’s heartbeat. A mother’s mental health is much harder to see. She can look fine, say she’s fine, and still be holding something too heavy for her pregnant self to be carrying.

Therein lies the heart of Alabama’s maternal mental health challenge: Maternal mental health is invisible, rarely announcing itself. Many moms don’t bring things related to mood, worry, and substance use up for fear of being judged or about what might happen if they’re honest.

Read more: https://vitalalabama.com/perinatal-mental-health-in-al/

Join us for Applying Cultural Competence in Healthcare and Su***de Prevention, a webinar focused on the importance of un...
10/15/2026

Join us for Applying Cultural Competence in Healthcare and Su***de Prevention, a webinar focused on the importance of understanding and addressing cultural differences in mental health care and su***de prevention. Participants will explore strategies for building trust and rapport with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds while identifying ways to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. This session will also examine how cultural beliefs, values, and stigma can influence mental health treatment, help-seeking behaviors, and su***de prevention efforts. Attendees will gain practical tools to provide more culturally responsive, inclusive, and effective care within their communities.

🗓️ November 17, 2026
📍 11am-12:00pm CST

By participating in this training, participants will be able to:

✔️ Equip tools to build trust and rapport with various cultural groups and individuals
✔️ Discuss methods for reducing health disparities in underserved populations through the delivery of culturally competent care
✔️ Apply knowledge of culture’s impact on mental health treatment, su***de prevention, and stigma

Register for free: https://vitalalabama.com/event/applying-cultural-competence-webinar/

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, and a few simple safe sleep practices can make a life-sa...
10/15/2026

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, and a few simple safe sleep practices can make a life-saving difference.

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than one year old, and it remains a leading cause of infant mortality. While there's no guaranteed way to prevent it, pediatric research points to clear steps that lower risk significantly:

🛏️ Always place babies on their back for every sleep, naps included
🚫 Keep the crib bare, no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or soft toys
🌡️ Avoid overheating; dress baby in light sleep clothing
🤝 Share a room (not a bed) with your baby for at least the first 6 months
🚭 Keep baby's environment smoke-free before and after birth

Alabama's maternal and infant health providers are here to support new and expecting parents.

📲 For more information and resources on infant and maternal wellness, visit vitalalabama.com/resources/helpful-information/maternal-and-infant-wellness

10/11/2026

Join us for a free webinar on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a topic that affects individuals and families across every community, yet many people living with FASD go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Early identification can change the course of a child's development, and it starts with knowing what to look for and where to refer.

🗓️ Thursday, October 22, 2026
📍 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST

By participating in this training, you will be able to:

• Learn what FASD is and discover the latest scientific updates.

• Understand how diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment can lead to better outcomes for individuals with FASD.

• Gain access to a multidisciplinary FASD diagnosis clinic.

Join us for this webinar to learn how screening and evaluation fit into a broader system of care for individuals with FASD and the families who support them.

Speaker: Johanna Jones, FASD Alabama, is a FASD educator with over 20 years of experience in the disability field.

Register: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0030-0030-1928547040c14a83b702c0a9d3ac6b01

Depression doesn't always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion, irritability, or just going through the...
10/08/2026

Depression doesn't always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion, irritability, or just going through the motions.

Today is National Depression Screening Day, a reminder that checking in on your mental health is as routine as checking your blood pressure. A screening isn't a diagnosis, it's a starting point.

If something has felt off, take it seriously. Take the Mental Health America Depression Screening Test: https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/depression/

Your next step: Connect Alabama. Our app can point you toward local providers near your, helplines, and support, no matter where you're starting from.

Your mental health matters. Taking the first step counts.

10/07/2026

What does it mean for the Connect Alabama app to serve all 67 counties?

It means every county has a point of connection and a pathway to support.

Some communities receive hands-on program implementation, while others connect through awareness campaigns, community events, provider services, or accessible resources.

Connect Alabama is designed to make support easier to find, no matter where you live in Alabama.

Learn more: https://vitalalabama.com/resources/find-help/connect-alabama/

🚨 Survey closes on Thursday, October 15 There's still time to complete our survey for us to better understand autism ser...
10/06/2026

🚨 Survey closes on Thursday, October 15

There's still time to complete our survey for us to better understand autism services in our state!

The Alabama Department of Mental Health and VitAL are conducting research to better understand autism services in Alabama for children and youth from birth to age 20. Through focus groups and surveys, we will work to learn more about strengths and barriers to care, as well as ways to improve autism services.

If you are a provider or family member of a child or youth with autism from birth to age 20, you are invited to register to participate by visiting the link below and filling out this brief form.

app.smartsheet.com/b/form/01a000a10e497db091264257b2071f17

This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, nationally recognized since 1990 thanks to NAMI advocacy with Congress. This...
10/06/2026

This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, nationally recognized since 1990 thanks to NAMI advocacy with Congress. This year's theme: Turning Science Into Hope.

Science doesn't evolve in a vacuum. It's shaped by real stories, real struggles, and real recovery. Every time someone shares their experience with a mental health condition, they're contributing to the research, treatment, and support systems that help the next person who needs it.

That's the work we're part of here in Alabama. Behind every training we deliver, every partnership we build with providers and agencies, and every connection we make to resources, there's a person's lived experience driving it forward.

If you or someone you love is navigating a mental health or substance use challenge, you don't have to find your way alone. The Connect Alabama app puts helplines, resources, and treatment options in one place, built for our state, by people who understand it.

This week, we're reflecting on how far the science has come, and how much further it goes when lived experience leads the way.

📲 Connect Alabama app - available on the App Store and Google Play
☎️ 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

Join us for our next webinar with Johanna Jones: The Role of FASD Screening and Evaluation.Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disord...
10/02/2026

Join us for our next webinar with Johanna Jones: The Role of FASD Screening and Evaluation.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) affect individuals and families across every community, yet many people living with FASD go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Early identification can change the course of a child’s development, and it starts with knowing what to look for and where to refer.

By participating in this training, you will be able to:

• Learn what FASD is and discover the latest scientific updates.

• Understand how diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment can lead to better outcomes for individuals with FASD.

• Gain access to a multidisciplinary FASD diagnosis clinic.

Join us for this webinar to learn how screening and evaluation fit into a broader system of care for individuals with FASD and the families who support them. Register: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0030-0030-1928547040c14a83b702c0a9d3ac6b01

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Montgomery, AL
36013, 36043, 36064, 36104, 36105, 36106, 36107, 36108, 36109, 36110, 36111, 361

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