Behavioral Health, Wellness & Prevention Services
Wellness & Prevention Services strives to empower individuals and families towards healthy lifestyles through education and community resources focused on addressing known risk factors.
Behavioral Health Wellness & Prevention Services concentrates efforts on the reduction of risk factors related to adolescent use of alcohol tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) by increasing the protective factors associated with healthy family, school and peer relationships.
Our goal is to encourage a safe, healthy Virginia Beach through the reduction of substance abuse.
Our Programs & Services
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a fifteen-hour, evidenced-based training designed to help participants recognize and review risks of suicide and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Graduated skill development is achieved through mini-lectures, facilitated discussions, group simulation and role play. - Community - Based Trainings
Prevention Educators provide a wide array of educational sessions for residents, children and adolescents. Relying on the prevention strategy of information dissemination, Prevention staff provide active and entertaining sessions at summer camps, in the community and for faith-based groups to educate others about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. - Community Health/Resource Fairs & Events
Community health fairs provide a unique opportunity to partner with local organizations and businesses to expose individuals to resources that can compound the benefits of wellness, health and exercise.
Health fairs offer educational and interactive events designed for outreach on topics such as, but not limited to, tobacco, cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, mammograms, grief and loss, alcohol, heroin, marijuana, proper disposal of medications, mental health, suicide, and more. - Lock & Talk
Lock and Talk Virginia is a project to prevent suicides by restricting access to firearms and poisons during a mental health crisis by educating members of the public how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide.
The program promotes safe and responsible care of guns, medications and other means of harm. Promoting safe and responsible care of guns, medications and other means of harm by providing trigger locks, support material for gun retailers and ranges, and educational brochures and posters. - Mental Health First Aid/Youth Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is an 8 - hour public education program designed to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize & respond to the warning signs of specific illness.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
Mental Health First Aid uses role playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social and self-help care.
- Problem Gambling Prevention (PGP) program
This program focuses on raising awareness about key topics such as gambling, types of gambling, risk and protective factors related to problem gambling, alternatives to gambling, safer gambling practices, available resources/helplines, and gambling laws. The goal is to collaborate with individuals and local organizations to offer community education and training, distribute information, merchant education, and provide resources at community events.
- safeTalk
safeTALK is a three-to four-hour training that prepares participants to recognize invitations and connect a person with thoughts of suicide to intervention resources.
- Substance Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP)
SAIP is an alternative to expulsion for middle and high school students who are found to be under the influence of or in possession of alcohol or other drugs, paraphernalia, or look-alikes. SAIP is a 10-day, 30-hour program with emphasis on drug and alcohol education and problem-solving skills.
Contact: Angella Allison-Davis, 757-385-0820; aallisondavis@vbgov.com - Tobacco Retailer (Merchant Education)
The Synar Amendment is a federal mandate requiring all states and territories to enact and enforce a law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors and supports retail compliance with Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) guidelines via merchant education.
- Registration Information
Training classes are offered throughout the month on the topics listed below. Most classes are one hour long, unless otherwise noted, and there is no cost to attend. Registration is required for all online events. For a list of upcoming events and to register, please visit our EventBrite page.
If you have questions about our trainings, or to request a training for your youth serving organization, please call (757) 385-0803. - Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
The ACE Study confirms, with scientific evidence, that adversity during development increases the risk of physical, mental and behavioral problems later in life. The ACE Study, and other research using the study’s framework, have taught us that ACEs are the leading cause of health and social problems in our nation and the most powerful determinant of the public’s health.
With this training, the Department hopes to increase awareness on ACEs, discuss what ACEs is and is not, and how to apply your knowledge of ACEs to your field of work. - HIV Education and Screening Services
HIV education services are designed to prevent and reduce the incidence of HIV infection among youth and adults in the City of Virginia Beach. Staff members are available to provide education for members of our community and City employees.
Free HIV screenings are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Witchduck Annex, 2nd floor, 258 N. Witchduck Rd., Suite 2D. This service is fast and private. Due to COVID-19, testing is offered by appointment only. Contact: Robert Hewitt, (757) 385-0811, RHewitt@vbgov.com. - Medication Safety & Disposal
This course describes how abuse and misuse can lead to addiction. Attendees will learn more about how to safeguard your home and three options for disposal of unused medicines. - REVIVE!
REVIVE! is Virginia’s Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (ONE) program, helping individuals learn how to recognize and respond to opioid overdose emergencies by administering naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Medical experience is helpful but not necessary. - Vaping: Tobacco, Alcohol & Marijuana
Participants will learn about the dangers associated with e-cigarettes and why teens are attracted to them. State data on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, and the health risks associated with vaping any substance will be discussed. - Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
A life-saving strategy outlining 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Participants learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and learn how to question, persuade and refer someone to get the appropriate help needed.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Talk Saves Lives
afsp.org/talk-saves-lives - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov/ - National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.drugabuse.gov/ - Quit Now Virginia
www.vdh.virginia.gov/tobacco-free-living/quit-now-virginia/ - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
www.samhsa.gov/ - Underage Drinking Resources for Parents: Talk they Hear You
www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources
Prevention Team
Supervisor
- TeVondra M. Gayden | (757) 385-0816 | tgayden@vbgov.com
Educators
- Robert Hewitt Jr. | (757) 385-0811 | RHewitt@vbgov.com
- Vivian Alibah | (757) 385-0827 | VSAlibah@vbgov.com
- Nathan French (757)385-0819 | NFrench@vbgov.com
- Angella Allison-Davis (757) 385-0820 | AAllisondavis@vbgov.com
Office Assistant
- Kathleen Parks | (757) 385-0803 | KParks@vbgov.com
HIV Prevention
