September 2024

Greetings from the Wellesley Health Department! In this issue...

-Town Flu clinic, Preventing West Nile Virus and EEE, Suicide Prevention Month, nicotine pouches and more...

As always, please reach out to us with questions or suggestions for how we can better serve you by emailing us at health@wellesleyma.gov. We love to hear from you!

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Flu Clinic Coming Soon!

When: Tuesday, 10/30/24, 11:00AM-1:00PM

Where: Wellesley Health Dept. , 90 Washington St., 1st floor gymnasium.

Who: Wellesley residents and town employees ages 18+.

Walk-ins welcome, but registration is preferred. Visit this link for registration information.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide is a leading cause of death and effects people of all ages. According to the CDC, suicide was responsible for 49,476 deaths in 2022, which is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2022, an estimated 13.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.8 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.6 million attempted suicide.

Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impact and affect the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. But-suicide is preventable. Everyone has a role to play to save lives and create healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. Check out the links below for tips on supporting someone who is struggling with their mental health or who may be in crisis or to seek help for yourself:

Call/text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988): Using The 988 Lifeline is free. When you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline, your conversation is confidential. The 988 Lifeline provides judgment-free care. Talking with someone can help save your life.

Learn the five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal.

Visit the Wellesley Health Department website for mental health resources in our community.

Always call 9-1-1 in a life threatening emergency.

Is your family up to date on vaccines?

Now is a great time to check! This link provides an easy to read comprehensive list of suggested vaccines by age.

The CDC also has a lot of great info for families.

Meningitis vaccine info for teens and college students.

Routine vaccinations are a great tool to keep kids healthy, in school, and ready to learn!

Nicotine Pouches: What YOU Need to Know

What Are They? Nicotine pouches are small pockets filled with nicotine, typically flavored, that go in your mouth and sit in between your lip and your gums. Zyn is the most popular brand among young people. Easy to access and easy to use, nicotine pouches are increasingly popular with teens. According to Tobacco Free Kids, “Nicotine pouch use has significantly increased since 2016, and its use is most common among young adults aged 18-24.” Nicotine is highly addictive but it's especially dangerous before the brain is fully developed, which happens around age 25.

Where do Kids Get Them? Local retailers like gas stations and convenience stores sell these pouches. Although you must be 21 to purchase nicotine pouches, kids access them through a variety of ways including finding someone over 21 to purchase them and purchasing online and through social media sites like SnapChat.

Why Do Kids Like Them? Usually tobacco pouches are flavored which makes them more attractive to young people. Here in MA flavored tobacco and nicotine products are banned but flavorless Zyn is known to have a slightly sweet taste that is not unpleasant. Additionally, manufacturers have bypassed this law by selling nicotine free flavored pouches meant to be used with Zyn. They're also easy to hide. These pouches are small enough that you wouldn’t necessarily notice them in someone’s mouth. Additionally, manufacturers have developed marketing campaigns that specifically target kids.

Resources for More Info and Helping Kids Quit

Tips For Talking to Kids (references vaping but can substitute any nicotine products)

More Info About Nicotine Pouches

Quitting Support for Teens

Nicotine Pouch Marketing to Kids (examples)

For more info, visit our website: https://www.wellesleyma.gov/197/Mosquitoes-Ticks

Looking for healthy lunch and snack options for the school year? Visit our website for ideas and resources.

Health Department Calendar

Keep Well Clinics. The Health Department offers weekly Keep Well clinics for residents. Get your blood pressure checked and have your health questions answered.
- Visit this link for the schedule for September-December 2024

Stay Up to Date With The Health Department!

Contact us: health@wellesleyma.gov, or call 781-235-0135

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellesleyhealth

Instagram: wellesleyhealth

Website: https://wellesleyma.gov/193/Health

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