Health notes

MOBILE OFFICE: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Mobile Office is on site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Carl Nunziato VA Outpatient Clinic, 1815 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. Anyone with questions regarding VA or Mahoning County benefits, or who needs to file a VA claim, can stop in.

For more information, contact Susan Krawchyk, executive director, at 330-740-2450.

ADDICTION HELP MEETINGS: SMART Recovery’s 4-point program is the organization’s flagship secular program serving those with an addictive behavior, including both substance and activity / process addictions. Trained volunteer facilitators lead effective mutual support group discussions from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday on topics such as building and maintaining motivation; coping with urges and cravings; managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and living a balanced life.

Related tools consistent with evidence-based motivational and cognitive behavioral theories also are offered and discussed.

Read the program description at https://meetings.smart

recovery.org/meetings/7343. All meetings are free and no registration is needed.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups available for free to all caregivers, family members and friends with a loved one affected by the disease or another form of dementia.

The support groups meet at:

• North Jackson — 2 p.m. third Monday of the month, Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 N. Lipkey Road.

• Canfield — 1:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St.

Contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24 / 7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for more information.

FREE FITNESS PROGRAM: The Stepping Out Program offers free fitness classes and activities online and in person throughout the Mahoning Valley. Call Doris Bullock, project coordinator, at 330-720-3293 or email her at dibullock@mercy.com for information. For a schedule of virtual and in-person classes, visit www.mercy.com.

SENIOR SUPPORT: The Senior Support Action Group is a volunteer-based program that provides services to homebound seniors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. It provides monthly food boxes, transportation to medical appointments and a phone pals companionship program. For more information or to sign up for services, call 330-424-7877, Ext. 2.

NAMI OFFERS SUPPORT: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mahoning Valley offers support and education for individuals and families dealing with mental illness.

• Family To Family, for families dealing with a member who has mental illness, and Peer to Peer, for individuals dealing with mental illness, meet periodically.

• Connection support groups, 2:15 p.m. Thursdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.

• Connection support groups, 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

• Free yoga, noon to 1 p.m. second Friday of each month, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown.

• Support through Expressive Arts, 6 pm. every third Monday, Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown.

• Daytime Family Support Group, 11 a.m. the first Thursday of the month, Girard Library, 105 Prospect St., Girard.

• Evening Family Support Group, 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

Email info@namimahoningvalley.org, call 330-727-9268 or visit the website at www.namimahoningvalley.org for more information.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARIES: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at various library locations. A limited supply will be available at each library location and one bag will be permitted per family.

The system is a simple, environmentally safe way for someone to get rid of unneeded medications. The bag allows users to safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home.

Unneeded medications also can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations that can be found in the lobbies at various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps: keep children, pets, and others safe from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications; prevent them from being misused or stolen; and keep the medication out of our water and soil.

OA MEETS: Overeaters Anonymous meets 7 p.m. Mondays. OA is for anyone with addictive problems with food, including compulsive overeating, bulimia, anorexia and other food-related problems.

For further information on location, contact Mary Beth at 330-301-0891 or check OA.org for more meetings.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY: Celebrate Recovery, a support group to help those recovering from addiction or any kind of mental health issue, meets 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at 6779 Belmont Ave., Girard.

ADDICTION SCREENINGS: Anyone struggling with methamphetamine addiction may call Narconon to find treatment to end the web that traps people in those in addiction. Visit https://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/understanding-meth-addiction.html or call 800-431-1754 for free screenings or referrals.

ALZHEIMER NETWORK: The Alzheimer Network has scheduled the following volunteer support groups for Alzheimer caregivers. Call 330-788-9755 for information.

• Austintown — 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield Niles Road.

• Boardman — 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, St. Charles Catholic Church, Boardman Canfield Road.

• Canfield — 10 a.m. fourth Friday of the month, Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St.

• Girard — 6 p.m. third Tuesday of the month, Guiding Light Presbyterian Church, 890 Churchill Road.

• Howland — 10 a.m. first Wednesday of the month, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, 855 Howland Wilson Road.

• Poland — noon first Saturday of the month, Wickshire Senior Living, 355 W. McKinley Way, or call for time, third Thursday of the month, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road.

• Salem — 6:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Emmanuel Education Building, 251 S. Broadway Ave.

Health notes

MOBILE OFFICE: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Mobile Office is on site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Carl Nunziato VA Outpatient Clinic, 1815 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. Anyone with questions regarding VA or Mahoning County benefits, or who needs to file a VA claim, can stop in.

For more information, contact Susan Krawchyk, executive director, at 330-740-2450.

ADDICTION HELP MEETINGS: SMART Recovery’s 4-point program is the organization’s flagship secular program serving those with an addictive behavior, including both substance and activity / process addictions. Trained volunteer facilitators lead mutual support group discussions from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday on topics such as building and maintaining motivation; coping with urges and cravings; managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and living a balanced life.

Related tools consistent with evidence-based motivational and cognitive behavioral theo-

ries are offered and discussed.

Read the program description at https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/7343. All meetings are free and no registration is needed.

DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION: The Trumbull-Mahoning Diversity Equity and Inclusion Collaborative, formed by the Mental Health and Recovery Boards of Mahoning and Trumbull County, meets at 1 p.m. Friday at Direction Home of Northeast Ohio, 1030 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown. A virtual option also is available. Find the link at www.trumbull mhrb.org or mahoningcountyoh.gov.

The boards are optimistic that this collaborative will help to identify and address barriers and gaps within Mahoning and Trumbull counties’ systems of care. The committee seeks to engage stakeholders, including agencies and individuals to join the committee from varying sectors of the community.

The committee is co-chaired by Katie Cretella, director of Clinical Services at TCMHRB, and Brenda Heidinger, associate director of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

For more information, contact Carol Holmes Chambers at 330-675-2765, Ext. 114, or Heidinger or Valerie Burney at 330-746-2959.

MCMHRB MEETINGS: Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board will meet at 5 p.m. Monday at the CSB Building, 222 W. Federal St., Youngstown.

Contact MCMHR board office at 330-746-2959 with questions or comments.

SUPPORT GROUPS: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups available for free to all caregivers, family members and friends of someone affected by the disease or a form of dementia.

The support groups meet at:

• North Jackson — 2 p.m. third Monday of the month, Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 N. Lipkey Road.

• Canfield — 1:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St.

Contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24 / 7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for more information.

FREE FITNESS PROGRAM: The Stepping Out Program offers free fitness classes and activities online and in person throughout the Mahoning Valley. Call Doris Bullock, project coordinator, at 330-720-3293 or email her at dibullock@mercy.com for information. For a schedule of virtual and in-person classes, visit www.mercy.com.

SENIOR SUPPORT: The Senior Support Action Group is a volunteer-based program that provides services to homebound seniors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. It provides monthly food boxes, transportation to medical appointments and a phone pals companionship program. For more information or to sign up for services, call 330-424-7877, Ext. 2.

NAMI OFFERS SUPPORT: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mahoning Valley offers support and education for individuals and families dealing with mental illness.

• Family To Family, for families dealing with a member who has mental illness, and Peer to Peer, for individuals dealing with mental illness, meet periodically.

• Connection support groups, 2:15 p.m. Thursdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.

• Connection support groups, 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

• Free yoga, noon to 1 p.m. second Friday of each month, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown.

• Support through Expressive Arts, 6 pm. every third Monday, Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown.

Email info@namimahoningvalley.org, call 330-727-9268 or visit www.namimahoningvalley.org for information.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARIES: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at various library locations. A limited supply will be available at each library location and one bag will be permitted per family.

The system is a simple, environmentally safe way for someone to get rid of unneeded medications. The bag allows users to safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home.

Unneeded medications also can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations that can be found in the lobbies at various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps: keep children, pets, and others safe from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications; prevent them from being misused or stolen; and keep the medication out of our water and soil.