Kitchen explodes in Cape Coral homeLehigh Acres man accused of shooting into vehicle, injuring driver
CAPE CORAL Kitchen explodes in Cape Coral home Authorities responded to a Cape Coral home after a kitchen exploded Friday afternoon.
lehigh acres Lehigh Acres man accused of shooting into vehicle, injuring driver The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who they said fired shots into a vehicle and injured a man in Lehigh Acres on Thanksgiving night.
FORT MYERS Multi-vehicle crash involving Publix truck on I-75 in Lee County A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a Publix semi-truck, has occurred in Lee County.
FEMA extends flood insurance renewal deadlines in Charlotte County FEMA policyholders in Charlotte County have until Dec. 10 to renew certain flood insurance policies.
Sanibel city contractors to begin final storm debris pick-up The City of Sanibel has announced its final storm debris pick-up date for residents.
Stay safe shopping this holiday season: Advice from local law enforcement As the holiday shopping season heats up, Southwest Florida’s sheriffs are reminding the community to stay vigilant, whether shopping in-store or online.
Sanibel National Shell Museum & Aquarium in Sanibel showcases new exhibit A plethora of international shells is currently on display for tourists and shell enthusiasts to enjoy.
WINK NEWS How to support small businesses on Small Business Saturday in Southwest Florida After hitting the big Black Friday sales at major retailers, the Better Business Bureau encourages consumers to check out small, local and independent businesses participating in Small Business Saturday (SBS).
Money saving apps that should be on your phone this holiday season Black Friday has begun, and an estimated 74% of people are expected to turn out for holiday deals; however, inflation may dampen plans this season.
Making Melodies: How a SWFL teen is putting her musical talents to charitable use The moment Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas music begins, as WINK News speaks with a talented teenager about how she’s putting her musical talents to good use.
the weather authority Cold front brings a few showers this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front accompanied by showers throughout this Friday afternoon and evening.
Black Friday store hours for 2024 Stores will offer some of the best deals of the year on Black Friday. Here are some of the store hours for Black Friday.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida shoppers shopping last minute for Thanksgiving Last-minute Thanksgiving shoppers, we’ve all been there. Someone forgot the egg nog, the cranberry sauce or wine to deal with the in-laws.
FORT MYERS South Carolina women’s basketball team in town The defending champs are in Southwest Florida.
AVE MARIA Ave Maria man thankful to be alive after taking bullet for a family An Ave Maria man said he’s thankful to be alive this Thanksgiving after taking a bullet to save a mother and her four children from a violent attacker.
CAPE CORAL Kitchen explodes in Cape Coral home Authorities responded to a Cape Coral home after a kitchen exploded Friday afternoon.
lehigh acres Lehigh Acres man accused of shooting into vehicle, injuring driver The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who they said fired shots into a vehicle and injured a man in Lehigh Acres on Thanksgiving night.
FORT MYERS Multi-vehicle crash involving Publix truck on I-75 in Lee County A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a Publix semi-truck, has occurred in Lee County.
FEMA extends flood insurance renewal deadlines in Charlotte County FEMA policyholders in Charlotte County have until Dec. 10 to renew certain flood insurance policies.
Sanibel city contractors to begin final storm debris pick-up The City of Sanibel has announced its final storm debris pick-up date for residents.
Stay safe shopping this holiday season: Advice from local law enforcement As the holiday shopping season heats up, Southwest Florida’s sheriffs are reminding the community to stay vigilant, whether shopping in-store or online.
Sanibel National Shell Museum & Aquarium in Sanibel showcases new exhibit A plethora of international shells is currently on display for tourists and shell enthusiasts to enjoy.
WINK NEWS How to support small businesses on Small Business Saturday in Southwest Florida After hitting the big Black Friday sales at major retailers, the Better Business Bureau encourages consumers to check out small, local and independent businesses participating in Small Business Saturday (SBS).
Money saving apps that should be on your phone this holiday season Black Friday has begun, and an estimated 74% of people are expected to turn out for holiday deals; however, inflation may dampen plans this season.
Making Melodies: How a SWFL teen is putting her musical talents to charitable use The moment Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas music begins, as WINK News speaks with a talented teenager about how she’s putting her musical talents to good use.
the weather authority Cold front brings a few showers this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front accompanied by showers throughout this Friday afternoon and evening.
Black Friday store hours for 2024 Stores will offer some of the best deals of the year on Black Friday. Here are some of the store hours for Black Friday.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida shoppers shopping last minute for Thanksgiving Last-minute Thanksgiving shoppers, we’ve all been there. Someone forgot the egg nog, the cranberry sauce or wine to deal with the in-laws.
FORT MYERS South Carolina women’s basketball team in town The defending champs are in Southwest Florida.
AVE MARIA Ave Maria man thankful to be alive after taking bullet for a family An Ave Maria man said he’s thankful to be alive this Thanksgiving after taking a bullet to save a mother and her four children from a violent attacker.
(Credit: WINK News) There is a new push in Southwest Florida to help people put their mental health first. It is part of the David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health initiative called “mind your mind.” It’s no secret that mental health across the country has plummeted during the pandemic, but as we enter year three, experts say in Florida alone, demand is far beyond anything they’ve ever seen. The Director of Development for the David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, Emily Budd-Schepperly, said, “These are unprecedented numbers we have continuously, over the last several years, seen an increase but never numbers at this rate. We have a 30-bed unit. On some days, we’ve seen up to 56 children and adults on that unit.” The David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health’s mind your mind initiative is a month-by-month approach that encourages mental wellness in the community through emails, classes, and discussions. “We recognize that in light of the pandemic, the topic of mental health is relevant to everyone. We’ve all seen significant impacts. And so this is our way of pushing out free community resources to help our community connect to services, awareness, education, and treatment,” said Budd-Schepperly. While no state is immune to the mental health crisis, the situation in Florida is especially dire. Budd-Schepperly said, “Florida is 50th out of 50 when it comes to funding per capita for mental health. And we see in our community the need for support is also relevant.” If the state won’t help, the David Lawrence Centers says it is up to us to start these conversations ourselves, whether at home, in the workplace, or anywhere else. “The mind your mind campaign is not only inviting you to prioritize your mental well being but inviting you to prioritize the well being of our community, whether that’s your family member or your neighbor, it’s a way for you to understand what warning signs or symptoms may look like, and hopefully get those who may need treatment into treatment services and programs,” said Budd-Schepperly. While there’s no quick fix, Budd-Schepperly said that stirring up these conversations is a step in the right direction because no matter how healthy your body is, you’re nothing without your mind. The mind your mind campaign will address twelve topics this year, one for each month. January is dedicated to community wellbeing and February will focus on mental health for seniors. If you’d like more information on these topics you can visit the David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health’s website by clicking here. Mental health resources in Southwest Florida If you are struggling or if you know a loved one who is in trouble, there is help and you are not alone. There is free and immediate support available 24/7. Below is a list of important resources: In An Emergency If you or a loved one is in immediate danger call 911. It is important to notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention or trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency. National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) suicidepreventionlifeline.org If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—please call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7. Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741 Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message. National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) Trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information. Help is available in Spanish and other languages. National Sexual Assault Hotline – Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) Connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area that offers access to a range of free services. Crisis chat support is available at Online Hotline. Free help, 24/7. Below are mental health resources available to Southwest Floridians at the national and local level. David Lawrence Center (Collier County) (239)455-8500 davidlawrencecenter.org SalusCare (Lee County) (239)275-4242 saluscareflorida.org (NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County namicollier.org (NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry Counties namilee.org The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers Collier County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/collier Lee County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/lee Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance convio.net Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America adaa.org U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help) hhs.gov Local veterans resource: Home Base SWFL homebase.org