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 According to the 2010 U.S. Census, more than one million Californians identify as LGBTQ, making up more than 4 percent of California’s population. Due to factors such as lack of access to treatment, culturally unresponsive service provision, and higher levels of stigma and discrimination, LGBTQ people are almost three times more likely than non-LGBTQ peers to experience a mental health challenge. Being a member of the LGBTQ community doesn’t necessarily increase the risk for mental health issues; but the stigma and discrimination LGBTQ individuals may face from family, friends and society can increase risk for mental health challenges. Check out the resources below to help start important conversations and find safe places for support. Resources Linked Below:  National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 - Trevor ProjectThe past year has been incredibly difficult for so many, but we also know that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth have faced unique challenges. The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health sheds light on many of these challenges by capturing the experiences of nearly 35,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13–24 across the United States.
Our third annual survey provides brand new data on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health care disparities, discrimination, food insecurity, conversion therapy, and suicide — in addition to the benefits of LGBTQ-affirming spaces and respecting the pronouns of transgender and nonbinary youth. We are also proud that this sample is our most diverse yet, with 45% being LGBTQ youth of color and 38% being transgender or nonbinary. Among some of the key findings of the survey:
May is Mental Health Matters Month
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| This FREE online community conversation is intended for parents or caregivers of teens who want to know more about substance use. We will hear from:
| Esta conversación comunitaria en línea es GRATUITA y es dirigida a padres o cuidadores de adolescentes que quieran saber más sobre el uso de sustancias . Los presentadores son:
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Resources - Recursos
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Parenting Resources - Recursos Para Padres
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- Parent Guidance - Are you worried about your child? We offer education and therapeutic support to empower and give you hope as you support your child’s mental health.
- Attend Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Guide - Download "Starting the Conversation - College and Mental Health"
- Parental Strategies For Reducing Risky Behavior Around Alcohol - Download "A Parent Handbook - Talking With College Students About Alcohol"
- Communication
Make sure it is two way.
Live in their world, don’t just ask them to live in yours.
Ask questions that begin with “what,” “how,” and “why.” - Modeling
Make sure and explain why you are doing what you do especially with alcohol and transportation. Left to their own interpretation, teens might connect the dots in a much different way than you intended. For example, you hand your teen the keys to drive you home after a couple of drinks. You think you are modeling that you don’t drink and drive. The teen might interpret this as you drink to the point you can’t drive. You can control the story by sharing your “why.” - Monitoring
Be creative in the ways you check-in with your kids, their friends and other parents. You are also teaching good parenting and remember…”when you parent, you are parenting your grandchildren.” - Parental Rules
Rules backed by health science, not just coming from our personal value system. Teens might still use alcohol but Dr. Turrisi’s research shows that setting the rule and communicating your why, reduces risk, frequency and amount consumed. - Environment
Setting-up an environment in your home that is welcoming to other kids, accepting of differences, conducive to communication, connection, modeling and monitoring. If we are lucky will lead to some acceptance and buy-in of parental rules.
Call to Action - Llamada a La Acción
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- Opioid Response Recorded Training, Request Free Narcan, & Resources - Linked Here
- Safely Dispose Of Unwanted Prescription Drugs
Individual residents of Truckee may dispose of medications in the permanent drug (Rx) collection bin located inside the lobby of the Truckee Police Department located inside Town Hall at 10183 Truckee Airport Road. It is available for drop-offs Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Rx bin is available to individual residents only, not businesses or DEA registrants.
Residents can drop off prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and pet medications ONLY. Please consult with Truckee PD staff before depositing items into the bin. Sharps (hypodermic needles, Epi-pens, lancets), aerosols (inhalers), or illegal drugs (marijuana included) are NOT accepted. Sharps and aerosols can be dropped off during specific Hazardous Waste days at the Eastern Regional Landfill located on Hwy 89 and Cabin Creek Road in Truckee.
For more information on the bins, please contact the TT-FWDD Coalition at (530) 546-1924, or visit www.ttfwdd.com. For information on Eastern Regional Landfill Hazardous Waste days, visit www.waste101.com or call (530) 583-7800.
VA launches program to send caring letters to 90,000 Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today its Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) formally launched the Caring Letters Program, an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention that involves sending periodic messages with simple expressions of care and concern to Veterans who use VA health care and contact the VCL.
The DoD released the Annual Suicide Report 2019
The Department of Defense (DoD) Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR) summarizes suicide counts and annual rates for the Active Component, Reserves, and National Guard. The purpose of the QSR is to communicate DoD suicide data to stakeholders external to DoD on a routine and frequent basis.
Suicide mortality data in these reports are provided by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) with inputs from the Service suicide prevention programs. Population data are collected from the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC).
Veteran Suicide Prevention
If you’re a Veteran in a mental health crisis and you’re thinking about hurting yourself—or you know a Veteran who’s considering this—get help right away. You’re not alone.
Resource Highlight: Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention
To generate new knowledge about the causes and treatments of mental disorders, apply new findings to model clinical programs, and widely disseminate new findings through education to improve the quality of veterans’ lives and their daily functioning in their recovering from mental illness.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today its Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) formally launched the Caring Letters Program, an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention that involves sending periodic messages with simple expressions of care and concern to Veterans who use VA health care and contact the VCL.
The DoD released the Annual Suicide Report 2019
The Department of Defense (DoD) Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR) summarizes suicide counts and annual rates for the Active Component, Reserves, and National Guard. The purpose of the QSR is to communicate DoD suicide data to stakeholders external to DoD on a routine and frequent basis.
Suicide mortality data in these reports are provided by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) with inputs from the Service suicide prevention programs. Population data are collected from the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC).
Veteran Suicide Prevention
If you’re a Veteran in a mental health crisis and you’re thinking about hurting yourself—or you know a Veteran who’s considering this—get help right away. You’re not alone.
Resource Highlight: Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention
To generate new knowledge about the causes and treatments of mental disorders, apply new findings to model clinical programs, and widely disseminate new findings through education to improve the quality of veterans’ lives and their daily functioning in their recovering from mental illness.
Veterans Crisis Line
Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves.
Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves.
You can also bring Know the Signs or QPR training to your organization. Register to take QPR online and on-demand here and request live trainings here.
Additional Resources:
Additional Resources:
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| This year’s World Mental Health Day, on October 10th, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The past months have brought many challenges: for health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances, going to work fearful of bringing COVID-19 home with them; for students, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or in fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before. And this is to say nothing of managing the grief of losing a loved one, sometimes without being able to say goodbye. The economic consequences of the pandemic are already being felt, as companies let staff go in an effort to save their businesses, or indeed shut down completely. Given past experience of emergencies, it is expected that the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. Investment in mental health programs at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been. This is why the goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health. Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. |  The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. If we want transformational change that improves our mental health and addiction care systems, we need to stand united and take action! NAMI is an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. Let's work together to destigmatize all mental health conditions by changing the way people talk about, and care for, their mental health. |
What is a Mental health crisis?
Self-care tips for the caregiver:
What is self-care? Build an action plan.
Wildfire Response
The following resources may assist with those impacted by wildfires:
Wildfire Preparation
During Red Flag warnings, use EXTREME caution is urged by all residents and visitors, A simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
The following resources may assist with those impacted by wildfires:
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- SAMHSA Disaster App. The SAMHSA Disaster App enables first responders to access resources, download information in case of limited internet connectivity, and more. Available for iOS and Android.
- SAMHSA Disaster Kit. Available for download.
- PFA Mobile. Psychological First Aid smartphone app enables responders review PFA guidelines and assess their readiness to deliver PFA in the field. Supplement for trained individuals. Available for iOS and Android.
- Sustaining the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers While Caring for Disaster Victims. A publication from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Dept. of Psychiatry, the Uniformed Services University.
Wildfire Preparation
During Red Flag warnings, use EXTREME caution is urged by all residents and visitors, A simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
- No open burning, no campfires, no BBQs, Campfire Ban in effect - Report any illegal fires, open burning or smoke to 911.
- No outdoor equipment that could start a fire like weed- eating, chainsaws or mowing
- Prepare for an evacuation - think about what you will take with you (GO BAG), have it ready, set a meeting location for your family. Park fueled cars facing out, have garden hoses spread out and ready to knock down embers.
- Have your smartphone on at night, next to your bed.
- If there is a wildfire, don’t wait for an evacuation notice. Evacuate early!
- Consider leaving the area during times of extreme danger.
- Go to Readyforwildfire.org for more information.
Thank Your Members of Congress and Encourage More Action on Suicide Prevention!
On Monday, September 21, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S.2661). This legislation will support the implementation of the three-digit "9-8-8" dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through funding guidance, federal reporting, and specialized services for at-risk communities like LGBTQ-youth and veterans.
After unanimous passage by the U.S. Senate in May and unanimous passage by the U.S. House this week, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act will soon be signed into law!
Click here to thank your legislator: Public Policy Action Center - AFSP
On Monday, September 21, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S.2661). This legislation will support the implementation of the three-digit "9-8-8" dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through funding guidance, federal reporting, and specialized services for at-risk communities like LGBTQ-youth and veterans.
After unanimous passage by the U.S. Senate in May and unanimous passage by the U.S. House this week, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act will soon be signed into law!
Click here to thank your legislator: Public Policy Action Center - AFSP
Great news! My #NationalSuicideHotlineDesignationAct has passed the House & is on its way to @POTUS desk. Those in a mental health crisis will now have the extra support that they need. 9-8-8 will save lives & give us additional tools to help reverse the tragic trend of suicide. pic.twitter.com/5ExUQDWJ2p
— Rep. Chris Stewart (@RepChrisStewart) September 21, 2020
| During the month of September, Suicide Prevention Month, we are asking North Lake Tahoe and Truckee residents to share with us the things/people/places/ideas that bring you hope. What anchors you to life? What are your reasons for living? We plan to share the hope you provide here across our social media platforms and newsletter as a way to help pass your hope on to others. We will not identify you, but will note you as a resident from the community in which you call home. We will only collect an email address to reach out to if you are selected as a raffle winner and will then ask for you address to mail you the gift certificate. Feel free to share multiple examples of hope, but we will only allow one entry per email address. The raffle will take place at the end of the month for those who have submitted their examples of hope with us. Thank you to Rich Votaw, of Farmer’s Insurance in Tahoe City, who has graciously donated 3 gift certificates to Sierra Community House for this raffle: $150 at River Grill, $125 at Soule Domain, & $100 at Lanza’s. Thank you for being you and for being here. Let's spread HOPE!   |       |
In the News: "September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day, an opportunity to remember those affected by suicide, create awareness, remove stigma, and to focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most...
As the Olympic National Governing Body of skiing and snowboarding in the United States, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s mission is to empower athletes to achieve excellence, including providing the resources and tools necessary to ensure mental well being. Through a partnership with The Speedy Foundation, U.S. Ski & Snowboard will provide mandatory QPR Institute training for all staff. QPR Training will also be free and highly encouraged for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, members, and board members." Read More Here
You can also bring QPR training to your organization. Register to take QPR online and on-demand here and connect with TTSPC's Suicide Prevention Coordinator to discuss working with your organization to become a hero for mental health.
Additional Resources:
As the Olympic National Governing Body of skiing and snowboarding in the United States, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s mission is to empower athletes to achieve excellence, including providing the resources and tools necessary to ensure mental well being. Through a partnership with The Speedy Foundation, U.S. Ski & Snowboard will provide mandatory QPR Institute training for all staff. QPR Training will also be free and highly encouraged for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, members, and board members." Read More Here
You can also bring QPR training to your organization. Register to take QPR online and on-demand here and connect with TTSPC's Suicide Prevention Coordinator to discuss working with your organization to become a hero for mental health.
Additional Resources:
Thank you for attending Mental Health in the Mountains, our 2020 Speakers Series. Below are resources and links to the recordings from each presentation.
- Share Feedback Here
- Take an Upcoming Training
- Local Resources - Crisis Resources - Covid-19 Resources
- Share Your Hope Here - Hope Is...
- Enter to win a local gift certificate from River Grill, Soule Domain, & Lanza’s. Thank you to Rich Votaw, of Farmer’s Insurance in Tahoe City, for his gracious donation.
Live Through This
Facilitated by Dese'Rae Stage, September 29, 2020
Resources:
Facilitated by Dese'Rae Stage, September 29, 2020
Resources:
- Local resources for survivors of suicide attempts (Coming Soon)
- Website - Live Through This
- Video - What is Live Through This?
- Video - Lagemas George
- Twitter Feed Discussion
- Podcast - Suicide'n'Stuff
- Film - S-Word
- If you are inspired to tell your own story, check out resources on storytelling with Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas
- Suicide Coursework Issue Brief - download below
- Stay in touch with Dese'Rae - contact below
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Community Resiliency Model Training
Facilitated by Laurie Strand, LCSW, September 21, 2020
Resources:
Facilitated by Laurie Strand, LCSW, September 21, 2020
Resources:
- Trauma Resource Institute
- iChill App
- ACEs Connection
- English Handouts - linked below
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- Spanish Handouts - linked below
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Surviving and Thriving through Crisis: Workplace Resilience and Growth During Uncertainty and Toxic Stress
Facilitated by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, September 14, 2020
Resources:
Facilitated by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, September 14, 2020
Resources:
- Follow Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas
- Covid and Coping Twitter Chat, Sept. 17, #ElevateTheConvo
- Self-care
- Safety Planning
- Storytelling
- Man Therapy
- Directing Change
- Hope Squad - School Peer-to-Peer Program
- Zero Suicide - Health Care
- Workplace Suicide Prevention - Take the Pledge
- Download Covid Coping Guide
- Working Minds - Suicide Prevention in the Workplace Training
- Manager's Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace
- Suicide Intervention Trainings for Clinicians
- Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk: Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals (AMSR)
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS-care)
- If you serve the local North Lake Tahoe/Truckee region and are interested in this training, please email sdecker@sierracommunityhouse.org to learn more.
- Book: Why People Die by Suicide, by Dr. Thomas Joiner
- Kevin Hines, Suicide Prevention Advocate
Important Dates This Month:
- 6-12: National Suicide Prevention Week
- 9: Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training
- 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
- 12: Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
- 14: Mental Health in the Mountains - Surviving and Thriving Through Crisis
- 17: Physician Suicide Awareness Day
- 17: Covid and Coping, Twitter Chat with Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas - #ElevateTheConvo
- 17: Communities Supporting Recovery Webinar
- 21: Mental Health in the Mountains - Community Resiliency Model Training
- 21: “86” Suicide in the Restaurant Industry - Facebook Live Panel
- 20: Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
- 23: Know the Signs Training
- 24: Suicide Prevention and Substance Use: Shared Strategies for Prevention and Intervention Webinar
- 26: Hope Rising for Suicide Prevention Virtual Summit
- 26: Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training
- 29: Mental Health in the Mountains - Live Through This
Town of Truckee, Town Council - Suicide Prevention & Recovery Month Proclamation on Sept. 8th, 2020
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Download and use this background to promote suicide prevention this month.
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In the News & TTSPC September Newsletters
- ‘Help is out there’: Nevada County health officials work toward community suicide prevention, The Union - 9/2/20
- Nevada County officials work toward community suicide prevention, Sierra Sun - 9/11/20
- Newsletter: Hope, Resilience and Recovery - September is Suicide Prevention Month - 9/2/20
- Newsletter: Suicide Prevention Month is Underway - 9/15/20
- Newsletter: Suicide Prevention Month Draws to a Close - 9/28/20
Mental Health in the Mountains Speaker Series and Community Trainings - Register Here
- College Mental Health Awareness - Did you know that 75% of all mental health conditions begin by age 24? That’s why the college years are so critical for understanding and talking about mental health. Below are resources created by NAMI, The Jed Foundation, & Mental Health America.
- NAMI Toolkit and Web Resources
- Life on Campus
- Take a Mental Health Screening
- Jed Foundation
- Trevor Project
- Seize the Awkward Campaign
- Active Minds
- Click the images below to download the toolkit & report:
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July 16, 2022
Months ago, the FCC unanimously approved 988 as new three-digit suicide prevention hotline. Today, an announcement was made that the process to implement the number will take two years, as telecom and voice service companies will be mandated to have a 988 hotline by July 16, 2022.
Per FCC chairman Ajit Pai, the nation’s suicide rates are at its highest point since World War II. Suicide also disproportionately affects marginalized groups — namely Black Americans, Native Americans, Americans in rural areas, teens and young adults and LGBTQ people.
The current number to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which received 2.2 million calls in 2018.
Per FCC chairman Ajit Pai, the nation’s suicide rates are at its highest point since World War II. Suicide also disproportionately affects marginalized groups — namely Black Americans, Native Americans, Americans in rural areas, teens and young adults and LGBTQ people.
The current number to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which received 2.2 million calls in 2018.
Request FREE Narcan
After attending this training you will be eligible to obtain a FREE Narcan (Naloxone) Nasal Kit. You must complete a 3 question quiz (linked below) and leave your contact information so we can make arrangements for kit pick-up.
The quiz will not be available on the Federal holiday July 3, 2020 due to Survey Monkey Maintenance.
For Questions about Narcan Nasal Kits please contact River Coyote - 530 546-1924 or FWDD@ttcf.net
The quiz will not be available on the Federal holiday July 3, 2020 due to Survey Monkey Maintenance.
For Questions about Narcan Nasal Kits please contact River Coyote - 530 546-1924 or FWDD@ttcf.net
Resources & Information
- Website: Tahoe Truckee Future Without Drug Dependence
- Website: National Institute on Drug Abuse - Heroin
- Website: SAMHSA - Opioid Overdose
- Website: California Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard
- Website: Center for Disease Control & Prevention
- Website: Shatterproof
- CA Law: California's Good Samaritan Law, Narcan AB2760
- NV Law: Nevada's Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
- Treatment: Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) with Suboxone - Tahoe Forest Hospital
- (530) 582-1212
- Download: MAT Clinic Flyer
- Treatment: Local Support Group List
- Smartphone App: Narcan Now
- Download: Opioid Response - Mental Health First Aid
- Download: SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Toolkit
- Download: Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers
- Download: Responding to a Fentanyl Overdose: What California First Responders Need to Know
- Download: The Intersection of Opioids and Suicide: A Prevention Approach (slide deck)
- Article: Breakdown in Lockdown
- Article: The Bell Tolls for Thee & Thine: Compassion Fatigue & the Overdose Epidemic
- Article: Opioid Use and Suicide Risk
- Article: The Surprising Links Among Opioid Use, Suicide, and Unintentional Overdose
- Article: The King of Boise - The Life and Times of a Teenage Oxycodone Dealer
- Article: Toxicology tests confirm Park City boys died of ‘pink’ overdose
- Article: The Suicide and Opioid Link: Translating Knowledge into Action
- Article: As opioids flooded tribal lands across the U.S., overdose deaths skyrocketed
- Article: ‘Cries for help’: Drug overdoses are soaring during the coronavirus pandemic
- Article: Deaths of Despair: Why? What to Do?
- Article: 75,000 Americans at risk of dying from overdose or suicide due to coronavirus despair, group warns
- Television Show: 20/20 - What Really Killed Prince
- Podcast Series: Painkiller: America's Fentanyl Crisis - Vice
- Podcast: A Social Prescription - Hidden Brain, NPR
- YouTube Playlist: Opioid Response
 | Information for Week 1 of Mental Health Month
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We are bringing Know the Signs trainings directly to your home or office via Zoom!
Upcoming Trainings:
You can also set up a virtual training for your office, club, or organization.
Register and learn more about this training & register here: www.tahoelifeline.org/training
Upcoming Trainings:
- May 8th -10:30-11:00 am
- May 13th - 6:00-6:30 pm
- May 26th - 2:00-2:30 pm
- June 5th - 10:30-11:00 am
- June 10th - 6:00-6:30 pm
- June 22nd - 2:00-2:30 pm
You can also set up a virtual training for your office, club, or organization.
Register and learn more about this training & register here: www.tahoelifeline.org/training
Shannon Decker
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
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