Lunch and Learn: Tobacco Use and Mental Health in the Era of COVID-19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 over 34 million adults in the United States were currently smoking cigarettes.

Tobacco use can often co-occur with mental health conditions. Nancy Cripe and Patricia Turner with Tobacco Free Allen County will discuss the connection between tobacco use and mental health, and how tobacco use impacts mental health and vice versa. They will also talk about the impact that COVID-19 is having on those who smoke or use tobacco products.

About the Speakers:

Nancy Cripe, M.A. is Executive Director of Tobacco Free Allen County (TFAC), one of Indiana’s largest community-based tobacco control coalitions. On the TFAC staff since 2014, Nancy was previously a TFAC Coalition member, representing Neighborhood Health Clinics, Inc. in her capacity as the clinic’s Prenatal Substance Use Prevention Educator. Nancy loves working with diverse populations and thrives on learning and sharing information that changes lives. Nancy trains medical, dental, mental health and substance use professionals on evidence-based tobacco treatment and presents regularly to diverse community groups about the risks of tobacco use, e-cigarettes & vaping, secondhand smoke exposure, and the impact of aggressive tobacco marketing on both youth and marginalized, vulnerable populations.

Patricia Turner is a graduate of Central High School and has an Associate of Arts Degree from Indiana University. She is an Alumni of Leadership Fort Wayne. She has worked in the nonprofit arena as a Program Director for the past 35 years. She is presently the Tobacco Education Coordinator for Tobacco Free Allen County. She is a certified smoking cessation facilitator and Community Health Worker and provides educational presentations throughout the community about the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke. She is a Board member for the Office of Wayne Township Trustee, Board President of the Summit City Enterprise and Entrepreneurial District, President of the Auxiliary for the American Legion Post 148, and a Board member of Miss Virginia's Food Pantry.

(1) CEU available.