Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09232014 - C.07Pr.1, C.7 BOS Presentation RE: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 9.23.14 1. Scope of the Problems a. In this country 39,518 people died by suicide in 2011 (the most recent year, for which we have official statistics.) b. In this country, suicide rates have increased in recent years after long term trends of decline. c. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US and the 2nd leading cause of death among the young, nationwide d. In this county, 116 people died by suicide in 2011. e. That year, Contra Costa’s suicide rate of 10.7 was slightly above California’s rate of 10.6. f. With official estimates that among young adults there are 100 to 200 attempts for every completed suicide, at least 600 young adults attempted suicide that year in Contra Costa. g. The Crisis Center responded to nearly 34,000 crisis calls last year; 5% (1643) with suicide ideation and 573 (2%) assessed at a moderate to high lethality rate. h. Suicide is a complicated subject and people who choose suicide come from all demographics i. Nearly all attempters DO NOT want to die…they want the pain to go away j. 90% of all attempters with intervention NEVER attempt again k. It’s a myth that you have to be mentally ill to consider suicide BUT many struggle with treatable mental health issues such as depression l. Some fear that mentioning or discussing suicide will “give someone the idea” – not true. Silence increases stigma…stigma isolates and stifles reaching out for help...isolation increases suicidality. m. Suicide is devastating for those left to grieve n. Intervention works; suicide is preventable 2. What are we doing about it: a. Working together – across sectors and service levels. The Suicide Prevention Committee continues to provide a forum for community providers, hospital providers, County Behavioral Health, Public Health, and educational organizations to coordinate efforts around suicide prevention. b. We’re TALKING about it with one another and with those who seek services at our various programs c. We developed a strategic plan – and continue to work from it i. Developed a youth serving workgroup focused on reducing intakes at Psychiatric Emergency Services by coordinating crisis response protocols and services for youth at risk ii. Mapping current systems of care and identifying gaps to help providers and consumers navigate the system better. iii. Developed training opportunities regarding best intervention practices and have begun sharing those in the county d. We convened a conference for training “gatekeepers” in 2013 and working on additional training opportunities such as outreach gatekeeper-training instructor trainings and ‘Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk’ trainings. e. Crisis Center continues to provide outreach i. Multiple classroom presentations (reached over 1000 youth last year) ii. Back to school day at Freedom iii. 3-day crisis response following Liberty HS youth suicide the week of August 25th iv. All-school assembly planned for Freedom HS in late September f. Along with our partners we pursue the following elements that we believe should be included in suicide prevention efforts: A robust mental health system of care for residents struggling with mental illness or serious emotional problems Multi layered crisis response services, including crisis line, mobile response, and access to urgent mental health assessment and care. An active awareness campaign that de-stigmatizes access to mental health care Outreach and education efforts to gatekeepers to recognize signs for suicide risk and enable them to engage those at risk and refer them for further help Community based efforts to identify those at risk for mental health problems and other risk factors (history of trauma and abuse, impulsivity, history of suicide attempts…) Access to Prevention and Early Intervention programs to those at risk and who show early signs for mental illness 3. Proclamation