September 8 through 14 is National Suicide Awareness Week. To build awareness and work toward preventing suicide-and suicide attempts-the Deschutes County Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and community partners are coordinating several activities throughout Central Oregon.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in Oregon. In Deschutes County, 33 people died by suicide in 2012. It is the second leading cause of death among adolescents 10-24 years-old in Oregon. It’s also the tenth leading cause of death in the United States with one suicide occurring on average, every 13.3 minutes. Early recognition of warning signs and early intervention can save lives.
Attend one or more of these events to support suicide survivors in our community, and to learn more about how to help yourself or someone you love, from death by suicide.
• Saturday, September 6, 10am. Road to Recovery, a 5K Walk to benefit NAMI, at Crow’s Feet Commons, 875 NW Brooks Street, Bend. Register at www.namicentraloregon.org.
• Monday, September 8, 6:30-8pm. Real Stories, Stories of Hope and Survivorship at Tin Pan Theater, 869 NW Tin Pan Alley, Bend. This is a free event. Recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
• Tuesday, September 9, 6:30-8pm. Suicide Prevention Training and Panel of Experts at the Bend Fire Department, 63377 NE Jamison St., Bend. This is a free event. Recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
• Saturday, September 13, 9-10:30am. Out of the Darkness Walk. A benefit for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at Pilot Butte State Park, Bend. Registration at faybag@msn.com or (541) 419-5303.
• Tuesday, September 16, 6:30-8pm. Suicide Prevention Training at BestCare Prevention Office, 242 SW 4th St., Suite F., Madras. This is a free event. Recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
• Saturday, October 11, 8am–5:30pm. Youth Mental Health First Aid training at Community Presbyterian Church, 529 NW 19th, Redmond. Registration at whitefam@bendcable.com. Recommended for persons who work with youth.
• Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31, 8am–5pm. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) at Deschutes County Services Building, 1300 NW Wall, Bend. Registration at www.deschutes.org/suicideprevention. Recommended for persons who frequently work in a position of trust (clergy, teacher, counselor, law enforcement, etc.)
For more information about these events please visit www.deschutes.org/suicideprevention.
Deschutes County maintains a 24-Hours Mental Health Crisis line at (541) 322-7500, extension 9.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24-hours a day at 1 -800-273-TALK (8255). This is a toll-free and confidential hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Each call is routed to the nearest crisis center to the caller.
