Suicide Prevention Awareness Week is a campaign to increase awareness and build support towards preventing suicide and suicide attempts. It is also an opportunity to draw awareness to an important issue affecting our communities, to reduce stigma surrounding suicide and increase the level of community support so that lives can be saved, hope is increased and people are aware of resources to thrive in survivorship. If we may dream, what would our future community look like if suicide rates were reduced or did not exist at all?
It will take your continued efforts and our collective community support to aspire to these goals.
Public Invited to Suicide Prevention Awareness Activities
September 7 through 13 is National Suicide Awareness Week. To build awareness and work toward preventing suicide, and suicide attempts, the Deschutes County Suicide Prevention Alliance and community partners are coordinating several activities throughout September.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in Oregon. In Deschutes County, approximately 29 people die by suicide each year. It is 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. The activities planned for this week will assist our community to address this important issue.
Attend one or more of these opportunities to support suicide survivors in our community, and to learn more about how to help yourself or someone you love.
• Tuesday, September 8, 6-7:30pm. Real Stories, Stories of Hope and Survivorship in the Brooks room, Deschutes Public Library, 601 NW Wall St, Bend. This is a free event. Recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
• Wednesday, September 9, 7-9pm. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training and Panel of Experts, First Floor, Barnes & Sawyer Room, Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St, Bend. This is a free event. Recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
• Thursday, September 10, 7:30-8:30pm. International Suicide Prevention Awareness Day Candlelight Vigil at Larkspur Park, 1700 SE Reed Market Rd, Bend. This is a free event. Candles provided.
• Saturday, September 12, 9-11:30am. Out of the Darkness Walk. Pilot Butte State Park-Larkspur Trail, A benefit for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at Pilot Butte State Park, Bend. Registration at 8:30 a.m. or contact Glenda Pinney, email faybag@msn.com or 541-419-5303.
Google Out of Darkness Walk or http://bit.ly/1NFzL9l
• Saturday, September 19, 10am. Road to Recovery, a 5K Walk to benefit NAMI, at Crow’s Feet Commons, 875 NW Brooks Street, Bend. Registration at FootZone or https://recovery5k.wordpress.com/
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.
