07/28/10 – A Shout Out to Suicide Prevention Partners
by Zeik SaidmanAssociate Director of Facilitation and Planning, School of Public Affairs, Buechner Institute of Governance, University of Colorado Denver
More Coloradans die by suicide than from motor vehicle accidents, diabetes and pneumonia or breast cancer. Data published in The Colorado Trust's 2009 report Preventing Suicide in Colorado – Progress Achieved & Goals for the Future identified 805 deaths by suicide that year, and recent studies suggest that the risk of suicide may be increasing across the region as the economic downturn continues.
In cities and small towns across the state, dozens of unsung heroes work tirelessly trying to make inroads into this public health epidemic. Over the past six-and-one-half years as a partner in The Trust's Preventing Suicide initiative, I had the opportunity to become familiar with many of these dedicated citizens.
One is Maranda Miller, a young mother of two, who works for Rural Solutions in Sterling. Reared in Holyoke, she is a graduate of Colorado State University. She travels a vast nine-county area, conducting training sessions and speaking to school groups, nursing home residents, congregations and to any organization that will invite her. She has become the go-to resource person on this issue on the northeastern plains.
Sheila Linwood, a former police officer, helped found the Western Colorado Suicide Prevention Foundation in Grand Junction. This nonprofit, which she directs, has several prominent community leaders on its board, a few of them survivors whose loved ones died in suicides. Herb Bacon, a retired banker, is one of the founding board members. He has supported the local suicide prevention project through his family foundation and met a three-year challenge grant from The Trust by giving $20,000 each year in remembrance of a son lost to suicide. Mesa County battles some of the highest suicide rates in the state partly because its workforce has many people employed in oil and gas, and construction, which are considered high-risk industries.
Heather Trish, a trauma clinician, coordinates the Jefferson Center for Mental Health Suicide Prevention Coalition. The daughter of a postal worker, she grew up in Aspen and graduated from Columbia University a few months before 9/11. Heather conducted therapy sessions with victims of the World Trade Center attack. She has done an outstanding job organizing suicide prevention training sessions for hundreds of residents of Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. One of the more cutting-edge programs she created confronts issues faced by GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning) youths.
Ronna Autrey, a realtor, started as volunteer with Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide (REPS) in Routt and Moffat counties. Tom Gangel – Colorado West Regional administrator for nine rural, resort community mental health centers and an early advocate of the grassroots activities of REPS – appointed Ronna to be coordinator for the Steamboat Springs and Craig area. She lost a son, a rising executive in the food industry, to suicide. Among Ronna's skills is the ability to raise money through creative fundraising events. She also works effectively with the local media on thoughtful stories on issues around suicide.
Lisa Chavez coordinated Project HOPE for the Southeast Mental Health Services in La Junta. She grew up in the area and lives in Manzanola with her two young daughters. Lisa made presentations at six county commission meetings in southeast Colorado and has received financial support from four of the counties. As well, Matt Heimlich, a farmer and Crowley County commissioner, has been a steadfast and credible ally. Supported by a grant from First Lady Jeannie Ritter's office, one of Project HOPE's initiatives has been to provide counseling services to returning Iraq and Afghanistan service men and women.
Kristen Jernigan, a program director at North Range Behavioral Health in Greeley, shepherded the incorporation of Suicide Education Support Services (SESS) of Weld County into her operation. SESS had been providing excellent training programs, support groups and presentations for years, but the board decided to merge with North Range for financial reasons. Patty Lloyd, long-time SESS staff member and a former piano teacher in the school district, continues to facilitate support groups and makes presentation in the schools. Patty lost two sons to suicide and is passionate about prevention.
In addition to programs in these communities, The Trust has funded the Montelores Suicide Prevention Project in Cortez. Colleague Lisa Carlson advised Diana Buza from the Piñon Project – as a result, several suicide prevention trainers and prevention activities are available in schools, senior organizations and tribal areas in southwest Colorado.
Also, Jeanne Rohner, CEO of Mental Health America of Colorado, has provided guidance to two other Trust-supported projects. Jeanne's expertise has been invaluable to the Pikes Peak Partnership in Colorado Springs, which is working to expand its relationship with Fort Carson to provide suicide prevention training on the base. In the Montrose-Delta-Gunnison area, Jeanne has supported efforts to increase suicide prevention outreach through the Midwestern Colorado Mental Center.
Other partners include the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention under the leadership of Jarrod Hindman. Jarrod has worked to stretch his limited budget to make grants strategically to communities around Colorado. And Jeanne Demmler, principal researcher for the Preventing Suicide in Colorado report, committed long hours to analyzing and gathering data. Every legislator needs to read this important document.
Sadly, this year may set a record for suicides in Colorado. Factors such as widespread unemployment and home foreclosures are pushing up the rates. I am convinced, however, that without the important work of these dedicated individuals and the support of The Colorado Trust, the numbers of suicides in Colorado would be much, much higher.
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