Board of Supervisors listens in: suicide prevention month

Eureka, Ca., (KIEM)- Roughly 18% of people in Humboldt County have considered suicide. That’s just one of several heavy, and alarming statistics delivered by the Department of Health and Human Services to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning.

Local 24- Hour Lifeline: 707-445-7715

No less than 435 people have taken their own lives between 2005 and last week. Three quarters of victims were male, but attempts are roughly equal with both genders. In Humboldt County older adults seem to struggle more with suicidal thoughts and actions. Presenters in chambers Tuesday say loneliness can be a major risk factor.

Here are a few things you can do, to help prevent suicide in your community:

• Attend a community training. You can learn more about identifying the signs of suicide, and gain access to prevention strategies.
• “Lock up your lethals.” Keep firearms, knives, and potentially fatal drugs in places that are not easy to access. Studies show, limited access to lethal means reduces suicide rates.
• Reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors. Loneliness is a trigger, so offer compassion and non-demanding support.