Shasta County, California — Shasta County health officials are raising awareness for Suicide Prevention Month, which they say is a time to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and recognize its impact on the community.
A representative from Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said the average age-adjusted suicide rate for county residents from 2017 to 2021 is more than double the state average.
This year, the theme for the month is “Love Over Loneliness,” and HHSA Community Education Specialist Sydney Singer said there will be several events to show support, including an Out of the Darkness community walk.
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“It's essentially a walk that brings people together to raise awareness about the impact of suicide, share resources for suicide prevention, and most importantly, really connects people who have been affected by suicide with additional support and other people who have experienced similar things in their lives,” Stinger said.
The walk will take place in Caldwell Park in Reading on Saturday, Sept. 7. There will also be a “Light of Hope” event on the Sundial Bridge on Sept. 10, when the bridge will be lit up teal and purple as part of a suicide prevention awareness initiative. The county's Suicide Prevention Program team will have materials available for visitors.
Discussing warning signs to look out for, Stinger said: “Usually it's behavior that's atypical of that person. For example, someone who was very outgoing might suddenly start withdrawing from others, become less active or less concerned about how others perceive them. So it's a big change that we haven't seen before in that person.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dialling 988.
For more information on suicide prevention resources, training and events, visit the You Matter Shasta website at youmattershasta.org.
Stinger pointed to another website where people can learn about warning signs: issuicideispreventable.org.
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