Blog
SAVE Offers Resources for Suicide Survivors
Here are links to two online tools available from SAVE to aid anyone who offers assistance to people bereaved by suicide or who might need to make a referral on behalf of a suicide loss survivor:
SAVE Suicide Bereavement Support Group Database
Suicide & Grief: News & Comment
SAMHSA and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Collaborating with Facebook to Help Those in Crisis
Facebook recently announced a collaboration with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention providing a new service that combines social networking and crisis support to help prevent suicides. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an email from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1112125820.aspx
New National Suicide Statistics Released for 2008
There were 36,035 deaths by suicide in the U.S. reported for 2008, and we know these numbers are under-reported. This is an average of one death by suicide every 14.6 minutes. Suicide was the 10th ranking cause of death in the U.S. overall, and the third ranking cause of death for youth. The highest rate of suicide was among those ages 45-54. There were 3.75 male deaths by suicide for each female death due to suicide. Additional statistics can be obtained at CDC’s WISQARS website at http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Has Answered Over 3 Million Calls
Through its national network of 150 crisis centers, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK/8255), provided help and hope to its 3 millionth caller as of the first week in October. Since its inception in 2005, the Lifeline has seen a steady increase in calls and now answers more than 2,200 calls per day. The Lifeline uses advanced technology that links callers to a trained counselor closest to their location to provide confidential 24/7 crisis support. In South Dakota, this line is answered by the Helpline Center in Sioux Falls.
*Information reported by SPRC’s (Suicide Prevention Resource Center) Weekly Spark on 10/14/11.
New Crisis Care Team Operating in Sioux Falls
Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Opens Jail-Based Mental Health Crisis Center
On August 4, Minnehaha County officials opened a behavioral health crisis center in the county jail. Designed to reduce costs and provide care in a less restrictive setting, the program will serve as a pilot for a potential countywide mobile crisis response unit. County officials have provided $54,000 for the first year of operations.
from SAMHSA Financing News Pulse 8/10/11
