Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Julie Whittaker

Partners Davie Community Collaborative Suicide

Prevention Initiative

Folks, Davie has a history of having spiked years with high suicide rates.

Sadly, it appears that we may well be in such a year. As of early April, there were five confirmed deaths by suicide. This number will likely be the average rate for a year.

But by August, there were a surprising number of additional deaths, suspected suicides, awaiting confirmation through investigation. If even a few are confirmed, Davie’s rate is at a spiked level – meaning we have more deaths by suicide than the national or North Carolina rate of 14.21 per 100,000.

We can all do our best to prevent more self-inflicted deaths. And learning to do this can save a life in your family.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on Sept. 10. Any of us can learn a lot about suicide prevention by visiting websites like AFSP.org, SAMHSA.gov, 988lifeline.org, NAMI.org, and the jasonfoundation.com.

The military health system is using a theme called “Connect to Protect.” And that is just what the Partners Davie Community Collaborative is trying to do.

“Connect to Protect” at https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/MHSToolkits/Toolkits/Mental-Health/Suicide-Prevention offers these communication tips:

• One life lost to suicide is too many.

• When we connect to protect, we build relationships and a community that enhances resilience and protects against suicide.

• Mental health is health.

• Sometimes thoughts of suicide occur when a person feels overwhelmed by stress and emotions, or when a person has a mental health concern.

• Feelings of isolation, avoiding others, and misusing alcohol or other substances can increase the risk of suicide.

• Suicide risk can be reduced by promptly identifying risk, implementing protective measures (such as crisis response planning and the safe storage of firearms), and accessing evidence-based treatments.

• Reaching out to care for your mental health is an important step.

• You deserve confidentiality when you reach out for help

• If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or having suicidal thoughts, reach out to a health care provider.

• Seeking help is a sign of strength.

• Seeking care early can help address mental health challenges before they worsen and prevent a crisis.

• You are not alone, and treatment can help.

Partners Davie Community Collaborative’s Suicide Prevention Initiative is working to foster awareness of many free opportunities to learn and be able to intervene appropriately if someone is in danger of self-harm.

On Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Partners Behavioral Health is offering a free online opportunity to take the Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Course. This evidence-based training teaches the skills to recognize warning signs of suicide and intervene in a suicide crisis. “Ask a question, save a life.”

These are normally 1.5 to 2 hours long and facilitated by Partners instructors trained in QPR. The facilitator assigned to Davie is Stefanie Robbins, SKRobbins@partnersbhm.org or 704-918-3094. Other trainers may facilitate the online opportunities.

Any interested person may access the Partners Training Calendar and register to take the online courses at: https://www.partnersbhm.org/event-calendartraining/.

They plan to schedule the following dates for QPR courses: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.;  Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.; Wednesday Dec. 4 at 10 a.m.; and Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

The QPR course will be offered in-person at the Davie County Public Library’s History Room on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. Access the flyer for registration on NAMINWPIEDMONTNC.ORG or email cetraining@partnersbhm.org. However, if you decide to just show-up we will not turn you away.

It is possible for anyone to save lives by learning simple techniques to recognize a person with discomfort, know what and how to ask, then what to say, and how to follow-up. It takes less than a few hours of your time and can mean so much to you and others.