Lane County Public Health (LCPH) and the Lane County Veterans Service Office, in cooperation with local and national partners, are hosting a suicide awareness event for veterans, their families, and concerned others to learn about resources in our community.
“Veterans are a vulnerable group in our community,” said Lane County Public Health Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Promotion Coordinator, Roger Brubaker. “Nearly 20 veterans die by suicide every year in Lane County.”
There are more than 34,000 veterans living in Lane County. Between the years of 2000 and 2016, 1,079 Lane County residents died by suicide. 1 in 4 of these deaths by suicide was a veteran. LCPH’s mission is to build upon community support and participation, affirm community education and awareness, and identify local medical and mental health resources.
“It behooves us to go the extra mile to protect and help our veterans, because they protected our country,” added Brubaker, “but effective suicide prevention requires the help of the entire community.”
The summit will be held at the Holiday Inn, 919 Kruse Way, Springfield on Saturday, September 29, 8:30-12:00 pm. If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health issue or you’re interested in how you can support vets in our community, please register for the free
Veterans Suicide Awareness Summit here.
LCPH urges the community to reduce the stigma around suicide by talking about it. It is safe to discuss suicide and doing so can provide those at risk and those bereaved by suicide with a sense of relief. Let them know that help is available and it’s okay to ask for support. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
LCPH offers help and hope through its suicide prevention program. Resources for training, facts, warning signs, how to help, and more are provided. For more information about Lane County Suicide Prevention Program, please visit:
https://preventionlane.org/prevention-topics/suicide-prevention
Lane County Public Health is a division of Lane County Health & Human Services whose mission is to promote and protect the health and well-being of all people of Lane County.