Ask Pete, his relatives committed suicide so did his girlfriend

SUICIDE: A PROBLEM IN CONTRA COSTA?

Our Rate Is Higher Than the State's 

Gerold Loenicker, Rhonda James, and Contra Costa Mental Health Director Steven Grolnic-McClurg present the Suicide Strategic Plan to Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

A two-year effort to develop better policy for addressing suicide in Contra Costa County culminated with the release of the Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan this month. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan September 10th, during National Suicide Prevention Week. Gerold Loenicker, Prevention and Early Intervention Program Supervisor, addressed  the board and said,  "In many cases, suicide may be preventable if primary care providers effectively screen individuals who are at risk, on a routine basis, and provide links to the right resources."

Loenicker co-chaired the Suicide Prevention Committee with Contra Costa Crisis Center director Rhonda James. The committee analyzed data provided by the Coroner's Office to identify at-risk populations, common methods of suicide, and how to improve delivery of crisis-support and prevention services. Recommendations in the plan include increasing coordination between county systems and community service providers to minimize obstacles to receiving help, improving protocols for assessment, triage and warm hand-offs of at-risk people, and training about warning signs and effective prevention practices for healthcare providers and community "gatekeepers" such as teachers and the clergy. The committee includes Behavioral Health Services, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center & Health Centers, Contra Costa Crisis Center, John Muir Health, Kaiser Permanente, and other community based organizations, health care providers, and public agencies.Funding for this plan was provided through the Mental Health Services Act. Contra Costa's suicide rate is 10.9 per 100,000 in population, higher than the state average of 10.3 per 100,000. 

A copy of the Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan can be found here: 

Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2013

9/9 Press release:  Collaboration Focuses on Suicide Prevention

Two minute video on Suicide Prevention:  Suicide Prevention Tips

For more information contact: Gerold.Loenicker@hsd.cccounty.us

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