In NH, call/text the Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477 or online chat at NH988.com if you or someone you know is considering suicide. In VT, text “VT” to 741741, or call 988. Nationally, call 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

By Dave Celone, New Hampshire Bulletin, September 2, 2022

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in America. Suicide is highest among white males, followed by Native Americans, followed by black males. A suicide occurs about every 11.5 minutes. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death globally for people 15 – 24 years old.

I just used the word “suicide” 4 times in the above 4 sentences. How did that feel to you? Not so bad, I suspect. You can do it, too.

I mention this to underscore the point that talking about suicide with anyone, regardless of their age, is okay. And it’s even more okay if you think they may be considering suicide. It does not increase the risk of suicide.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so you’ll hear more about this in the media. Suicide is preventable, and I hope what you read in September will inspire you to talk about suicide in terms that are candid, positive, and helpful to others in the throes of a crisis. Aside from awareness, what’s your role? Here are 5 steps to take if you think someone you know is considering suicide:

1. Ask the question, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” This will not increase the risk of suicide, it will lead to the next step. Other good questions are, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” (And if you are considering suicide, reach out to a friend and let them know, with these 5 steps in hand for them to read.)
2. Be there. Be present. Stay with the person. Being there for someone increases their connectedness and limits their isolation. These have been shown to be protective factors in decreasing suicide risk.
3. Keep them safe. Find out more. Does the person have a plan to kill themself? What is that plan? Have they attempted suicide before? Have they experimented with it? What is their timing? Remove lethal weapons or objects to distance them from their chosen method.
4. Help them connect. Call a crisis line so they can speak with a trained crisis clinician. In NH, call or text the NH Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477, or chat online at com. This will ensure a local NH mobile crisis in-person response when needed. In VT text “VT” to 741741 or call 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Nationally, outside NH & VT, call 988.
5. Follow up. After the fact, call, text, visit, email, find them on social media and ask how they’re doing. Leave a message if they don’t answer the phone. Tell them you care. Supportive, ongoing contact is an important part of suicide prevention.

What are ways to prevent suicide from creeping into your psyche? Maintain meaningful social connections. Make plans with a friend. Start a hobby like woodworking, sewing, painting, or whatever you like to do—if you can do it with others, even better. Exercise! Any kind of exercise will do, even if it’s sitting in a chair and rotating your arms. Walking is a wonderful, and underrated exercise, whether you do it indoors or out. Practice mindfulness or meditation. Become a mentor. Volunteer—getting active in your community will help you develop relationships with others. Which brings us back to the beginning of maintaining meaningful social connections. And, above all, ask for help whenever you need it.

Going a bit deeper, a friend of mine suggests that there must be some evolutionary reason for suicide. I’m not so sure there is, but I’m always willing to listen and consider. He tells me suicide is about ending suffering. I won’t disagree, but I’ll counter because I know there are many ways to end suffering. While suicide may be one option, it’s within our power to prevent it so a person in the throes of a crisis can see other ways out. Helping a person believe these other options exist is the goal. That there are people who love them. That there are things they enjoy doing. That their cat or dog needs them. That a tree is beautiful and worth visiting in the autumn when its colors are ablaze. That a breeze feels nice on their cheek. That any child would appreciate their smile today and tomorrow. That living is a choice that can be made.

Talk openly about suicide. That’s the place to start. Then, let’s offer up choices. After all, isn’t that what life is all about?

Dave Celone lives in Sharon, VT where a walk in the woods brings him joy, wonder, and an appreciation for the beauty of our natural world. He works for West Central Behavioral Health, the community behavioral health center for lower Grafton County and Sullivan County with offices in Claremont, Lebanon, and Newport, NH.

Reposted from NH Bulletin on September 2, 2022.

In November 2021, the Public Health Council approved a new PHC Strategic Plan to guide our organization between 2022 and 2025. As we move into 2022, the Board and Staff are working hard to implement the plan and look for new ways to engage our many partners as we grow to meet their needs. Please read on to learn more about our goals and strategies. Please reach out to Alice Ely at alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org if you are interested in supporting our organization my joining our Board of Directors, becoming involved in priority work or special projects, and providing financial support.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Public Health Council of the Upper Valley (PHC) is a regional public health coalition that brings together a diverse group of stakeholders (e.g. health care providers, community-based organizations, municipalities, human service agencies, businesses) to identify and address issues in Upper Valley cities and towns through multi-sector engagement and collaboration. The PHC serves the 12 municipalities of New Hampshire’s Upper Valley Regional Public Health Network and 22 Vermont municipalities, as shown in the map above.

Every few years the PHC looks internally to assess operations and programming to ensure alignment with partner needs within the current public health landscape. While the COVID-19 pandemic required a shift in strategy to meet the immediate needs of neighbors and partners, it also gave the PHC an opportunity to leverage its strengths and highlight where the coalition provides value to the region.

During summer and fall of 2021, the PHC engaged in a strategic planning process with 60+ coalition members, including PHC leadership, to identify operational priorities and common objectives for the coalition over the next 3-5 years. The PHC used this process to reflect on its value-add and ability to pivot during the pandemic despite limited staff capacity and financial resources.

Out of this planning process came four strategic goals to help direct the PHC over the next 3-5 years:

Goal 1:  Increase the capacity of PHC staff to maintain the current level of activities while growing the ability to respond to emerging public health opportunities and partner needs.

Goal 2:  Identify new sources of funding for the PHC to ensure short and long-term sustainability and support its growth among traditional and non-traditional sectors.

Goal 3:  Engage PHC leadership in advancing the work of the organization within the region to increase visibility among peers, identify strategic partners and recruit additional Board members.

Goal 4:  Enhance PHC’s visibility and influence in the region through increased messaging of success stories and system level change.

The Public Health Council Board of Directors and staff look forward to working with all our partners and stakeholders over the next 3-5 years to ensure our organization’s sustainability and contribution to the Upper Valley.

Click here to view the full Strategic Plan: PHC Strategic Plan 2022 to 2025