On suicide: It’s no longer an unspeakable word

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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.

New Children’s Book Helps Parents and Children Learn How to Prevent Lead Poisoning

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The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced the release of Happy, Healthy, Lead-Free Me!, a new children’s book aimed at engaging children and educating parents on lead poisoning prevention and the importance of pediatric lead level testing.

The book, developed by the Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) with clinical collaboration from NH Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NH AAP), is currently available at many pediatric health care provider offices and is available for free download at https://leadfreekidsnh.org/happy-healthy-lead-free-me-resources/.

The Public Health Council has copies of the book available for free for partners able to distribute the book to families in our area. Please reach out to alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org to request copies of the book.

“We wanted to create something that would resonate with parents and children,” said Gail Gettens, coauthor and Child Development Specialist and Health Promotion Advisor in the DPHS Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. “The illustrations and rhymes engage children and the parents section provides additional details about lead exposure prevention and the importance of pediatric blood lead-level testing.”

“As New Hampshire has some of the oldest homes in America, many still have lead paint,” Knatalie Vetter, coauthor and Environmental Supervisor of the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, stated. “On average, 55% of New Hampshire homes were built before lead-based paint was banned in 1978, and, in some communities, that percentage is as high as 83%. This underscores the importance of getting your child’s lead-level tested at both the 12 and 24 month well-child check visits.

Early blood lead testing is critical. NH’s pediatric lead level testing rates dropped 14% during 2020, due to COVID pandemic, meaning that 3108 fewer children in NH were tested for lead levels in 2020, than the year prior, 2019.

Pediatric health care providers and other agencies interested in ordering free copies of Happy, Healthy, Lead-Free Me! may contact Gail Gettens at Gail.C.Gettens@dhhs.nh.gov, or visit www.happyhealthyleadfree.me to download a free copy, available in 7 different languages.

For a printable postcard highlighting the book, go to https://leadfreekidsnh.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Post-card-board-book-FINAL.pdf.

PHC Approves New Strategic Plan

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The Public Health Council of the Upper Valley serves 13 communities in New Hampshire and 22 communities in VermontIn 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

PHC is Hiring! Upper Valley Equity Facilitator

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Update on July 25, 2022: We are pleased to report this position has been filled.

Job Posting: Upper Valley Equity Facilitator

The Public Health Council of the Upper Valley (PHC) is serving as the Backbone Organization for the VDOH White River Junction District Office’s Upper Valley Community Health Equity Partnership. To support that work, PHC seeks a committed community organizer for a .5 FTE (half time) position funded through May 31, 2023, to help move our district and organizations towards greater equity.

The Equity Facilitator will identify and connect with on-the-ground community organizations, agencies, and members within our region that already address the needs of traditionally marginalized groups. The Equity Facilitator will work with an Equity Steering Group, made up of representatives of traditionally marginalized groups and local health and human services providers, to address the barriers these organizations face in building and sustaining their mission-driven work.  There is a chance that the position may grow in hours and/or may be extended beyond May 31, 2023; however, this is dependent on the availability of new funds and cannot be guaranteed.

  1. Work with Backbone Organization, Vermont Department of Health staff, and the Equity Steering Group to develop; a) a data driven problem statement; b) policies and procedures for providing stipends to individuals attending local collaborative meetings; and c) policies and procedures for providing grants to the community to address health inequities.
  2. Work with Backbone Organization, Vermont Department of Health staff, and the Equity Steering Group to determine the most inclusive and effective approach to building a diverse Equity Action Collaborative committed to embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into the fabric of local operations and implementing systems-change strategies to improve impact.
  3. Support the work of the Equity Steering Group and serve as its Coordinator and Liaison to the broader community.
  4. To gather data needed to identify health disparities and equity-related problems in the district, engage and mobilize a diverse network that includes individuals from populations at higher risk and that are underserved to develop, implement and monitor programs designed to reduce health disparities and improve health equity in the White River Junction District. This will include local groups and existing state and regional equity groups.
  5. Build – or tap into – methods to communicate with and among a diverse network of individuals from populations at higher risk and that are underserved to share information, build trust, and identify opportunities to amplify their potential to address health disparities and equity-related problems.
  6. Facilitate alignment among multisector partners using collective impact principles, a shared agenda, and shared measurement tools.
  7. Assist the Equity Action Collaborative to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into the fabric of local operations to include advocating for the needs of non-traditional/mainstream organizations and the communities they serve.
  8. Assist the Community Collaborative to develop root cause analysis and implement systems-change (not programmatic) strategies to improve impact.
  9. Administer a grant-making program aimed at addressing health inequities from a systems-change approach.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: community outreach and organizing, cultural competency and experience working with diverse stakeholders, community health initiatives, and/or delivering programs in underserved communities. Candidate should have good organizational and communication skills. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but serious consideration will be given to people with a high school diploma and at least 3 years of related experience.

  • Preference will be given to candidates who are part of a community that has been traditionally underserved and are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection or poor health outcomes.
  • Preference will be given to candidates who have lived in the White River Junction District, or nearby, for at least 3 years.
  • We encourage applications from all interested candidates and are open to providing accommodations that enable participation.

PHC Will Provide Resources and Support

Office space will be provided, but with flexibility in terms of in-person, in community, and remote work. We expect the candidate will need to be available for some evening and weekend work assignments. Local travel is also expected; reimbursement will be provided for work related travel.

Training and support will be provided in:

  • Collective Impact Model
  • Measurement and Evaluation

Wages and Benefits: The wages for the position will range between $25 and $28 per hour. The position is benefits eligible, prorated to .5 FTE. Benefits include earned benefit time, paid Holidays, and Health Stipend Account contribution.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please send a letter of interest to Alice Ely at alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org. In your letter, please tell us what about this position is of most interest to you. What about this position speaks to your experience or your personal goals? Please send a resume or summary of work experience as well. Interviews will begin in week of May 9th and will close when a candidate has been selected. We will begin contacting applicants for interviews on May 5, 2022.

If we can provide accommodations to support you in the application process, please reach out to Alice Ely at alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org.

The position is funded through the Vermont Community Health Equity Partnership, by a grant provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Public Health Council of the Upper Valley is serving as backbone organization (subcontractor) to support the Upper Valley Community Health Equity Partnership.

Upper Valley Sees Health Concerns in Broad Terms

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Over the past decade, public health and health care professionals have recognized that health care services only account for a small portion (10 to 20%) of a person’s health status. The rest of one’s health status can be attributed to social and economic factors, the physical environment, and health behaviors. These drivers of health are known as the Social Determinants of Health.

Improving community health is at the core of the mission of the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley. Most of our partners share this goal, but contribute in different ways to reaching that goal. Some partners are health care providers, some provide treatment for substance use disorders or mental illnesses, others support people in our communities who struggle with various social determinants of health.

Every three years, the Public Health Council works with area hospitals to conduct a routine community health needs assessment. These assessments form the basis for updating priorities and give us insight into what concerns community members. Over the course of 2021, the Public Health Council supported data collection efforts led by Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, VNHVNA, and Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center. Each health care organization uses the results to create Community Health Improvement Plans for their organizations. The Public Health Council will work with many partners across the region to generate a Community Health Improvement plan that reflects to great work ongoing in our region, leverage our strengths, and challenge our partners to find and fill gaps together.

Community Health Needs Assessments Available Online

To review the most recent Community Health Needs Assessments and related documents by hospital service area or organization:

The Upper Valley Community Health Needs Assessment generated for the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Alice Peck Day primary hospital service areas covers 19 municipalities in Vermont and New Hampshire, with a total resident population of 69,612 people.  Data came from over 1,600 survey responses from community residents; a direct email survey of key stakeholders and community leaders; a set of community discussion groups; and a review of available demographics and health status indicators.  The New Hampshire Community Health Institute conducted the survey, data analysis, and report generation. Throughout the process, they were careful to focus on vulnerable and disproportionately served populations in the region.

Taking It Back to the Community

Beginning in February 2022, the Public Health Council worked with partners at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT to share the results with members of our communities.  We co-hosted two virtual Community Health Improvement Summits open to all community residents. Our health care partners reviewed the priorities emerging from the recent results. Participants shared their thoughts about what the results tell us, what opportunities we have to address them, and what strategies we might help.

The top six priorities emerging from the results are:

  1. Availability of Mental Health Services
  2. Cost of Health Care Services (Including Dental Care)
  3. Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food
  4. Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment
  5. Child Wellbeing
  6. Social Determinants of Health (Especially Housing)

The input we received from the two summits, attended by over 125 people, can be found in a report dated April 13, 2022: FY22 CHNA Summit Theme Report.

Recordings of the virtual Summits are available online:

Recording Link: UV Community Health Improvement Summit #1
Date: Feb 23, 2022 08:42 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Recording Link: UV Community Health Improvement Summit #2
Date: Mar 2, 2022 05:14 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Shaping a Plan for Our Communities

For the remainder of 2022, the Public Health Council and partners will work together to create a Community Health Improvement Plan. The Plan will address the priorities by laying out what success would look like and how we can achieve it.

For more information about the community health improvement planning process or ways you can participate, please contact Alice Ely at the Public Health Council.