Chris Blanke, RN, of the Four Corners Health Department in York, presented a program to the Seward Rotary Club on “Suicide Awareness and Prevention” at their weekly meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at noon at the Jones Bank Auditorium. A luncheon, fellowship, and short business meeting preceded the program. She was presented to the membership by Clark Kolterman, local program chair for January. Her presentation featured a power point titled “Nebraska Loss Teams-Surviving Suicide,” prepared by Dr. Dan Belau. She thanked the Seward Rotary Club for their interest in the topic of suicide and willingness to learn more on the subject, encouraging the members to “Be Part of the Solution!”
Chris Blanke, RN, of the Four Corners Health Department in York, presented a program to the Seward Rotary Club on “Suicide Awareness and Prevention” at their weekly meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at noon at the Jones Bank Auditorium. A luncheon, fellowship, and short business meeting preceded the program. She was presented to the membership by Clark Kolterman, local program chair for January. Her presentation featured a power point titled “Nebraska Loss Teams-Surviving Suicide,” prepared by Dr. Dan Belau. She thanked the Seward Rotary Club for their interest in the topic of suicide and willingness to learn more on the subject, encouraging the members to “Be Part of the Solution!”
Mrs Blanke pointed out that statistics show Suicide is a very real problem and needs to be addressed. She noted that nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016. Also, suicide rates went up more than 30% in half of the states since 1999 and in 2016, Nebraska had 246 deaths involving suicide. Finally, more than half of people who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition and that in the ages 10-35, suicide is the second leading cause of death nationally.
She shared materials and items of interest, including the gun locks, furnished by the Seward Police Department. All of the materials were free.
Mrs. Blanke pointed out with her presentation a multi-faceted chart on the many aspects and effects of suicide-including intervention, post-intervention, loss and prevention.
She spoke on the very well established Seward County Suicide Prevention Coalition –promoting Awareness Prevention, Education Training, Crisis and What Happens after the Suicide.
The LOSS Team was also a topic of the presentation-LOSS represents Local Outreach Suicide Survivors. The program was developed nationally by Dr. Frank Campbell of LA and locally by Dr. David Miers, a former resident of Seward and graduate of Seward High School, the son of Dick and the late Della Miers of Seward. She commented on “Bereavement after Suicide!”
The Four Corners LOSS Team is a volunteer group of trained survivors and clinician, who provide hope and support for hose impacted by suicide. The LOSS Team is able to meet with family, friends and anyone affected by the suicide or someone they love. LOSS Team visits happen after a suicide are usually brief and are guided by family and friends. The LOSS Team can provide materials and resources to assist n beginning a journey toward hope and healing.
She shared the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Vital Signs-offering suggestions as to what the local states and communities can do to assist with this universal problem across the USA. She encouraged the membership to know the Suicide warning signs and the five steps to help someone at risk.
She shared the Nebraska Suicide Grief Support Group information and meeting dates and locations.
Finally, Mrs. Blanke shared information on the “Walk for Hope”-to support the Seward County Suicide Prevention Coalition at Concordia University at the Walz Fieldhouse on Saturday, February 9th, 2019, beginning at 6:30 pm and going to 8:30 pm. Information on the program was shared with the Rotary Club membership.
For more information or to seek help, she encouraged the membership to contact the Mental Health Association of Nebraska by calling 402-975-2032 or if someone is in Crisis, they should seek help by calling toll free-1-800-273-8255- at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the CenterPoint Crisis Response line at 402-475-6695.
She concluded with a discussion and questions and answers session by the Rotary membership.