Working Together to Prevent Suicide Across Our Communities

One of the biggest misconceptions about suicide is that it only affects people who are depressed, says Justin Thomas, Behavioral Health Program Director for InterCommunity Health Network (IHN-CCO). The reality is more complicated.

In his nearly 20-year career, Thomas said many people who die by suicide had no prior contact with the mental health system. Suicidal thoughts can stem from a variety of factors, ranging from financial problems to conflicts at home and more.

Certain populations are also at higher risk, including seniors, veterans, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth, often due to limitations in service access and culturally responsive care, which we work to improve locally.

“People who end their lives by suicide are often not the same people who are repeatedly asking for help,” Thomas said. “It can impact anybody at any given time.”

Because of this, Thomas said everyone in the community can play a role in preventing suicide. But health providers can’t be everywhere all the time. That’s why IHN-CCO and local partners are constantly working to help the public identify warning signs and offer resources for anyone going through a crisis.

“Smokey the Bear says only you can prevent forest fires. I think that’s similar for mental health, too,” Thomas said. “Our community members can help other people — and most importantly, help themselves — from getting to that place where they’re thinking about suicide.”

Training Available

Catherine Rupkus, Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator for IHN-CCO, said all three counties offer suicide prevention training for anyone to be able to recognize warning signs of a mental health crisis and intervene. 

The program, known as “Question, Persuade, Refer,” or QPR, is an entry-level course offered by each county’s public health department. Rupkus said QPR is “the mental health version of CPR,” helping to stabilize someone in crisis and getting them the help they need.

“It’s just learning how to have conversations around suicide and knowing where to refer people for care,” Rupkus said. “It’s really intended for everybody in our community. That’s why it’s compared to CPR, because really anybody can play a role in preventing suicide, even if you are not a direct service provider.”

A more in-depth program, called “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training,” or ASIST, is also available for people to build on their QPR skills and develop safety plans for someone going through a crisis. This two-day workshop is suitable for anyone 18 and older, especially professional caregivers, teachers and first-responders. 

Are you or your organization interested in QPR training? Reach out to the following contacts in your county:

• Benton County Public Health
  • Avalon Mason — [email protected]

• Linn County Drug & Alcohol Treatment
  • Shannon Snair – [email protected]

• Lincoln County Public Health
  • Sara Herd – [email protected]
  • Bria Kettenhofen – [email protected]

988 & Mobile Response

Once someone has learned to recognize the warning signs of suicide, there are several additional resources that can help save lives.

988 Oregon is available 24/7, providing free, direct and confidential support for anyone who may be struggling. 988 Oregon is answered locally by Northwest Human Services and Lines for Life, and partners with community mental health programs in every county.  

Thomas said each county also has 24/7 mobile crisis intervention teams that can respond in-person if a mental health emergency can’t be de-escalated over the phone. These teams typically consist of two trained specialists and are especially important in rural areas, where access to nearby care may be limited.

“We try to work all the angles that we can in terms of access, while making sure that we have peer support available to help motivate people for change,” Thomas said.

Suicide Care Coalition

In addition to serving as Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator, Rupkus leads IHN-CCO’s Suicide Care Coalition, which brings together leaders from public health, schools, law enforcement and more to collaborate on best practices.

The coalition meets quarterly, with monthly meetings for sub-groups focusing on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.

“This work cannot be done by just one health care system,” Rupkus said. “It takes all of us.”

To learn more about the coalition or to get involved, contact Rupkus at [email protected].