Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

Mission: The Mission of the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition is to work together as a community to increase suicide awareness and prevention.

Vision: The Vision is that Essex County will have the necessary information and tools to raise awareness, promote education, and increase action to reduce suicides.

Fact: Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in adults and the 3^rd leading cause of death in people ages 10 – 24.

There is hope. Together we can save lives.

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Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

• Major psychiatric disorder – depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders
• Alcohol and other substance use disorders
• Hopelessness / helplessness
• Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
• History of trauma or abuse
• Chronic disease / intense pain with little hope of relief
• Previous suicide attempt
• Family history of suicide
• Role failure or perceived role failure – job, family, school
• Imprisonment or impending imprisonment or other legal sanctions that may have a serious effect on self-image
• Chronic sleep disturbance with or without nightmares
• Loss – deaths; exposure to suicide; job; home; relationships or other estrangements
• Access to lethal means
• Local clusters of suicide that have a contagious influence
• Lack of social support and sense of isolation
• Stigma associated with mental illness or asking for help
• Lack of health care or other resources/supports

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

• If a person talks about killing him/her self
• Statements of suicidal ideations, suicide plans
• Searching online for materials or means
• Acquiring or seeking to acquire means (guns, drugs, poisons)
• Giving away important possessions; unexpectedly making a will
• Statements of purposelessness, being a burden to others
• Statements of hopelessness and being trapped; powerless to change life situation
• Intense emotional pain – “psycheache”
• Sudden changes in mood, intense anger, anxiety, or sudden happiness/relief
• Feelings of constant, unrelenting stress
• Loneliness, isolation, lack of connection (family, friends, school, spiritual, job, etc.)
• Self-loathing, unrelenting feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness, failure
• Disinterest in life areas that are important
• Calling people or saying goodbye
• Changes in sleep habits

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance use disorders
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help
• Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide
• Strong connections to family and community support
• Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and nonviolent handling of disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad.
• Don’t lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Take any threats of suicide seriously. Don’t dare him or her to do it.
• Stay calm. Don’t act shocked – this will put distance between you.
• Seek support. Don’t be sworn to secrecy.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available.
• Take action. Remove means such as guns or stockpiled pills.
• Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

Visit our FACEBOOK page.

• Essex County Suicide Coalition Brochure
• Veterans Crisis Line
• Suicide-proof Your Home
• Suicide Coalition Training Programs
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Mental Health Association – Westport)
• New York State Suicide Facts
• Recommendations for Media Reporting on Suicide
• Safely Speaking about Suicide
• Suicide is Preventable Poster (with tear-off tabs)
• You Matter Poster (with tear-off tabs)
• American Association of Suicidology
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide
• New York State Office of Mental Health
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• Suicide Prevention Center of New York
• Learn more about safety planning – suicide prevention app
• The Trevor Project
• Make The Connection

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

• Free for Essex County Workplaces, Communities and Schools
• QPR Stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
• For information instructions on how to access this 1 hour self-paced course online, visit: https://essexcountyny.gov/BRIEF/training/
• Download the QPR Information Sheet: Click Here.

For Children and Teens

• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

Survivor and Bereavement Resources

• The Compassionate Friends
• The Dougy Center (for children)
• Life Transition Center
• Sibling Survivors
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS – Veterans)

Recently Added

• May 26, 2017 – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held May 17, 2017 to mark the official start of the North Country Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide Campaign.
• March 13, 2017 Board of Supervisors presentation
• Mobile Crisis Services

If you or someone you know may be at risk please call:

Essex County Mental Health Services:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: (518) 873-3670
Toll Free Emergency Services 1-888-854-3773 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)

Mental Health Association Hopeline: 1-800-440-8074
Westport Office (518) 962-2077

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (includes online chat feature)