CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A local task force is working to reduce the county's high suicide rate through education, support and a public awareness campaign.
The effort has been highlighted in September, which is “Suicide Prevention Month.”
Linda Aldridge, Lake County Behavioral Health prevention specialist, said a suicide prevention task force is working with a representative from Family Service Agency of Marin as part of the North Bay Suicide Prevention Project.
The issue of suicide is a serious one for Lake County.
The county's health data shows that the death rate attributed to suicide in 2009 was 34.5 per 100,000 – nearly four times the state rate.
The Clearlake City Council at its Sept. 12 meeting commended the efforts of the group with a proclamation and extended its support in raising awareness to help prevent the pain of suicide.
A needs assessment is currently being conducted to better understand suicide in Lake County, said Aldridge.
“We have been implementing the survey that we created as well as conducting focus groups,” she said, adding some materials have been developed including a crisis hotline, 1-800-900-2075.
In addition, Aldridge said a representative from the statewide suicide prevention campaign, “Know the Signs,” is working with the task force to develop for the helpers of those who are at risk.
“There are already some posters and brochures that have been developed for use statewide that encourage those helpers to pay attention to warning signs and discuss how to ask the hard question and connect people with additional resources,” she said.
Aldridge said the task force currently is working specifically on materials for participants at an upcoming youth leadership summit that is being planned by Lake County Behavioral Health in partnership with Lake County Office of Education and Redwood Children Service.
The task force also is working on materials geared toward the American Indian population, she said.
Aldridge credited Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Executive Council members Aimee Jackson and Ida Morrison, and American Indian youth representative Amelia Rodriguez for doing “a wonderful job outreaching to the community for participation in the tribal suicide prevention efforts.”
She added, “They recently collaborated with the Sonoma County Indian Health Project to provide a Gathering of Native Americans for youth where suicide prevention was a major component.”
Aldridge said the task force is collaborating with the Bay Area Suicide and Crisis Prevention Alliance and Mendocino County to hold a suicide prevention network meeting.
The meeting will present current and best practices in suicide prevention and provide the most recent information for reducing suicide and connecting with resources, Aldridge said.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
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