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Suicide: How one person can make a difference

Santa Cruz Sentinel - 3/21/2017

March 21--SANTA CRUZ -- Cruz Lopez, Sonoma County behavioral health manager, asked her audience to identify the famous person who lost his mother when he was 9, lost a sweetheart when he was in his 20s, and at 31 experienced such a deep depression his friends kept watch over him, fearing he might take his life.

That was Abraham Lincoln, who emerged from his melancholy to be elected president at age 51.

"Anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide," said Lopez, a licensed therapist and QPR trainer, speaking Friday to 75 people at the County of Santa Cruz Health Services auditorium, among them school counselors, therapists and pastors.

QPR stands for "Question, Persuade, Refer," an intervention federal health officials says has evidence of effectiveness and one being used in Sonoma County schools going on five years.

Lopez showed a video clip of Kevin Briggs, who as a California Highway Patrol officer talked many people out of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and has since written a book sharing his experience.

When Lopez asked the audience for their reaction, one said, "Encouraging," and another said, "One person can make a difference."

Situations such as death of a loved one, a divorce, a serious illness, loss of a job or the prospect of going to jail could put an individual wanting their pain and suffering to stop to consider suicide.

Lopez pointed out 80 percent to 90 percent of those who kill themselves send warning signs.

"If they talk about suicide, talk about it with them," she said. "Suicide is the most preventable kind of death."

Other signs could include calling to say goodbye, giving away prized possessions, stockpiling pills and buying a gun.

The key is to have a conversation, as difficult as that might be, and be prepared in case the answer is yes.

You can ask, "Are you thinking about ending your life?"

If the answer is yes, then offer hope in any way you can.

Say: "I want you to live."

Ask: "Will you go with me to get help?"

As Lopez put it, "You plant the seeds of hope and hope prevents suicide."

Among those attending was Rory McKee, 29, a counseling intern at his alma mater, San Lorenzo Valley High School.

"This information was great," he said. "We didn't have anything like this when I was in school."

Peter Schipper, 79, who teaches an evening class to eighth graders at Twin Lakes Church, said he had done a number of interventions.

"I learned some new stuff," he said, citing the chart showing the sequence of a crisis episode.

Marty Riggs, acute services program manager at Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health, was on hand to provide information about county services such as the new Mobile Emergency Response Team, which is dispatched 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays to sites vetted for safety for individuals experiencing a severe mental health crisis.

In the past year, the team has made more than 150 contacts, Riggs said.

The day before, 48 behavioral and mental health clinicians attended a full-day workshop on assessing and managing suicide risk.

Training sponsors were the Santa Cruz County Mental Health Substance Abuse Services, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the Clarence and Catherine Bailey Trust.

QPR: ASK A QUESTION, SAVE A LIFE

Anyone can intervene when someone is thinking about suicide.

QPR: Question. Persuade. Refer.

Step One: Ask, "Are you thinking of killing yourself?" A less direct approach is to ask, "Have you been unhappy lately?"

Step Two: Listen. Do not interrupt. Then say, "I want you to live. Won't you please stay alive until we can get you some help?" Ask "Will you go with me to see a counselor?" Or a pastor, school nurse, psychologist, or whatever professional the person is willing to see.

Step Three: Make sure you have the name and phone number of a mental health professional in your wallet or cellphone, or call 211 for a referral. The best approach is to make the appointment and take the person; the next best is when the person agrees to see a professional, you help them make the appointment and follow up to see if the appointment was kept. The third best is getting the person to agree to accept help and giving them specific referral information.

Source: QPR Institute

County BEHAVIORAL HEALTH services

Rapid Connect: New program to connect patient with psychiatric follow-up services within one day of a psychiatric discharge. 800-952-2335.

Walk-in: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, non-holidays, 1400 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz. 1-800-952-2335.

Mobile Emergency Response Team: Responds to hospitals and schools 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, non-holidays. 1-800-952-2335.

Mental health liaisons to law enforcement: Clinicians work with Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies, Santa Cruz Police, Watsonville Police. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday non-holidays. Call 911.

Crisis stabilization: Assessment, intervention and referral in a locked setting for up to 24 hours for adults and children, 2250 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Operates 24/7 365 days a year. Self-refer or "5150." 831-600-2800.

Psychiatric health facility: Locked 16-bed psychiatric inpatient treatment for adults in a serious mental health crisis, 24-hour treatment, 2250 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Operates 24/7 365 days a year. Self-refer or "5150." 831-600-2800.

Source: Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health

More resources

Suicide Prevention Services: Crisis line: 1-877-663-5433 or 831-458-5300. Volunteer training starts April 11; to sign up, call 831-459-9373 or sps24hr@gmail.com

National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz: Text the word NAMI to 741741. Welcomes volunteers. 831-427-8020. Namiscc.org/

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(c)2017 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.)

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