Those working to prevent suicide will update the community about their work involving Durango School District 9-R, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and other organizations at a forum this week.
The forum will highlight the work that community members are doing to help address the high rate of suicide in La Plata County and how to become involved. “Anyone on any level can be part of suicide prevention,” said Claire Ninde, a spokeswoman with San Juan Basin Public Health.
The health department is leading the suicide prevention collaborative, and Jason Armstrong, the agency’s Thriving Youth Program manager, will update the community about the collaborative’s work, he said.
Armstrong said he plans to talk about the progress a group of health care professionals, including physicians and behavioral health care providers, have made on a plan to ensure individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive appropriate care.
He will also describe work on a community response plan to deaths by suicide.
The forum will also feature Bruce LeClaire who will address the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s suicide prevention efforts, and Leah Tanke who will speak about Sources of Strength, a new suicide-prevention program 9-R started this year.
KDUR radio reporter Sarah Flower will talk about her experiences co-reporting a series called Creating Connections: Solutions to Youth Suicide in La Plata County that was published this fall in The Durango Herald and aired on KDUR.
Representatives from nonprofits, including the Communities Overcoming Depressed Youth Project and Resilient Colorado, will also participate in the panel.
The health department plans to host similar forums twice a year to keep the community informed about the collaborative’s progress.
The forum will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. Those interested in participating in San Juan Basin Public Health Suicide prevention work can contact Kate Jones at 335-2084 or kjones@sjbpublichealth.org.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
