October 18, 2016
If you were to guess, which age group and would you assume to have the highest incidence of suicide? If your first thought is teens and/or young people, think again.
This week we talk to Mary Madden, Executive Director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Waukesha, and Dr. Bob Dubois, Professor of Psychology at Waukesha County Technical College, about suicide in Waukesha County and around the county, which has risen about 24% in the last decade. Since August, NAMI Waukesha has been bringing together non-profits, healthcare agencies, and schools in Waukesha County to collaborate around a plan to decrease this high rate of suicide.
In this episode, Mary and Dr. Bob mention which groups are most likely to be affected by suicide, and it is probably not who you think. We also discuss the current work being done by NAMI Waukesha around suicide, including their use of youth ambassadors to go into high schools and foster conversations around the issue. Finally, Dr. Bob warns of the dangers of not having open conversations around suicide, and how suicide stigma can have a ripple effect.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or suspect that a friend or family member may be suicidal, dial 2-1-1 to be connected to resources that can help. You can also visit their website, www.211wisconsin.org, to find help.
Interested in learning more about QPR training? Join NAMI Waukesha and WCTC for the Suicide Awareness & Prevention event, November 2nd, 2016, at WCTC, 800 Main St, Pewaukee, WI-Richard T. Anderson Education Center.
To learn more about the issue of suicide in Waukesha County and what you can do, join NAMI Waukesha, WCTC School of Health and the Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services at the 2016 Suicide Awareness & Prevention event on Tuesday, November 1st. More information can be found in the blog post that goes along with this episode.
To learn more about the work of NAMI Waukesha, visit their website www.namiwaukesha.org.