October 18, 2016
In the time it will take for you to listen to this podcast, someone in the US will have died from suicide. Suicide is a more common cause of death than homicide or car accidents and is on the rise in our community and across the country.
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, Dr. Bob and Mary discuss the signs of people who may be contemplating suicide, and what you can do immediately if you suspect a friend or family member of being suicidal. We also learn how Facebook is helping combat the suicide rate.
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.