A public health concern in America is a cause of death that ranks
higher than homicides on our streets and in our homes. This cause
of death is Suicide. Suicide was listed as the 8th
leading cause of death in 1998 national statistics. The Surgeon
General, David Satcher, was very active in his time in office. In
1999, the Surgeon General released a Call to Action to Prevent
Suicide that listed risk factors and information related to suicide
as a public health issue. This identification of suicide as a
public health issue assisted the nation and our local community to
look at suicide as not just an issue for the mental health
professionals, the schools or ministers to address, but rather as an
issue that communities and various disciplines and professionals
needed to address together.
Sedgwick County is committed to bringing the Surgeon General’s
Call to Action to the community level. Sedgwick County has had
representation at national, regional and state meetings. Deborah
Donaldson, Division Director of Human Services in Sedgwick County,
was an attendee at the Reno, Nevada summit. Sedgwick County had
representatives at the Regional Conference and State initiatives.
The Board of County Commissioners appointed a Suicide Prevention
Task Force in January 2001. Task Force members include community
and business representatives, law enforcement, education, etc. The
Task Force continues to identify potential new members to represent
the diversity of the Sedgwick County community.
In February 2001, a community planning initiative was held with
over 150 invited community members participating together over two
days to identify the needs and issues in our community. The
participants at the initiative included representatives of aging,
ministerial, funeral directors, education, schools, mental health
(public and private), substance abuse, law enforcement (city and
sheriff), military, public health, gay/lesbian, community services
(e.g. EMS) and the media. Speakers from the Centers for Disease
Control in Atlanta were in Wichita to share information with the
participants and also held an evening community forum to provide
information to the community and receive input. The feedback from
the community forum was compiled and provided to the Task Force.
Participants were active over the two days in discipline specific
groups and multi-disciplinary groups. Information compiled from the
first day workgroups was available on the second day for the
multidisciplinary workgroups. The information from day two
workgroups was compiled and copied over the lunch hour for
distribution to the participants prior to leaving the initiative.
The acting Task Force Chair, Dr. Charles Magruder facilitated a
power point overview and discussion to wrap up the efforts of the
two days with summary and next steps identified. The two target
populations that emerged for initial community focus were Aging and
Youth.
The Task Force developed subcommittees based on the AIM model
(Awareness, Intervention and Methodology) according to steps
outlined by the Surgeon General. The subcommittees have developed
active workgroups to address specific areas including raising public
awareness, working with the media, addressing the stigma of seeking
out help, developing an education presentation about suicide in our
community, working with family members after a suicide, and the
methodology or science behind the efforts to ensure that what is
implemented is effective. The subcommittee participants were
identified from a voluntary sign up sheet at the initiative. The
subcommittees provide recommendations to the full Task Force.
These subcommittees are always open to new member participation in
this community effort. The ultimate goal is to decrease the number
of suicides in Sedgwick County.
It has been estimated that for every suicide, 6-8 persons are
directly effected by that death. The Sedgwick County statistics for
2000 identify that 48 suicides occurred. This would indicate that
288-384 people were directly effected. This does not include
Sedgwick County residents who were effected by a suicide that
occurred in another county in Kansas, another State or another
country. If you are a family member looking for resources in
Sedgwick County, please contact Crisis Intervention Services at
660-7500 or the Self-Help Network of Kansas at 978-3843.
Sedgwick County is also active with the State Suicide Prevention
Steering Committee. COMCARE of Sedgwick County was organizational
chair of the Second Annual Kansas Suicide Prevention Convention,
that was be held in Wichita on October 10, 11, 2001. The event,
held at the Hyatt, was an opportunity to hear updated information
from the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Alex Crosby provided
information on the National Strategy on Suicide Prevention.
Participants were provided copies of the strategy and the summary
document. Conference attendees also had the opportunity to hear
updates from Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment regarding state
efforts and representatives from throughout Kansas on community
activities in their areas of the state. Chris Collins-Thoman, then
Vice-Chair of the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Task Force
provided the Sedgwick County update.
The conference was a result of the ongoing efforts to implement
Surgeon General David Satcher’s Call to Action to prevent suicide
and to identify suicide as a public health issue. In addition, the
conference provided attendees opportunities to learn about
developing a Survivor of Suicide Support Group, information on
working with the media and sessions specific for youth and older
adult issues. On the afternoon of day two there was a Diversity
Panel comprised of representatives of six cultural/ethnic groups.
Local panelists included: Pam Harjo of Hunter Health Clinic, Lisa
Reyes of Our Gang, Inc. and Sally Morse of PFLAG, Diversity Panel
representatives shared information relevant to population issues and
cultural considerations. Bill Mayfield, Region VII Health and Human
Services and a panel member shared the message that rather than
identifying diversity as the target, the primary target should be
inclusion and that until
persons of other cultures and races are included, there will
continue to be difficulties in addressing multicultural needs in
efforts.
The conference was open for attendance from throughout Kansas.
The conference was not specific to any discipline or organization.
Persons attending included community members, police, emergency
workers, school personnel, mental health, clergy, and higher
education. Some state agencies represented included: Kansas
Department of Health and Environment; Juvenile Justice Authority (JJA),
and the Kansas Department on Aging. State House of Representative
dignitaries on hand for the welcome address on Day 1 included: Lana
Gordan, 52nd District; Cindy Hermes, 51st
District; and Jonathan Wells, 84th District. In
addition, others who provided opening comments for the conference
included: Bill Mayfield with Region VII Health and Human Services;
Deborah Donaldson, COMCARE of Sedgwick County and Bob Hedberg,
Assistant Commissioner of Research and Prevention, JJA. Letters of
support for this 2nd annual state conference were also
provided by SPAN (Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network) and Surgeon
General David Satcher.
In July of 2002, The Mental Health Association of South Central
Kansas hosted a seminar entitled “Ensuring Our Children’s Mental
Health (Harm to Self, Harm to Others).” This seminar featured Dr.
David Satcher. In September 2002, the State Steering Committee
partnered with The Association of Community Mental Health Centers of
Kansas and the Rocky Mountain Council of community Mental Health
Centers to provide a track on Suicide issues for attendees. In
September 2002, a suicide prevention conference and community
meeting was held for those involved in the Suicide Prevention Task
Force, its subcommittees and workgroups as well as for those who
were interested in promoting the work of suicide prevention in the
community. This day long summit was organized to help get new
people updated and the existing people refreshed about the suicide
prevention efforts going on in the county. Dr Shawn C. Shea
presented a dynamic workshop on suicide assessment.
The local efforts continue with the goals of bringing the Surgeon
General’s call to action closer to the community, increasing
awareness of suicide as a public health issue and increasing
awareness of community resources. Kevin Bomhoff, WSU Self-Help
Network, currently chairs the Sedgwick County Task Force. Vice
Chair is Liz McGinness, Assistant Director of Special Education, USD
259. The Task Force remains active with three subcommittees to
address awareness, intervention and methodology according to the
Surgeon General’s outline. For more information or to become
involved in the local efforts, contact Task Force media liaison, Bev
Baalman (960-6600). Join the many community members from various
organizations currently donating their time towards the goals being
set by the subcommittees and the Task Force.
If you know someone who is suicidal or in need of assistance,
contact suicide prevention at 660-7500. A goal of the Sedgwick
County Suicide Prevention Task Force is to strengthen the lifelines
in our community.
This task force meets at 8 a.m. on the second Friday of each
month at 635 N. Main, Wichita.
Prepared by Chris Collins-Thoman, Task Force Member, Past 2001
Vice-Chair
©, Copyright, 2004 Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Taskforce
last update:
01/22/09
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