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WHO: All county departments, community and faith based organizations, and community members interested in learning about suicide prevention. Suicide Prevention Week is September 8 through September 14 and World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10.
WHAT: September 8 through 14 marks the 40th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. The purpose of Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day is to create awareness and provide information and education about the warning signs of suicide as well as reduce the stigma surrounding the topic of suicide. The warning signs of emotional pain or suicidal thoughts aren’t always obvious.
WHY: Suicide is real, but can also be preventable. According to the International Association for Suicide, the number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. Knowing what to look for and finding the words to show concern and support may be a life-saving act.
Here are some warning signs:
- Talking about wanting to die or suicide
- Increased drug or alcohol use
- Feeling hopeless, desperate, trapped
- Withdrawal
- Giving Away possessions
- Anxiety or agitation
- Putting affairs in order
- Changes in sleep
- Reckless behavior
- Sudden mood changes
- Anger
- No sense of purpose
WHEN: National Suicide Prevention Week is the week of September 8 through 14, 2014. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10, 2014.
WHERE: More information on the warning signs and ways to help can be found at www.suicideispreventable.org. The national suicide prevention lifeline phone number is 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).
CONTACT: For more information regarding Suicide Prevention please contact Erica Porteous at (909) 252-4050.
For County of San Bernardino residents in need of a Crisis Walk-in Clinic (CWIC) the following CWICs are available:
CWIC Rialto: 850 E. Foothill Blvd. Rialto, CA 92376 (909) 421-9495. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
CWIC High Desert: 16460 Victor Street, Victorville, CA 92395. (760) 245-8837. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
CWIC Morongo Basin: 55475 Santa Fe Trail, Yucca Valley, CA 92284 (entrance to Inca Trail). (855) 365-6558. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
For residents who are experiencing a mental health related emergency the Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) is available for assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:
East Valley: Office (909) 421-9233 Pager- (909) 420-0560
West Valley: Pager- (909) 535-1316
High Desert: Office- (760) 956-2345 Pager- (760) 734-8093
Morongo Basin: (855) 365-6558
For all numbers listed, TTY users may dial 711.
