September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. As part of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month the county has planned a number of activities, including a new partnership program through Let’s Talk Nevada County and training opportunities for community members (see below for details).

We are fortunate in Nevada County to have many suicide prevention resources available, including the Nevada County Crisis Line at 530-265-5811 and the Crisis Stabilization Unit, a four-bed mental health urgent care, to the left of the Emergency Department at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley. Last year in Nevada County, thousands of residents called our local crisis line or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline looking for help. If you are struggling, you are not alone. Help is available.

Become a Partner of Let’s Talk Nevada County

Back in June, Nevada County launched the Let’s Talk Nevada County campaign to encourage conversations about how we’re feeling and promote awareness of wellness strategies and resources during these challenging times. The goal of the campaign is to remind each member of our community that self-care is critical right now, as is communication and connection with our natural networks of support. And when we need more than what our friends and family are able to provide us, professional helping services are available, too.

We are asking local organizations and businesses to support the health and wellness of our community by signing on as a partner of Let’s Talk Nevada County. As a partner, we will list your business/organization on the campaign website and provide you with the necessary information and tools to promote Let’s Talk Nevada County with your networks. This includes:

• Social media graphics and sample posts
• Email templates for messages to your listservs
• Campaign swag to share or post in your business/organization
• Toolkits to host conversations about how we’re feeling with friends, family and our networks of care

Suicide Prevention Trainings

Suicide prevention training is available through Nevada County Department of Public Health by request and at no cost. Below are the details on two Know the Signs suicide prevention training’s planned for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month that are open to the general public. In the Know the Signs Suicide Prevention Training, attendees will learn about the warning signs of suicide, how to engage with someone they’re concerned about, and resources available to help.

What: Know the Signs Suicide Prevention Training

When: Thursday, September 24 at 10-11am and 7-8pm

Register for September 24 at 10am: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OKV8tn_USf28stefnbpxkA

Register for September 24 at 7pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xki0j75zSUaFY9B9GQuDoQ 

Please contact Toby Guevin, Health Education Coordinate at Nevada County Public Health at toby.guevin@co.nevada.ca.us with questions or additional information about Suicide Prevention Awareness Month activities.