Thirty Attend Worth County Suicide Prevention Run/Walk

Around 30 people participated in the Worth County Suicide Prevention Run/Walk Saturday, with three running the 5K route and the rest walking the 2K route.

After the event, some groups gave presentations and offered resources to people about suicide prevention. The Life Flight helicopter did not show up due to weather concerns.

Amy "Beth" Blume of Operation Veteran Resources out of Lee's Summit talked about her group and her work. They offer free haircuts, resume writing, and other help for veterans transitioning out of the military into civilian life. They offer help whether you are currently transitioning or whether you've been a civilian for years. Their website is www.operationveteranresources.com.

Mike Hall of the Grant City Lions Club talked about his group's work. They meet every first and third Tuesday at the Allendale Community Building. They go to area schools and offer free KidSight Vision Screening for elementary kids. They help kids buy eyeglasses. The Lions Club is open for all. It originally started as a men's club, but opened to women in the 1960's. 

They offer disaster relief services around the world, including partnering with other organizations to fight River Blindness in Africa. They train service animals for the blind. 

They also offer diabetes screening, childhood cancer screening, and help combat hunger. They take used eyeglasses as donations. They process them, clean them, and give them to people in need. It used to be against the law in Missouri to distribute used eyeglasses to people, but during COVID-19, there was no way to get the eyeglasses to Africa like the Lions Club International had been doing. So the legislature changed the law so that you could distribute them in Missouri. It is still illegal to do so in Kansas. 

The VA brought some resources for people and gave out gun locks.

The National Center for PTSD has developed a mobile app called "Safety Plan." It is a free mobile app which helps people create a safety plan for if they experience thoughts about suicide or self-harm. It helps users create a step-by-step action plan to keep yourself safe during a crisis, share your plan with loved ones, and use tools to manage distress.

It is not a substitute for professional help. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 988. If you are a veteran, dial 988 + 1 to be connected to specialized services.

The app helps people identify warning signs, ways you can cope, identifies places you can go for a distraction, and people you can call for help. It helps users create strategies to put time and space between yourself and dangerous objects such as firearms, knives, and medications. Use your app when you start to notice your personal warning signs. You can print or export your plan to share with others. You can make a personalized list of reasons to live. It offers tools for coping for distress in the moment and help manage strong emotions. It also allows people to keep journals, set goals, and track progress over time. It offers resources, like getting connected to mental health treatment. 

Gun safety locks help create a barrier between yourself and a firearm. The Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition has distributed over 1,300 free of charge this year. There were some distributed at Saturday's run/walk.

The following are immediate signs of suicide risk:

--Thinking about hurting or killing yourself;

--Looking for ways of killing yourself, including using AI;

--Talking about death, dying, or suicide;

--Self-destructive behavior such as drug abuse.

If you recognize these signs in yourself or others, take immediate action and call 911. 

Other warning signs are as follows:

--Hopelessness, feeling like there is no way out;

--Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, mood swings;

--Feeling like there is no reason to live;

--Rage or anger;

--Engaging in high-risk activities without thinking;

--Withdrawal from family and friends.

If you recognize these signs in yourself or others, call the National Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988. If you are a veteran, call 988+1. You will be connected to specialized services. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits to qualify.

The Suicide Prevention Coalition meets every second Wednesday at the Worth County Community Church (formerly the United Methodist Church) at 5:00 pm. All meetings are open to the public.