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. 

36 Suicide Prevention Run/Walk Shirts Ordered

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 988. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 7 days a week. 

Jeremy Baker of the Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition reported at Wednesday’s regular meeting that he received orders for 36 shirts for the upcoming Suicide Prevention Run/Walk, which will be held Saturday, September 12th with registration starting at 7 am in the school parking lot and the run starting at 7:30 am. Twelve people attended Wednesday’s meeting; it was the most who had attended the meeting since the kickoff meeting several months ago. 

Volunteers are sought for the upcoming run/walk, including for setup, monitoring traffic and runners, helping to shut down roads, and cleanup. Contact Jeremy Baker at (660) 254-5311 if interested.

The Coalition received a $2,500 grant a few months ago to train three people who will train up to 24 others to recognize and act on warning signs of suicide. That will mean that there will be at least 75 people who will be trained to recognize such signs when the training is done. One person who will take the training, Sheena Fletchall, attended the meeting and showed a care package she is putting together for people who are struggling with mental health issues, something she does. She takes donations of items that people no longer need that could be included in such care packages. The Coalition voted to approve the expense to train Ms. Fletchall. She said she had gotten a lot of interest in Nodaway County about training people in schools about suicide awareness.

Completing the training gives one a three-year certification to train others in suicide awareness. It is renewable for $100 at the end of the three-year period. 

Rachel Brown talked about how the Harrison County coalition puts together care packages for people and gives out gun locks.

Grace Englehart of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reported that there are many free videos on suicide prevention in Missouri. She said she would send resources to the coalition. 

Groundwork was laid for the Suicide Prevention event, including the run/walk as well as a breakfast to be held afterwards. It will tentatively include information about the coalition, door prizes, and a suicide prevention training. 

Plans were made for possible activities after the event is over, including possibly sending cards to people around the county. Josh Kollitz said he had a lot of cards on hand. Mr. Kollitz invited the coalition to the Worth County Fall Carnival, which is being held the week after, on September 19th. 

Jeremy Baker reported that he had distributed 1,300 gun locks in the area. He has 200 left. 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10th at 5:00 pm at the Worth County Community Church (formerly the United Methodist Church). 

Suicide Prevention Coalition Hands Out 400 Gun Locks

Jeremy Baker of the Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition reported handing out 400 gun locks to people at various places around the area, he reported at the monthly meeting Wednesday.

Mr. Baker also reported that he tabled at the Tractor Cruise and got a $20 donation. They received four t-shirt orders for the Suicide Prevention Run/Walk which will be held September 12th at the school. Registration will be at 7:00 am in the east parking lot of the Worth County School with the run starting at 7:30 am. It will be a 5K run and a 2K walk.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, contact the Missouri Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988 twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, seven days a week.

 

Two to Take Training to Teach Suicide Awareness

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988. If you are a veteran, dial 1 afterwards.

Two people have signed up for VA-backed training to teach others to recognize the warning signs of suicide. One is in Worth County and another is in Gentry County. 

The Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition has received $250 in sponsorships for the Suicide Prevention Run/Walk that will be held September 12th starting at the east parking lot at the school. The event is designed to raise suicide awareness and how to prevent it. There will be activities and community resources available at the event.  

The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 8th at the Grant City Community Church (formerly the United Methodist Church). at 5:00 pm. 

Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition Receives Grant

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Worth County Suicide Prevention Coalition has received a $2,500 grant from the Neighborhood Leadership Academy. Proceeds will go to train three people who will train 12 more people in suicide prevention and recognizing warning signs. The money will be handled under the Worth County Progress Organization.

The Suicide Awareness Run/Walk will be held on September 12th from 7 am to noon starting at the east parking lot of the Worth County School. Twelve sponsors have been lined up, and there will be vendors present, including the VA.

The coalition will continue to meet every second Wednesday. Future meetings will take place at the Worth County Community Church. Next meeting will be Wednesday, May 13th at 5:00 pm.