Washington County’s Suicide Prevention Efforts Featured on “Let’s Talk About It” Town Hall Show

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Suicide Prevention Week is September 7-13. Oregon ranks 11th in the nation in suicide deaths. It has become one of the leading causes of death for Oregon children and young adults ages 10 to 24 and is the leading cause of death for Oregon veterans under the age of 45. Nationally, it is estimated that 1 in 20 people has thoughts of suicide. Washington County averages 65 suicides each year.

Washington County is working to address this public health crisis locally. Efforts include forming the Suicide Prevention Council of Washington County in 2013, adopting a vision that "Zero is possible," working to partner with health systems to implement the Zero Suicide Initiative, hosting the Summit of Hope last May, and collaborating on a regional training hub called www.GetTrainedtoHelp.com. 

"We can have a community without suicide and believe that not even one death by suicide is acceptable," says Meghan Crane, Washington County's new suicide prevention coordinator.

Washington County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently worked with TVCTV to produce the station's first episode of "Let's Talk About It," a new show featuring expert panelists who discuss topical community issues in front of a live studio audience.

The show focused on suicide warning signs, risk factors and resources available. Host Andy Cartmill from Washington County HHS led the conversation with guests Deborah Zwetchkenbaum, assistant director of the Crisis Line Program at Lines for Life; Aimee Johnson, lead suicide prevention coordinator for the Portland VA Healthcare System; Dr. Kirk Wolfe, clinical assistant professor with the Division of Child Psychiatry at OHSU and Oregon's Delegate to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and Margaret Rutledge, a facilitator of the Suicide Bereavement Support Group in Washington County.

Find the show on TVCTV channels 23, 28 and 30 as well as on the MACC-TVCTV YouTube page.

Throughout Suicide Prevention Week, Washington County Department of Health and Human Services will post "Five Ways You Can Help Prevent Suicide" on their Facebook page. Visitors to the Public Services Building in Hillsboro are invited to stop by the Suicide Prevention Council's informational display at the main entrance.

The next meeting of the Suicide Prevention Council of Washington County takes places on Wednesday, October 14, from 10 a.m. –noon, at the Beaverton Library. All are welcome.

For more information, contact Suicide Prevention Coordinator Meghan Crane at 503-846-4748.

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