COMMUNITY News:
Sept. 8-14 is World and National Suicide Prevention Week.
The first local event is “Mental Health and Suicide.” This talk is geared for adults and will be held noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at Family Strengths Network, 1990 Diamond Dr. Join Los Alamos Family Council (LAFC) therapists, Steve Koch, MA, LMHC, Amanda Schneider, MA, LMHC, and Mike Wallington, MA, LPCC, in a discussion about substance abuse, mental health, and suicide. The goal is to help community members better understand the importance of de-stigmatizing these issues. A light lunch will be provided. For information about LAFC, visit www.lafamilycouncil.com.
Suicide Awareness and Prevention week represents a call for action and involvement by all governments and organizations worldwide to contribute to the cause of suicide awareness and prevention through activities, events, conferences and campaigns in their country. Together we can reduce the number of lives shaken by a needless and tragic death.
Unfortunately, New Mexico ranks fourth highest in the number of completed suicides across the nation. It is light of this fact and the underlying need for education about suicide in our area,
Northern New Mexico, eight awareness and prevention events were created with the support of multiple organizations within the Los Alamos community and across the state.
The goal is to increase awareness, enhance understanding and provide training and resources to help prevent suicide. The week’s programs are co-sponsored by the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Los Alamos National Bank and Los Alamos National Laboratory. All events are free and no registration is required. Need Help? Call 1-800-273- 8255.
Thank you to the following for making the week possible:
- Art Center at Fuller Lodge
- Family Strengths Network (FSN)
- Los Alamos Family Council (LAFC)
- Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
- Los Alamos National Bank (LANB)
- Mesa Public Library
- New Mexico Suicide Intervention Project (NMSIP)
Special thanks to the Los Alamos JJAB for creating the Los Alamos Working Group on Suicide Awareness and Prevention to address long-term needs in the community.
For more information about the week and presenter bios, visit www.nmsuicideprevention.org.
