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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 28, 2018 A3 SIGNS OF SUICIDE Proactive steps can be taken by anyone Editor’s note: This is the fi- nal installment of a three-part series on suicide. Oregon’s suicide rate has been increasing since 2000, but people can take proactive steps to combat it. Oregon’s suicide rate for many years ranked seventh to ninth in the United States, and the prob- lem is get- ting worse. In 2011, twice as many Orego- nians died by Thad suicide than Labhart were killed in vehicle crash- es. According to the Oregon Violent Death Reporting Sys- tem, suicide was the eighth leading cause of death in the state in 2012. The age-adjust- ed rate of 17.7 suicides per 100,000 individuals was 42 percent higher than the na- tional average. Suicide rates in Oregon’s 36 counties ranged from 9.4 to 36 per 100,000 individuals from 2003-2012, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Grant County’s rate ranked third highest at 32.1 after No. 1 Curry and No. 2 Harney. Risk factors Suicide rates in Grant County are alarming, but pro- active steps can be taken to re- duce those numbers by people without advanced training. An important first step is to iden- tify people who might harm themselves. Residents of Grant County share many of the same risk factors as other rural commu- nities in the western states, Community Counseling Solu- tions Clinical Director Thad Labhart told the Eagle — geographical isolation, win- ter weather, family dynamics of denial, abuse, neglect and separation, lack of things to do, higher rates of gun owner- ship, relatively less access to mental health treatment, low socio-economic status and stigma issues about admitting mental health problems. Many Grant County resi- dents have a strong sense of independence, a “pick me up by the bootstraps” or “tough- en up” mentality that steers them away from seeking help, Labhart said. The fishing, farming and timber industries posted the highest suicide rates of all, according to a Centers for Disease Control report on the 20 percent increase in the na- tional suicide rate from 2002 to 2012. The CDC attributed the high rate to workers fac- ing isolation, high stress, lack of mental health services and the recent declining economy in those industries. Suicide impacts families for years, even generations. About one-third of suicide victims in Oregon from 2003 to 2012 had experienced a cri- sis within the prior two weeks, including problems with an intimate partner, physical health, family stress, other re- lationships, lost jobs or prob- lems at work, financial diffi- culties and criminal charges or other legal difficulties. Screening Labhart said he would like to see more screening and referral. Cards provided by the Columbia University’s Lighthouse Project provide a simple set of six questions that parents, family members, friends or co-workers can use to identify people at risk of at- tempting suicide. People are asked if they Michael B. DesJardin Dentistry, PC Preventive, Restorative & Endodontics New Patients Welcome! 208 NW Canton John Day 541-575-2725 mbddental@live.com michaelbdesjardindmd.com St r a w b er r y Mo u n t a in Gu n & Kn if e Sh o w at the Grant County Fairgrounds Pavilion Saturday, April 7 Sunday, April 8 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: $3 for one day or $5 for both days Youth 7-18 $1 per day BUY SELL TRADE 411 NW Bridge St., John Day 541-575-1900 grantcountyfairgrounds.com Leading suicide counties in Oregon, 2003-12 ... by suicide rate per 100,000 residents Rank/county Rate Deaths 1. Curry 2. Harney 3. Grant 4. Wheeler 36 32.7 32.1 29.1 77 22 22 4 ... by suicide deaths Rank/county Rate Deaths 1. Multnomah 2. Washington 3. Lane 4. Clackamas 15.4 12.2 17.7 13.8 1,084 639 612 523 Statewide 16.4 6,145 Source: Oregon Health Authority EO Media Group graphic had wished they were dead or thought about killing them- selves over the past month and, more specifically, if they had thought about how they would do it. People are also asked about how serious they had considered these thoughts, or if they had worked out the details of how they would do it. They are also asked if they had actually done something or prepared to do something to end their lives. Labhart noted that only 38 percent of people who complete suicide ever men- tion it to others ahead of time, so it’s important to consider the risk factors to identify a person and then ask these questions. Any yes to the Columbia Lighthouse questions should be taken seriously. If a per- son has indicated serious in- tent or taken definitive steps toward committing suicide, they should be escorted to emergency personnel for care. Labhart noted that veter- ans complete suicide at about twice the rate in Oregon and 2.5 times the national rate. Veterans in isolated commu- nities like John Day don’t have to travel to Veterans Ad- ministration facilities — they can find help with local pro- viders like Community Coun- seling Solutions through the Veterans Choice Program. The City of John Day is seeking applicants for a vacant position on the John Day City Council under the provisions of Ordinance 82-29-01. One applicant will be appointed by the City Council to fill Councilor Position #6 for the remainder of the term ending December 31, 2020. Persons wishing to apply for city council must reside within the incorporated city limits. Applications may be picked up at City Hall (450 E. Main Street) during business hours, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Applications are due to City Hall by close of business on March 30, 2018. An appointment will be made during the regular session of the city council scheduled for April 10, 2018, 7PM at the John Day Fire Hall (316 S. Canyon Boulevard). Madden Brothers Performing Arts Center 116 NW Bridge St. John Day, OR 97845 • Community Counseling Solutions in John Day, 541- 575-1466 • David Romprey Oregon Warm Line, 1-800-698-2392 • Oregon Youth Line, 1-877-968-8491, text 839863, youthL@linesfor- life.org • National Suicide Preven- tion Lifeline, 1-800-273- TALK • Spanish Language Na- tional Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-888-628-9454 • Crisis Text Line: 741741 • Military Helpline: 888- 457-4838 or text MIL1 to 839863 • Alcohol and Drug Help- line: 800-923-4357 or text RecoveryNow to 839863 • Suicide Prevention Re- source Center, sprc.org • SafeOregon report- ing line: 844-472-3367 or tip@safeoregon.com Treatment CCS offers individual, family and group treatment options, psychiatric consulta- tion, medication prescription and referrals to higher-level care, Labhart said. “Treatment works — ab- solutely,” Labhart said. “Sui- cides are much lower for peo- ple in treatment.” Representatives at the Feb. 15 meeting of the Grant County’s Youth Suicide Re- sponse Team recognized a list of steps already being taken to address suicide in Grant County. Mental health pres- ence in schools is increasing, CCS is providing more pre- vention work and depression screenings and more training has been offered, including crisis-intervention training for law enforcement. Typically police officers are trying to enforce the law, Labhart said. The new train- ing helps them differentiate between mental health issues that could be linked to sui- cidal tendencies and someone Risk factors • Can’t enjoy anything • Anxiety and/or panic • Insomnia • Hopelessness or despair • Homicidal ideation • Psychotic disorder or com- mand hallucinations • Personality disorder • Mood disorder • Post-traumatic stress dis- order • Substance use, abuse or withdrawal • Impulsivity, aggression or anti-social • Ongoing medical illness, including chronic pain • Recent or anticipated loss of relationship, finances, health or home • Loss of support or increas- ing isolation • Perceived burden on others • Legal issues or incarcera- tion • Local suicide cluster or ex- posure to one through media • Access to lethal means, in- cluding firearms • Recent inpatient discharge • Noncompliant or not in treatment who is behaving badly. Addi- tional training is a good idea, he noted. 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