MONROE — The Green County Healthy Community Coalition (GCHCC) recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month. The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s message during this month is to #BeThe1To; meaning we can all play a role in suicide prevention. Anyone can “be the one to” help save a life, to connect someone to help, or to check in on someone.
Below are small steps that community members can take to help prevent suicide:
● Learn the warning signs of suicide at https://
suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/.
● Reach out to loved ones to show them you care. Check-in through a text and simply ask, “How are you?”
● It is ok to ask someone directly if they’ve been feeling like they want to hurt themselves or thinking about suicide.
● Connect loved ones to resources that can help them such as the 988 Lifeline or other local mental health providers.
● Follow up with people about how they are doing and the resources they may be utilizing.
There are resources available to help people struggling with their mental health. Anyone can call or text 988 to get connected to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to talk with a trained counselor. Resources for individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide are also available in our community. Green County Human Services has a Substance Recovery & Mental Health Wellness Navigator. This person is a free resource that can help connect people to local resources and provide screening and brief interventions. Call 608-328-9396 or email mhm@gchsd.org to get connected to the Navigator. Community members can also visit the Southwest Behavioral Health Partnership website to find mental health resources in and around Green County: https://
mentalhealth.networkofcare.org/southwestern-wi. Community members can also download the Got Your Back App from the App Store or Google Play, created by Jacob’s SWAG Foundation. This is a new digital platform for suicide awareness, prevention, and education. The app includes tools custom-built for the user to help cope with anxiety and depression.
The Green County Healthy Community Coalition website has a comprehensive webpage dedicated to mental health resources. This page includes information on hotlines, warmlines, support groups, grief support, and local mental health resources. Visit www.greencohcc.org/mhm to find the list of resources.
There are many complex factors that can contribute to suicide, and the goal of suicide prevention is to reduce factors that increase the risk of suicide and increase factors that promote resilience and hope. For many years in Green County, mental health has been a health priority in the Green County Health Community Coalition’s community health improvement plan. Organizations across Green County have been working collaboratively to raise awareness about mental health, provide education to the community, and facilitate services and programs that will support community members’ mental health.
The Green County Healthy Community Coalition would like to offer its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of those who have died by suicide. Green County Human Services has a new Suicide Grief Support Group for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. The group meets on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning on Sept. 23 at the Green County Government Services Building (N3152 WI-81, Monroe) on the main level in Room 104. This group is free and no registration is required. For more information, call 608-328-9352.
To learn more about the Green County Healthy Community Coalition, “Like” GCPH on Facebook or visit greencohcc.org.
