Columbia leaders pledge support for National Suicide Prevention Week

Columbia City Council - woman Belinda Gergel read a proclamation proclaiming the week of September 7- 13, 2008, as National Suicide Prevention Week in the City of Columbia. Mental Health America of South Carolina hosted Columbia Cares September 4, 2008 at Midlands Technical College Beltline campus. This event surrounded the proclamation by the City of Columbia of Suicide Prevention Week (September 8, 2008 - September 13, 2008).

In a major initiative by Mental Health America of South Carolina, funded by a million dollar grant from the federal government, mental health leaders in South Carolina are fighting the tragedy of suicide in our state and meeting the needs of the Survivors of Suicide (SOS) with education, awareness, and support groups.

Attendees included Sheriff Leon Lott, Columbia City Councilwoman Belinda Gergel, members of the military, leaders of the mental health community, and concerned citizens.

Sheriff Lott began the program by speaking about the initiatives he has brought to his police force to prevent police suicides. He shared that, historically, suicide has been a major issue in law enforcement, and it has been surrounded by secrecy and silence.

The phrase "eating your gun" is a common one among police men and women.

Sheriff Lott called for a training session for all officers to address the issue of suicide awareness and prevention. He has a trained staff member available for counsel for all reports of all possible suicide cases.

Sheriff Lott says that now it is common for supervisors and coworkers to report the signs and symptoms of suicide and that people are coming forward on their own for counseling. Sheriff Lott is hopeful that these types of changes will occur across law enforcement and for members of the United Stares military.

After Sheriff Lott spoke, a survivor of suicide, Graceland Elmendorf from Florence, S.C., shared how suicide has touched her family and her efforts to work in Florence county schools in suicide prevention efforts

Columbia City Councilwoman Belinda Gergel read a proclamation by Mayor Robert D. Coble to proclaim the week of September 7- 13, 2008, as National Suicide Prevention Week in the City of Columbia and urged all citizens to recognize and participate in its observance.

Some supporting statements of the proclamation include:

• Suicide is the second leading cause of all violent deaths in the State of South Carolina and the third leading cause of all violent death in Richland County.

• It is estimated that 3,000 people in South Carolina lose a loved one to suicide each year.

• The stigma associated with mental illness and suicidality works against suicide prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from seeking life- saving help and further traumatizes survivors of suicide.

• Statewide and county wide suicide prevention efforts should be developed and encouraged to the maximum extent possible.

The Columbia Cares presentation was concluded by the official QPR training taught by Donna Soileau, suicide prevention coordinator for Mental Health America of South Carolina. QPR is a national suicide prevention program not intended to be a form of counseling or treatment. It is intended to offer hope through positive action.

QPR teaches those who are in a position to recognize the warning signs, clues, and suicidal communications of people in trouble to act vigorously to prevent a possible tragedy.

QPR consists of three lifesaving skills:

Question a person about suicide.

Persuade the person to get help.

Refer the person to the appropriate resources.

Mental Health America has been spreading the message of hope that QPR training brings to a difficult situation. To host a QPR training seminar, contact Donna Soileau or Britni Hartis at (803) 779-5363.