SLS Raising Awareness During Suicide Prevention Month
Davis County Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions Program Raising Awareness During National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month
Bloomfield, IA – September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month and Davis County Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions program is working to raise awareness. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an average of 129 deaths by suicide occur per day and there are an estimated 1,400,000 suicide attempts per year. Talk of suicide should never be dismissed. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
To raise awareness during national suicide prevention and awareness month, the Davis County Hospital Senior Life Solutions program is hosting a balloon release on Thursday, September 12th at 12:30 pm outside the Senior Life Solutions building located at 505 N Madison (just South of Davis County Hospital). The balloon release will kick off with Mayor Dan Wiegand giving a Proclamation to proclaim September 2019 as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month in Bloomfield, Iowa. All community members are invited to attend the ceremony and participate in the balloon release. Community members will be provided a balloon to include a personal message in recognition of suicide prevention awareness.
To get the community involved further, DCH Senior Life Solution’s is partnering with Neebz Graphix to sell a Suicide Prevention Awareness t-shirt that is available for purchase. To place an order, please call Neebz Graphix no later than September 3rd, 2019, or visit: . T-shirts range in price from $15-$22 depending on size and t-shirt brand. All money raised will go towards the local Davis County Dollars for Scholars program.
Davis County Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions is an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults suffering from symptoms of anxiety and depression often related to aging. The Senior Life Solutions program staff is trained in the use of standardized, evidence-based tools for screening patients at risk of suicide. In addition, the staff assists the patient to create a plan to prevent future suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts.
Following an individual assessment, patients meet up to three times per week in a supportive, encouraging group setting. The program staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed social workers, a registered nurse, and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the emotional well-being of the seniors in our community.
Kayla Miller, DCH Senior Life Solutions Program Director said, “Raising awareness for suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility – we have to look out for each other, whether parents, siblings, coworkers, or friends. Recognize the signs and encourage loved ones to seek the necessary care.”
Patients may benefit from the Senior Life Solutions program if they recently experienced a traumatic event, are grieving the loss of a loved one, have experienced changes in sleep, appetite, or mood, or have lost interest in previously enjoyed activities. Referrals to the program can be made by anyone, including a patient’s physician, family member, self-referral, or another healthcare professional.
For more information, call the Davis County Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions program at 641-664-3851.
