Earlier this week, the commissioners issued the following proclamation:
“Whereas, this proclamation recognizes suicide as a community-wide problem and suicide prevention as requiring a community effort; and
Whereas, Montana’s suicide rate is the third highest in the nation and has ranked among the top five states with the highest rates of suicide for the past four decades; and
Whereas, since 2017, Missoula County has suffered 143 suicides and
Whereas, suicide by firearm accounts for 50% of all suicides in the United States and 62% of all suicides in Montana , and guns stored in the home are used for suicide 40 times more often than for self-defense and
Whereas, it is important to support our new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call Center here in Missoula, along with our new mobile response units who can effectively and empathetically intervene in crisis situations; and
Whereas, our community will support suicide prevention efforts to the maximum extent possible, with initiatives like Project Tomorrow Montana, which works to reduce Missoula County suicide deaths and attempts through educational programs and evidence-based policy.
Now therefore, in coordination with National Suicide Prevention Week, we, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners in Montana do hereby recognize the week of September 7 –13, 2022 as Suicide Prevention Week.”
Visit https://projecttomorrowmt.org/news/ to see the full schedule of related events.
The Missoula City-County Health Department also offers free gun locks, which can disrupt access to firearms and save the life of someone having suicidal thoughts. Stop by 223 W. Alder Street to pick up a free gun lock.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Because your tomorrow matters.
More information on suicide prevention efforts in Missoula County is available at http://missoula.co/suicideprevention
Original link can be found here.
