By Claudia Boyd-Barrett , California Health Report

Noting rising suicide rates and mental health problems among the state’s youth, a bill in the California Senate would require all new teachers to have mental health first-aid training.

State Senators Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) introduced the bill earlier this month with the support of county health officials, mental health program providers and child health advocates. Senate bill 428 would require all new teachers, as well as those renewing their teaching credentials, to complete a course on youth mental health first-aid.

If approved, the requirement would go into effect in January 2020.

Legislative budget writers on Wednesday approved a $200,000 increase in funding for state suicide prevention efforts next year, rather than the $1 million boost the state Department of Health & Welfare requested and Gov. Brad Little recommended.

Suicide prevention agencies, advocates, and families of Idahoans who have died by suicide came together at the Capitol Tuesday to see Governor Brad Little proclaim February 26 as "Suicide Prevention Day" in Idaho.

BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the eighth leading cause of death in Idaho.  On Tuesday, February 26, advocates from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Idaho Chapter, Idaho Suicide Prevention Coalition, Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline, NAMI Idaho, and Speedy Foundation will come together to host the fourth annual Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol.  Host organizations and advocates from across the state will meet with lawmakers, urging them to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health initiatives for Idaho residents.  The event will culminate with a presentation in the Governor's chamber at 2:30 p.m. where Governor Little will proclaim February 26, 2019 Suicide Prevention Day across Idaho.

Advocates will be asking lawmakers to support increased funding for the Idaho Suicide Prevention Program and implementation of the Idaho Suicide Prevention System Action Plan, to fund the following priorities as outlined in Governor Little's budget allocation request: (1) Upgrades to the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline; (2) A robust training network and "train-the-trainer" model for schools; (3) A statewide gap analysis and resource mapping; and (4) Zero Suicide pilot programs in northern and eastern Idaho.  Advocates will also be asking lawmakers to support SB 1028 providing that post-traumatic stress injury suffered by a first responder is a compensable injury when the injury was caused by an event arising out of the first responder's employment.

"Each and every one of us plays a role in preventing suicide. Having open and honest conversations about suicide and prevention assists Idahoans in creating responsible public policies, and we must all work together toward reaching our state's goal: to reduce suicide in Idaho 20% by the year 2025. It is great work to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide," said Carmen Barney, AFSP Idaho Chapter Public Policy Chair.

The Idaho Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol is a special day for all who have a connection with or a personal story around the topic of suicide. Volunteers will meet with their state legislators and share their stories about why they participate in this advocacy effort, giving a human face to this important health problem. Advocates hope that by sharing their stories, they will help legislators understand that state investments in mental health and suicide prevention can save lives.  

Advocates with AFSP-Idaho are part of a larger national movement of AFSP volunteer advocates who will be visiting over 40 state capitols across the United States in 2019 to bring best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators and their staff. To learn more about AFSP's advocacy efforts, visit here: https://afsp.org/our-work/advocacy/.

On average, one hundred twenty-nine (129) Americans died by suicide each day in 2017, and 90% of those individuals had a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death. AFSP volunteers will urge state lawmakers to be the voice for the thousands of Idaho residents affected by suicide each year.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C. AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Colleges are struggling to keep up with an increase in requests for mental health counseling. Many have hired additional staff members and are experimenting with new approaches to treatment.

In case you missed it, Arlee's Warrior Movement — the suicide prevention message from the Warriors and Scarlets basketball teams — was aired on NBA TV on Sunday.

If you and a friend get in an accident and your friend breaks their leg, you know to call 911 for help. But when people struggle with mental illness, outward signs of distress aren’t always recognizable, and many people don’t know how to help their friends and family members who are struggling with their mental health. But fortunately, you can learn how to help by getting mental health first aid certified.

Athlete Brain Health - Beyond Concussion , Utah Olympic Park on Feb. 10, 2019

Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, The Speedy Foundation, 2 Time Gold Medalist David Wise

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The #Morning Mix returns this week after its 2-week Sundance hiatus with musical guest Shannon Runyon performing live in the Swede Alley studio, plus guest interviews with Shannon Decker, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Speedy Foundation, and with Aaron Benward, Creator and Producer of ‘Nashville Unplugged, The Story Behind The Song’, a listening room experience happening at The Rockwell Room on Valentines Day. These guests and a rundown of events happening in our area on The Morning Mix.

The Boise Police Department is proud to release the 2018 Report to Our Citizens. This report includes data from fiscal year 2018 and stories about some of our major initiatives and projects in 2018. You can download a copy by clicking on the photo below or pick up a copy at our police department 333 N. Mark Stall Place.

I’m going to rein it in here, but we had the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare give budget presentations this past week in JFAC. We are talking serious money here…about $4 billion. What has happened to us? This is money taken from hardworking Americans to help those less fortunate. I know we have a huge population increase since the good ol’ days, but my gosh this is a gigantic price tag.

The Department of Health and Welfare’s request for another $1 million in suicide prevention funding prompted some skepticism from one north central Idaho lawmaker Monday. Sen. Carl Crabtree, R-Grangeville, said he fully understands the significance of Idaho’s suicide problem and supports efforts to tackle the issue. Nevertheless, he wants the department to demonstrate it has an effective plan in place before the Legislature appropriates more money.

I have learned that tools for coping with my illness have come and gone and I know it will be ok. I still have setbacks and I have a recovery plan that I have shared with my therapist and my children so they can help me when I can’t remember why I am here and what tools I have.

I have had personal experience with mental health issues both with myself and my children. My expertise is in sharing my lived experience with individuals who need or want a positive view on the possibility of recovery with mental health and substance abuse. I too have a passion for working on my mental health issues and learning everyday from set backs I have had. It makes my recovery a priceless endeavor.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Use of Jeret “Speedy” Peterson’s 911 Call - Safety and Hope are the Keys to Prevent Additional Deaths by Suicide

As the platform and service, I choose to promote as Miss Capital City this year is Saving Lives: Preventing Suicide in our Youth and Young Adults. I have always been interested in suicide and mental health, but as a college student, wanted to learn more about what I can do to help others.

I am Miss Capital City! As part of my year of service, I am promoting my platform: Saving Lives: Preventing Suicide in our Youth and Young Adults. I have always been interested in suicide and mental health, but wanted to learn more about how to help so I dug right in.

Affected personally by suicides by some close to her, Shannon Decker, executive director of a mental health nonprofit called the Speedy Foundation, said she wishes she’d learned that sooner.

“I know for a fact that if I had been given direct instruction as a teenager, the same way I was given direct instruction in health class about every health issue, that I would have been equipped to ask these questions and potentially have saved some lives,” said Decker, whose cousin Olympic silver medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson died of suicide in 2011 and after whom the Speedy Foundation is named.

I promise this is the last time (for a while) I will talk about suicide prevention! But, this is becoming a bigger deal to our district and our state every day. Just a couple of weeks ago, two young people in Moscow took their lives.
This week, I met with administrators of health and welfare, representatives of the Governor’s Suicide Council and representatives of two private foundations working on suicide prevention in Idaho.

2/4/18 Newsletter

Idaho is the 4th highest state in the union for suicides per capita. Our district is the highest in the state. What’s wrong?
What should we do? More of the same? Change tactics?
I don’t know the answers to all those questions, but I am trying to run down some ideas. First, we have thrown some money at it from the state. About $1 million for the last year and a half. No measurable results. I asked for a visit with the department head, and the person in charge of the suicide prevention program. They were very accommodating, but I am very impatient, so I wasn’t satisfied!
I have found that they have four full time employees but contract out all their work. That doesn’t make sense to me, needing four people to hire others to do the work?  I am sure there is more to the story; I’ll be finding out.
I know some of you don’t think government should be in this business but if they are, they must be effective. We simply can’t allow our neighbors to commit suicide, while we say solving it will “take a lot of time.”  The time is now!  More to come.