Proposed changes to state suicide prevention plan

It claims more than 40,000 lives every year. More than war, murder and natural disasters combined.

It’s suicide.

But Idaho suicide prevention groups are working on a plan to try to lower that number. They are meeting with lawmakers Thursday to propose their changes to the state suicide plan.

Idaho is one of the states with the highest suicide rates. In 2013, it ranked seventh, with state suicide numbers coming in 47 percent higher than the national average. Suicide is the second highest cause of death in Idaho.

“It’s a very real thing and it’s very tragic to a family,” said Michael Stevens, a licensed clinical social worker. “So anytime we can stop any suicide will be of value.”

That’s what the Idaho chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hoping to do: stop suicides.

They are working with other groups like the Idaho Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline and SPAN Idaho to propose four key strategies to state lawmakers.

The four recommended strategies are:

1) Creating an Office of Suicide Prevention for the state of Idaho.

2) Training for youth suicide prevention and mental health awareness

3) Funding Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline

4) Increasing the public’s awareness and understanding of suicide and mental health.

Local suicide counselors think the changes are good, but think they could even go a step further.

“I think it will make a big difference,” said Stevens. “But I also think if there was some form or some way to increase the awareness of the service providers in the community of the signs, that is even going to be as much or more helpful.”

Stevens also said he would like to see the state make suicide training for service workers mandatory.

For help with suicide prevention, you can call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

You can also visit the website athttp://idahosuicideprevention.org/.