A local safety community group is hosting events in Dane County throughout the week to promote suicide awareness in honor of World Suicide Prevention Day Tuesday.
Safe Communities, an organization dedicated to increasing safety throughout Madison and Dane County, and their partners have joined together to form a Suicide Prevention Task Force.
The week is a time for communities worldwide to collaborate to prevent suicide, which is the number one cause of violent injury death in Dane County, according to Safe Communities’ Executive Director Cheryl Wittke.
“If we bring light to this subject, we can change lives,” Chair of the Suicide Prevention Task Force Susan Conlin Opheim said. “Suicide is often preventable with treatment and support.”
Events during the week, which are free and open to the public, include training sessions, support groups, a supportive walk and speaking programs.
Safe Communities also announced the fifth Suicide Prevention Summit will take place Jan. 25.
National Suicide Prevention Week Events in Dane County:
Sunday, 9/9 – Saturday 9/15: Many Faces of Suicide Quilt Display in the Capitol Rotunda by Helping Others
Prevent and Educate about Suicide (HOPES), www.journeymhc.org/services/emergency/survivor-suicide-support(http://www.hopes-wi.org">www.hopes-wi.org
Tuesday, September 11: Survivors of Suicide Support Group hosted by Journey Mental Health Center (for those who have
lost loved ones to suicide) meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month,
Thursday, September 13: Sun Prairie QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training hosted by Stoughton Hospital and Safe Communities, 5-7 pm in Bryant Health Education Center at Stoughton Hospital, (608) 837-3874.
Sunday, September 16: Madison Community Out of the Darkness Walk hosted by the Madison Walk Committee of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1810
