City councils in Snoqualmie and North Bend issued proclamations this month on suicide prevention and pointed people to help in a crisis.
In Snoqualmie, Mayor Jim Mayhew presented a Suicide Prevention Awareness Month proclamation to Sara Tarp, Prevention Program Manager at Empower Youth Network, during Monday’s City Council meeting. The city said September is a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and spread hope and resources to those affected.
North Bend Mayor Mary Miller proclaimed September as Suicide Prevention Month during the September 1 City Council meeting.
“The goal is to start the conversation about mental health and the impact of suicide to help destigmatize the conversation and help connect people of all ages with the appropriate support services,” Miller said.
Empower Youth Network, a Snoqualmie Valley-based nonprofit, incorporates suicide prevention programs in its work, including “How to Help a Friend,” a peer-to-peer suicide prevention training curriculum serving middle school students in the Snoqualmie and Riverview school districts, and “Youth Mental Health First Aid,” a training that helps adults understand how to assist youth in crisis.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
