September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. Axis Health System is here to help.
For tips on how to talk to someone you are concerned about, check out this video from “Let’s Talk Colorado.”
Axis Health System Suicide Prevention Programs, Services & Outreach
- Axis Health System 24/7 Crisis Care Line: This number, 970.247.5245, is the primary way people in crisis or their loved ones can connect quickly to find services. For more info on this line, visit: https://www.axishealthsystem.org/services/crisis-care.
- Regional Crisis Care Team: Read more about the way this mobile team reaches out to people in our rural communities in this Herald story: https://durangoherald.com/articles/180502-axis-health-system-expanding-mobile-crisis-team
- Acute Treatment Unit: This facility at Crossroads at Grandview offers a safe and secure environment for adults in crisis. Read more here: https://www.axishealthsystem.org/locations/durango/crossroads-at-grandview
- Preventive Screenings at Integrated Clinics: Every patient at La Plata Integrated Healthcare and Cortez Integrated Healthcare completes regular screenings for suicidal ideation. This is part of our whole person care. If there are warning signs, a primary care provider will offer the patient an option to meet an integrated behavioral health provider. The providers form a care team and create a plan to support the patient’s needs.
- Assertive Community Treatment team (ACT): This program has helped people with severe mental illness stabilize and transition to independent living. ACT’s successful team model includes a supervisor, therapist, case manager, psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist and peer specialist. The team is able to activate 24/7 crisis support for clients when needed.
- Mental Health First Aid Training-Youth: This is a recurring, one-day training open to community members to learn how to reach out to people in crisis. Click here to read the recent Herald story about this training: https://durangoherald.com/articles/214567-first-aid-not-just-for-scraped-knees
- Events & Sponsorships: Axis participates in many community events with information booths, and we often sponsor events that focus on suicide prevention. A recent example is “Cracked, But Not Broken: The Kevin Hines Story” that was held at FLC. Here’s a story about the event: https://durangoherald.com/articles/215101-kevin-hines-event-went-above-and-beyond
- Zero Suicide: We launched this statewide program in early 2017. It’s a specific set of tools and strategies for our staff and a commitment to patient safety. Read more about it here: https://durangoherald.com/articles/128427-zero-suicide-program-aids-community-suicideprevention-efforts