Broadcast date: 10/02/2014
According to the CDC, with over 38,000 people dying by suicide in the U.S. each year, the numbers of deaths from suicide now surpass deaths from motor vehicle accidents. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention claims as many as 90% of individuals dying by suicide have treatable mental disorders, many of which have gone untreated or discovered.
ACTION reports that in San Luis Obispo County the average annual rate of deaths due to suicide was 16 deaths per 100,000 people in 2009-11. Although the county’s overall suicide rate has varied, it has generally increased from 2003 to 2011 from 31 to 50 deaths. Over the years the San Luis Obispo County’s average has been consistently higher than that of California.
With suicide rates continuing to rise, professionals are working together to increase community awareness of suicide as a mental and public health problem, so we may all better understand the suicide risk factors and warning signs, know how to support efforts to prevent suicide and help those at risk get the help they need.
Host Kris Kington-Barker is joined by guests Dr. Hannah Roberts, Coordinator of Campus Wellbeing with Health and Counseling Services at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Shannon McOuat, Community Outreach Manager for Transitions-Mental Health Association to discuss this serious issue in our community and on our college campuses and speak about upcoming Suicide Prevention Forums on the Central Coast.
Central Coast Voices is sponsored by ACTION for Healthy Communities in collaboration with KCBX.
