September is Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remember and acknowledge those affected by suicide, raise awareness, spread hope, and take action to prevent suicide.

To help increase awareness and prevent suicide, Lincoln County Health Department and Aspirus Health are offering QPR training, distributing gun locks, and promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. These activities are supported by the Healthy Minds for Lincoln County Coalition.

Virtual QPR Training on September 8th

The Health Department is hosting a virtual QPR training on Monday, September 8th from 12:00 –1:30 pm at no cost through financial support from Aspirus Health.

The training will be instructed by Heidi Pritzl, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and System Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Aspirus Health. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, the three steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Learn more about QPR at https://qprinstitute.com.

Registration is required and can be completed at https://bit.ly/LincolnQPR. Space is limited to 25 participants. Deadline to register is September 3rd. Please note: training will be canceled if less than 5 participants have registered.

Gun Locks Available at Public Libraries and Health Department

In effort to prevent suicide deaths related to firearms, the Health Department will have free gun locks at our office, as well as, at T.B. Scott Free Library and Tomahawk Public Library during the month of September, while supplies last.

According to Lincoln County suicide data from 2017-2024:
● 65% of residents who died by suicide used a firearm.
● 84% of deaths by suicide were among men.
● Deaths were highest among people aged 31- 40 and 51- 70 years old.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, State Vital Records Office 2017-2024. 

he 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, launched three years ago, and provides free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Trained counselors are ready to help 24/7 via call, text, or chat. Learn more at https://988lifeline.org.

To bring awareness to the 988 Lifeline, the Health Department with financial support from Aspirus Health will be running newspaper, radio, and Facebook ads in September to remind the community that support is available and that you are not alone.

The Health Department has 988 materials available, including wallet cards and magnets. The Lincoln County Mental Health & Substance Use Resource Guide and Lincoln County Grief & Recovery Support Guide are also available. All items can be found online at https://bit.ly/HealthyMindsLincolnCounty. If you would like copies, contact Kristin Bath, Lincoln County Public Health Educator, at 715-539-1373 or Kristin.Bath@co.lincoln.wi.us.

Learn more about Health Department services and programs at https://www.co.lincoln.wi.us/health. Lincoln County Health Department is always striving for a safer and healthier Lincoln County.
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