This week, September 9th through September 15th, is National Suicide Prevention Week. The Nevada County Behavioral Health Department, in close partnership with providers and other county departments, offers a variety of programs that address suicide prevention through Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding, including:
- What's Up? Wellness: Going into its 7th year, the Nevada County What's Up? Wellness Checkups screens high school students for suicide risk, depression, substance abuse and other emotional health challenges. This program stresses that just like annual physical health exams, all of us need regular check- ups of our mental health. In addition to its teen services, What's Up Wellness facilitates Mental Health First Aid to adults in Nevada County to help community members in identifying and supporting those struggling with mental health issues including those at risk of suicide. More information on the program can be found at www.whatsupwellness.com
- Social Outreach Program: In collaboration with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Nevada County Adult Services, the Social Outreach Program performs depression screening for homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Social Outreach nurses and/or social workers will connect program participants with primary care physicians, mental health providers, and community based services organizations as appropriate.
- Friendly Visitor Program: The Friendly Visitor Program matches isolated seniors and persons with disabilities to volunteers who visit with program participants at least once a week, in addition to check-in calls.
- Moving Beyond Depression: Moving Beyond Depression is a partnership with home visitation programs in Nevada County: Foothills-Truckee Healthy Babies, Early Head Start, Nevada Joint Union High School District, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD), and Nevada County Maternal-Child Public Health Nurses. Moving Beyond Depression is a voluntary, evidenced-based program for women experiencing prenatal or postpartum depression who are enrolled in a home-visitation program.
- TTUSD Wellness Center: The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) Wellness Program is a collaboration between the school district, Nevada and Placer Counties, and the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee partners to provide a youth-friendly point of entry for students to connect to supportive adults and access wellness services, including suicide prevention activities and services.
- Suicide Prevention Trainings: Throughout the year, Nevada County offers a variety of suicide prevention trainings including Know the Signs, ASIST, and safeTALK.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, help is available 24/7 by calling the Nevada County Crisis Line at (530) 265-5811 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255.