Suicide Prevention Across Vermont

VTDigger is well positioned to work with Vermont Care Partners to promote the much needed services of its sixteen respective member agencies which, includes NCSS. They also understand how important it is for our elected officials to know how to support the needs of vulnerable Vermonters.   

This thirteen week series is a collaboration produced by members of the Vermont Care Partners statewide network of sixteen non-profit, community-based agencies providing mental health, substance use and intellectual and developmental disability support.

Below is the ninth installment of the series from Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), that focuses on suicide and prevention efforts in Vermont.   

Suicide Prevention Across Vermont

How Can We Support Our Family, Friends, or Neighbors who have Suicidal Thoughts?

Excerpts from article:

Vermont suicide rates are alarming. According to the VT Suicide Prevention Center, “Vermonters have consistently died by suicide at a rate more than 30% higher than the national average over the past 15 years.” Suicide is the 8^th leading cause of death in the State (as compared to the 10^th leading cause for the U.S.) and the 2^nd leading cause of death for Vermonters age 15-35. Our small state reported 117 suicides in 2020. In the most current data for 2021, 131 Vermonters took their own life from January – November. This translates into 2-3 deaths by suicide each week. 

In recent years, Vermont has made a concerted effort to address its rising suicide rate through its Zero Suicide initiative. Zero Suicide was founded in 2012 based on the belief that suicide deaths are preventable through health or behavioral health care services.  

In southeastern Vermont, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), the community mental health agency serving Windsor and Windham counties, has taken Zero Suicide a step further. Working with the Wildflower Alliance, a grassroots peer support, advocacy, and training organization in Massachusetts, HCRS is striving to provide a person-centered approach to supporting individuals who have suicidal thoughts.  Read more…  

Link to entire article:https://vtdigger.org/sponsored_content/suicide-prevention-across-vermont/