The mission of the Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition

The Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition’s mission is to instill hope, foster connectedness, and be a resource of information, advocacy, and implementation of evidence-based practices in the community to reduce risk and increase protective factors in order to prevent suicide in Ashtabula County.

Membership

Membership in the Coalition is open to anyone who lives or works in Ashtabula County, age 14 or older, who supports the purpose of the Coalition, or representatives of partner agencies who serve Ashtabula County residents. The Coalition is always looking for members with lived experience who may have experienced a loss to suicide or support someone who has had suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Meetings

The Coalition meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. in January, April, July, and October at the MHRS Board Office (4717 Main Ave. Ashtabula, OH 44004, Lower Level). We also offer a virtual option. If you would like to attend virtually and need a link, contact Bridget Sherman at bsherman@ashtabulamhrs.org.

History

In October 2011, the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board convened a small group of community partners to establish the Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition. The community partners recognized that suicide prevention in Ashtabula County required a coordinated effort separate from the Ashtabula County Prevention Coalition, which focused on substance use prevention.

In 2012, the Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition established the Ashtabula County Local Outreach of Suicide Survivor (LOSS) Team, to provide postvention support to county residents who have experienced suicide loss or other traumatic loss. The LOSS Team is currently inactive. The LOSS Team also led to the development of the Incident Response Team, a group of volunteers who provide a coordinated response to our local school districts when a school or district experiences a traumatic incident.

The Coalition is funded by the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board which assists in providing the full continuum of care to Ashtabula County residents: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Services.

Coalition Activities

One Life Race/Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness: The One Life Race/Walk takes place the Saturday following Labor Day to coincide with National Suicide Prevention Week (the first full week in September beginning on the first Sunday) and National Suicide Prevention Month (September). For a participation fee, participants can either run the 5k race (part of the Ashtabula Distance Runners Club Grand Prix) or walk 1 mile. The Race/Walk begins with a ceremony to remember those we have lost to suicide in Ashtabula County, raise awareness for prevention services, and a call to action to help prevent suicide in Ashtabula County.

Hope in Artistry Art Show: The Hope in Artistry Art Show is hosted every November in partnership with the Ashtabula Arts Center. Local artists of all ages are invited to submit artwork in late October for showing through November. The call for artists is included on the Ashtabula Arts Center website and artists are asked to submit artwork representative of their experience or understanding of behavioral health concerns, including suicide loss, as well as hope for recovery and wellness. A public reception is held at the Ashtabula Arts Center (usually scheduled for a weeknight preceding National Survivors of Suicide Loss Day).

Mental Health First Aid Training: Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based international training program. Individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid increase their knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental illnesses and substance use problems. Participants learn to identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or substance use concern. Individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid increase their confidence and likelihood of helping an individual in distress and show increased mental wellness for themselves. The training provides an action plan for Mental Health First Aiders to implement while assisting individuals who might be in distress. The training helps reduce the stigma surrounding individuals with mental illness and substance use problems and helps to normalize help-seeking behaviors. This training is offered at no cost to participants in Ashtabula County in partnership with Community Counseling Center Prevention Services. If you are interested in scheduling a Mental Health First Aid Training for your organization, please contact Bridget Sherman at bsherman@ashtabulamhrs.org.

QPR Training: QPR is an evidence-based gatekeeper training to help prevent suicide. QPR stands for “Question, Persuade, and Refer”. Participants learn to recognize warning signs of suicide, offer hope to a person who might be experiencing a suicidal crisis, and how to get help and save a life. This training is offered at no cost to participants in Ashtabula County in partnership with Community Counseling Center Prevention Services and other Coalition Members trained to instruct QPR. If you are interested in scheduling a QPR training for your organization, please contact Bridget Sherman at bsherman@ashtabulamhrs.org.

Other Public Outreach and Education: The Suicide Prevention Coalition provides information, training, and resources throughout Ashtabula County. We provide information and resources at local health fairs, RAM Clinic, and other community events throughout the year.