[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6363775,"mediaKeyId","2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056","parentId",2165811,"title","Laredo suicide‑prevention committee presses for 988 funding, updates referral materials and schedules street outreach","audioSeconds",2264,"startMs",2034000,"endMs",4298000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056&start=2034&end=4298","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056/thumbnail_2034000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6363775/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-suicideprevention-committee-presses-for-988-funding-updates-referral-materials-and-schedules-street-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363775-81927a07c4edd577c9d06d08f6566ee5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776157204&Signature=J9lhhf3uD7mjN4mT7yi0PgsglzodiuviEy9TDZQ19O9mlcVU7ajlhL3269VJvKo3Rs0T8kaQto3ZbWOpTi1hcQsIEI8uK7T8GOnY3Uxiar~xCdPjHfg-24RymVMF5itzx5Iz3SBBAQukvnzZ2YkUAqaFuKQyuJYFbDcDQqGPG94~3KLa-Bl9JTT5pIxsWo5Qo-WQRW~Sy6ZBBJLpMgfdvjEHJTf3IaVnIWca5TeQ74cYMu6g7YPwoyG7YYyOmsKofOPCB6Ote8aud~nvtKWY8hGCGviDn-POvCaC-O1q91gcTE7TH6he-7UBP0WDkjD5XKZ9fPUV2g8adqHmtm1xRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-01-30T03:43:38Z","article","The City of Laredo Suicide Prevention Committee on Jan. 29 reviewed 988 awareness activities, discussed a reported funding shortfall for 988 operations, and agreed on a set of short‑term tasks to boost local outreach and family supports.

Committee Chair Julie Bassan (Executive Director, Area Health Education Center) said Melissa from the school districts had alerted the group to limited funding for 988 operations and urged the committee to solicit legislative help. Bassan said she will resend a previously circulated letter asking state legislators to consider additional funding and a mental‑health facility or annex in the region, and asked members to sign or forward it through their agencies and, if possible, as individuals on the committee.

The committee assigned several operational and outreach actions. Frank (surname not provided) was asked to lead drafting a protocol to assist families affected by suicide with immediate next steps and to identify what families can access (death certificates, medical examiner reports) and how. Members volunteered to update and review a QR-code resource/referral page before its public re-release to include local psychiatrists and school counseling contacts (LISD, UISD). Julie Bassan said she would circulate the QR content for rapid review.

For community outreach, the committee agreed to resume visible corner‑sign outreach to promote 988 and to make it a monthly activity. Members set an initial date: this Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at the intersection of Delmar and McPherson, with rotating volunteers and banners provided by partner agencies. Other volunteer activities described in the meeting included a community “Chihuahua’s Coffee Café” conversation series, women’s healing circles, and Relay‑for‑Life survivor events; organizers said they will incorporate the “988 — You Are Not Alone” message into promotional materials.

The committee also recommended expanding Mental Health First Aid training for members and local partners; the training was described as a six‑hour virtual or in‑person course for adults and a separate youth version. Staff will circulate sign‑up information and offer training at no cost to committee members.

Ending: The chair directed staff to resend the legislative support letter, circulate the updated QR/referral card for rapid review, and to advertise and staff a monthly corner outreach beginning this Friday; no formal votes were taken on funding or contracts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee MTG 012925","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members discussed 988 staffing shortfalls, legislative outreach for local mental‑health facilities, resource-card updates, monthly corner outreach and volunteer-run support activities; the group directed staff to resend a letter requesting state support for a local mental‑health hospital/annex.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6363779,"Laredo Public Health exploring digital screenings, apps and wearables for suicide prevention; clinical efficacy still uncertain",467,1315000,1782000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056&start=1315&end=1782","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056/thumbnail_1315000.jpg","/articles/6363779/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-Public-Health-exploring-digital-screenings-apps-and-wearables-for-suicide-prevention-clinical-efficacy-still-uncertain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363779-8fde46154fe72a6e28536f4dd8979781/orig.mp4?Expires=1776157204&Signature=SJYo~9tsHW-be5NW4KuwJ3TjVng3Bk2fXaSXNBIimh95bLfQjVrnxs9Hbrkjw~hhXBX0FfB~N3ATLAKbzUwNSAaFERTSRkWe~1L8N8ORR8EW~NSFs1wVYPm2-a1dfEaAn7KVAkfQKlY3Z1ap2uTnlxuohZzjzjWJjptBZlgmv8q8P7FbX5gVLIHWMdXvrlne5XQluOR0m8mxd3FlpHFQfmDx4-lxZXRvmxNNzfQt4SJlpOs5d1F4fVXMzlBg8N1yxXQs1aouj3EBUGQJvzvOqQ7EKSCXBDOcxokRpq4zaWtwndnWHDLaP-yD7emWV7hRaiNdAecZzAGONy65EZ3rKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doctor Montes, identified in the meeting as the community health administrator for the Laredo Public Health Department, told the committee the department is researching several suicide-prevention technologies that could be considered for local use.

Montes said the department is evaluating computerized adaptive testing for mental‑health screening, automated screening in primary care and schools, and several commercial mobile applications (examples mentioned included Crisis Text Line and MyStrength). He described exploratory use of predictive analytics on digital assessments and potential pilots using machine‑learning analysis of electronic health records and social‑media monitoring to detect people expressing suicidal ideation.

Montes cautioned that clinical effectiveness varies. “There was a study…that said 1 of the 46 [had an effect],” Montes said, summarizing preliminary findings and urging clinical review. Committee members raised the need to vet apps for privacy, cost, and availability on iOS and Android; Montes said many apps are available on both platforms and some are grant‑funded.

Members told Montes the committee should prioritize centralized data collection if multiple platforms are adopted, to avoid siloed information that hampers forecasting and coordinated outreach. A Laredo College representative described a commercially available app the college will offer students; college staff said the app includes live counselors selected by the student and is intended to augment, not replace, clinical services.

The committee identified next steps: the health department will continue inventorying technology options and coordinate with local clinical partners; members asked Montes to share app names and any available evaluations, and to contact Integral Care of Texas (a model cited in the discussion) about their risk‑assessment integration. No pilot or procurement was authorized at the meeting.

Ending: The department will circulate a list of candidate tools and relevant studies; clinical partners will vet efficacy and privacy before any local trial or adoption.","Dr. Montes outlined the local health department’s research into computerized adaptive screening, mobile crisis apps and wearables; the committee noted ethical, legal and data‑sharing questions before any deployment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6363784,"Laredo police report 4 suicide deaths, 44 emergency detentions in January; committee urges better follow-up for families",2829,431000,3260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056&start=431&end=3260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165811-6ec4d5b06fec1ae81192796abae8b056/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6363784/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-police-report-4-suicide-deaths-44-emergency-detentions-in-January-committee-urges-better-follow-up-for-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363784-d33f2ec9887f4f335a1aa01fa762b648/orig.mp4?Expires=1776157204&Signature=BBTzfC9vU~XaD33tUAxyjwOFyLxIPK0G58nCrBKpAI9zU5NnDR2NSzQSvRrVZPzbsD9ZUPFZ36Nd0mr-abqn9-Kp1zjGK5OYcO9eT57RscpfCeQXwNbEgdOryvXg-Ar-Aao9vXx3B2wubneJgElduyZiOZvpKC3zK4jnocTfgRZOnvgJJpi5t2YJQjkk57Bi~yp7-DovIMVNxj0bl2LZ6wEoKafx4FmsyiyRsirY3PH4WkbnC79nSHGEJgUYs0EAY7cTkMsTE8mp2yof0qhb1zI2vg2hkR70IbhzoybFjBp48wUsoDjDAGi~fKwXhkPfzMRq-frzhrL4Cvq4MSwc2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Chief Ricardo Gonzales told the City of Laredo Suicide Prevention Committee on Jan. 29 that Laredo Police Department data for January shows 14 attempted-suicide calls, 18 attempted-suicide reports, four deaths by suicide and 44 emergency detentions.

Sergeant Edybert Gallegos, supervisor of the department’s mental health evaluation outreach unit, gave the committee a case-by-case breakdown of several January incidents, including multiple gunshot deaths, a stabbing, and repeated responses to the same locations. Gallegos identified officers on his team and asked committee members to use his contact information for follow-up: Jacqueline Gallegos, Emerson Barbosa and Henri (last name not specified in the record).

The report prompted discussion about immediate needs for families who encounter a suicide scene. Julie Bassan, Executive Director of the Area Health Education Center and chair of the Suicide Prevention Committee, raised concerns after a case in which a 10-year-old allegedly found a deceased relative; she asked whether schools could be notified through a Handle With Care protocol so counselors can provide support. Bassan said, “When we have situations like that…we let them know so that they can obviously be considerate of the situation the child is going through and work with them.”

Committee members noted gaps in follow-up for families of suicide victims compared with homicide victims, which typically receive continued contact from investigators and access to state-backed services. Sergeant Gallegos described current practice: investigators secure the scene and pursue information, but he and others said there is often little ongoing outreach to families after the immediate investigation concludes.

Members agreed to explore concrete steps to close that gap. The committee asked staff to: update the resource/referral QR card to include school-district counseling contacts (LISD, UISD), coordinate with victim services to obtain addresses for follow-up, and examine establishing a local suicide-loss team combining clinicians and people with lived experience. Julie Bassan and Sergeant Gallegos volunteered to route the updated contact list to agencies and schools.

The committee also discussed the limits of releasing medical examiner material and other records to families; members said a procedural roadmap would help families seeking closure and told staff to compile available paths to obtain death certificates and medical reports.

The committee heard requests to track certain populations in future reports. A committee member asked whether veterans were included in the January totals; Gallegos agreed to try to identify veterans among cases for future reports so the group can coordinate with VA providers.

Ending: The committee assigned staff and volunteers to draft a follow-up protocol and to update the QR resource page; no formal policy or budget was adopted at the meeting.","Assistant Chief Ricardo Gonzales and Sergeant Edybert Gallegos presented January call and case counts to the City of Laredo Suicide Prevention Committee, highlighting four deaths and gaps in post-incident follow-up for families and child witnesses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Laredo suicide‑prevention committee presses for 988 funding, updates referral materials and schedules street outreach

Laredo Public Health exploring digital screenings, apps and wearables for suicide prevention; clinical efficacy still uncertain

Laredo police report 4 suicide deaths, 44 emergency detentions in January; committee urges better follow-up for families