Keizer proclaims September 2025 Suicide Prevention Month; Be SMART group urges safe firearm storage

The Keizer City Council on Sept. 2 proclaimed September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Month and heard a presentation from members of the Be SMART campaign urging secure firearm storage and family conversations about firearms and suicide risk.

Be SMART volunteer Jane Titchenell told the council that the nonpartisan campaign "offers education and practical steps adults can take" to reduce access to firearms in homes, and said research shows secure storage can reduce suicide and unintentional shootings by up to 85 percent. "These are preventable tragedies," Titchenell said.

The proclamation read by Mayor Clark noted national observances and cited local statistics, saying that in 2023, 880 Oregonians died by suicide, of whom 102 were youth. The proclamation directs the city to post the Be SMART proclamation at City Hall.

Council President Starr added a reminder about the 988 crisis line, saying the service includes a teen peer line, an elderly line and that "there's always a professional counselor" supervising volunteers to provide resources or transfer calls when needed.

Be SMART volunteers Laura Daniel and Kat James, who joined Titchenell at the dais, said the campaign provides free resources and language to help parents speak with children as young as preschool about firearm safety. Titchenell said national research indicates more than 80 percent of youth firearm suicides involve a gun belonging to a family member and often stored unlocked.

The council received printed Be SMART pamphlets and encouraged staff to share information via city channels. No vote was required for the proclamation; the mayor read and presented it during the meeting.

The presentation and proclamation were placed in the record and the city will post the proclamation at City Hall for the month.