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Marion County proclaims September 2025 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Summary
Marion County commissioners approved a proclamation designating September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and heard local public-health officials describe increases in crisis contacts and county suicide-prevention efforts including the Zero Suicide initiative and 988 outreach.
Marion County commissioners on Sept. 3 unanimously approved a proclamation designating September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and heard county and hospital officials describe efforts to expand prevention, training and crisis response.
Laura Sprouse, suicide prevention program coordinator for Marion County Health and Human Services, told the Board that in 2023 there were 60 deaths by suicide in Marion County and that suicide ranks among the county's leading causes of death. "We are seeing an increase in individuals attending hospitals and urgent care for suicide ideation," Sprouse said, while noting that rising crisis contacts may reflect more people seeking help.
Kelly Martin, prevention coordinator for Marion County’s mental-health promotion and suicide-prevention program, gave county figures for contacts to the national lifeline: "In 2024, almost 4,900 people reached out in Marion and Polk counties to 988, which is a 2,000 increase from the year before. For the first six months of this year, over 3,000 people have already contacted 988." She emphasized local partnership with Northwest Human Services, the county’s local broker for 988 calls.
The presenters described the county's involvement in the national Zero Suicide initiative, an approach promoted by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that aims to integrate suicide prevention across health systems. Sprouse said the initiative focuses on evidence-based elements — screening, staff training and data collection — to reduce missed opportunities when people seek health care.
Amanda Egan, director of behavioral health at Sanium Hospital (present with the county team), said local hospitals are implementing the Zero Suicide framework and are working toward training, noting Sanium's goal that all staff complete at least QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-prevention training within two years. "We have a lot to do," Egan said of the hospital’s effort to expand trainings and policy changes across emergency, primary and specialty care.
Commissioners and presenters highlighted county outreach for September: coffee-sleeve messaging, tabling at colleges, more community QPR trainings (262 people trained so far in 2025), banners and streaming-TV spots promoting 988, and a county team participating in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Walk Out of Darkness on Oct. 11 at Riverfront Park.
Commissioner Kevin Cameron read the proclamation into the record and the board approved it by voice vote.
The county also reminded the public that 988 is available 24/7 by call or text and encouraged residents who need immediate help to contact the lifeline or the Marion County Behavioral Health Crisis Center at (503) 585-4949.
The proclamation and the presentations were framed by the county as awareness and prevention actions; no regulatory or budgetary decisions were made with this item.
