County marks crisis responder and suicide‑prevention weeks as KU med reports modest decline in local suicides; Comcare crisis center expansion proceeds

The Sedgwick County Commission used its Sept. 10 meeting to adopt proclamations recognizing co‑responder and crisis‑responder teams and National Suicide Prevention Week, hear a data briefing on 2024 suicide deaths, accept a donation of portable cribs for safe‑sleep outreach, and advance the county’s planned Comcare community crisis center expansion.

Proclamations: The commission unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing ‘‘co‑responder and crisis responder week’’ and another recognizing National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 7–13). Jennifer Wilson and other Comcare staff attended to accept the crisis‑responder proclamation; Hailey Shaw, chair of the Suicide Prevention Coalition, accepted the suicide‑prevention proclamation and promoted local events including a Sept. 27 Hope Fest and an annual Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event later in the year.

Local suicide data: Dr. Nicole Klaus, associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, presented the 2024 Sedgwick County suicide report. She said 92 county residents died by suicide in 2024, a small decrease from 2023 and the lowest county suicide count in about a decade. Males accounted for 78% of deaths and firearms remained the most common method (59%), although the firearm share showed a small decline compared with prior years. Dr. Klaus said the county’s data‑collection teams work with the regional forensic center and the Central County Health Department to compile circumstances; relationship problems were the most common precipitating stressor for people younger than 54, and physical‑health problems were most common for those 65 and older. She highlighted Comcare’s response role and said Comcare answered about 39,000 crisis calls in 2024.

Crisis response capacity and 988: County officials and Comcare staff described mobile crisis teams and co‑responder units. Commissioners heard that Comcare has multiple mobile teams with a one‑hour response goal (staff said the goal has been met) and that the county is building a new Comcare crisis center adjacent to the biomedical campus. County and Comcare staff also said local 988 coverage is expanding: staff are being trained to take chat and text in phases, with full 24/7 chat/text targeted by year‑end.

Donation and community programs: The county accepted a donation of 30 portable cribs from Kids Network (value about $2,500) to distribute through the Health Department’s Healthy Babies program and community baby showers. Deputy county manager Tim Kaufman said cribs will be distributed to families identified through health department programs and community partners; the Health Department already distributed 135 cribs earlier in the year and plans another community baby shower Oct. 11.

Comcare facility procurement: At the Board of Bids and Contracts meeting, staff recommended acceptance of a low bid from Icon Structures, Inc. for the Comcare community crisis relocation and expansion project in the amount of $10,795,000; county staff told commissioners that acceptance of the bid is contingent on approval of the corresponding consent agenda item. The commission subsequently approved the Board of Bids recommendations and consent agenda.

Quotes from the meeting included Dr. Klaus’ summary: “In 2024, we lost 92 Sedgwick County residents to suicide,” and Comcare representatives thanked the commission for the proclamations and public support. County leaders reiterated that the crisis center expansion and mobile teams are part of broader efforts to improve community crisis response and reduce hospitalizations and arrests.