Truckee groups highlight suicide-prevention trainings, 988 and mobile crisis access

Shannon Decker, founder of the Speedy Foundation and a coordinator with the Tahoe Truckee Suicide Prevention Coalition, told attendees at Good Morning Truckee that the coalition uses outreach, education and collaboration to prevent suicide in the Truckee-Tahoe area.

"We have the ability to bring resources to your organization if you need them," Decker said, describing distributed naloxone, gun locks and outreach materials the coalition provides to businesses, schools and public events.

The coalition, formed locally in 2013 after several youth deaths by suicide, supports school-based and community programs. Decker said the districtprogram Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide-prevention initiative active in schools; students have held "hope week" and performed proclamations with the town council.

Maria Martin, director of community health for Tahoe Forest Health System, described the health system's participation in a 0-suicide initiative that prioritizes consistent policies, workflows and staff training.

"It provides us the structure to train all of our staff at all levels on safer suicide care for patients with suicidal ideation," Martin said, adding the health system is implementing screenings and follow-up workflows in primary care and other settings.

Speakers urged residents and local organizations to use 988 for mental-health or emotional crises and to reserve 911 for immediate medical or public-safety threats. Decker and Martin described a locally implemented crisis system that connects callers to mobile crisis teams and licensed clinical social workers in both Placer and Nevada counties.

Decker outlined community events and fundraising to support programming: an annual Hike for Hope at Donner Lake (this year on June 22) and a series of May fundraisers including a May 8 bingo night, portrait sessions and a donation-based yoga class May 30. She said the coalitionaims to raise $20,000 to expand Hope Squad and social-emotional learning in schools.

During a short question-and-answer period, speakers confirmed that the coalition partners with county behavioral-health programs and that training funded by county/state mental-health dollars is available at no cost to organizations.

The presentations emphasized collaboration among the hospital, schools, law enforcement and nonprofit partners to expand lower-level crisis responses and prevention-oriented training in the community.

Looking ahead, Decker invited organizations to connect with the coalition for trainings and outreach resources and reminded listeners that monthly coalition meetings occur after the Good Morning Truckee event.