To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Melissa Ladrech, 707-565-4909
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming the month of September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County
End
Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services (hereinafter, “DHS” or “the Department”) requests that the Board adopt a gold resolution proclaiming the month of September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County.
Discussion:
Suicide is a major public health issue and like most public health problems, suicide is preventable. Sonoma County has a consistently higher suicide death rate than the California state average, with 13.8 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to the state’s average of 9.3 (<https://gis-community-health.sonomacounty.ca.gov/pages/mental-health-related-deaths>). In October of 2022, the Department brought together community partners to create Life Worth Living: Sonoma County Suicide Prevention Alliance (the Alliance). The Alliance has since developed the 2024-2029 Sonoma County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan (<https://sonomacounty.gov/Main%20County%20Site/Health%20and%20Human%20Services/Health%20Services/Documents/Behavioral%20Health/mental-health-services-act/Sonoma-County-Suicide-Prevention-Plan-Draft.pdf>) which includes a call to action, comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, local data and seven specific strategies to work towards fewer suicide deaths in the county. Since the inception of the Alliance, the county has seen a measurable decline in its suicide death rate from 16.3 to 13.8 per 100,000. This downward trend suggests early signs of impact from the county’s focused efforts on suicide prevention, community education, and building connections that support mental well-being.
Organizations and individuals throughout Sonoma County are invited to join the Alliance’s collective effort to combat suicide and its devastating consequences. With the support and partnership of individuals, agencies, and organizations, we can prevent suffering and suicide, together, at work, at home, at school, and in our community.
Anyone and everyone can help:
• Learn the warning signs of suicide and steps to take if you are concerned for yourself or someone you care about. <https://emmresourcecenter.org/initiatives/know-signs>
o If you notice signs of suicide risk in someone or are concerned, talk to the person about your concerns and ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide or feeling that life may not be worth living?” Communicating openly about suicide and asking about suicide has been shown to be lifesaving. It encourages people to seek help, promotes a sense of belonging, and connects people to care.
o Encourage someone who is thinking of suicide to call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or reach out to another resource. You can also call 988 to learn more about how to help.
o Sonoma County residents who have concerns about someone can access mobile crisis support by calling 988. Dispatchers connect callers to the local crisis response team that serves their area - inRESPONSE (Santa Rosa), SAFE (Cotati, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, and Sonoma State University), CORE (Healdsburg), or the countywide Mobile Support Team (MST) - for a collaborative, in-person response.
• Reduce access to lethal means for suicide.
o Means safety is about limiting a person’s access to means by which they may cause themselves harm. This is a practical, lifesaving approach that has been shown to prevent suicide by making the environment safer for someone who is or may become suicidal, as well as after a suicide attempt.
o Safety steps anyone can take, include:
§ Keeping medications securely stored; disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired medications.
§ Reviewing the steps to respond to a suspected drug overdose.
§ Keeping guns securely stored and learning about local laws/options for firearm storage outside the home.
The Department of Health Services requests that the Board of Supervisors adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming the month of September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County and urging everyone to learn more about this important issue.
Prior Board Actions:
Resolutions proclaiming the month of September as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County have been adopted for many years, most recently, on August 26, 2025.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None