To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tina Rivera, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming the month of September 2023 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 2023 as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County.
Discussion:
Suicide is a major public health issue that requires vigilant attention and preventative action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide rates rose in the United States from 2000 to 2021 by 36 percent. (2022 data is still preliminary and rates have not been published by CDC - the rate is predicted to increase again.)
On average there are 73 deaths by suicide each year in Sonoma County, making suicide the ninth leading cause of death in the County. According to the California Department of Public Health report, the Sonoma County three-year average age-adjusted suicide death rate for 2020 through 2022 was 13.6 per 100,000 people per year, statistically higher than the California rate of 9.9 per 100,000 people per year (source: <https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/communityBurden/>).
In October of 2022, DHS Behavioral Health Division brought together community partners to create Life Worth Living: Sonoma County Suicide Prevention Alliance. The Alliance is developing a Sonoma County 5 Year Strategic Suicide Prevention Plan, and the plan is scheduled to be complete in early 2024. Upon completion, the Strategic Suicide Prevention Plan will be brought to the Board of Supervisors for review and approval.
Efforts to prevent suicide in Sonoma County are scheduled for Suicide Prevention Month. The September edition of the Mental Health Services Act Newsletter highlights several scheduled free activities that recognize Suicide Prevention Month including:
• 9/5 11am-2pm: Walk in the Light at The Lakes Behavioral Health Complex
• 9/10 10am-1pm: Connection is Prevention at the Old Courthouse Square
• 9/12 11am: What is QPR Wellness Advocacy Center
• 9/23 9am: Out of the Darkness Walk at Sonoma State University
• 9/25 3pm-5pm: QPR Suicide Prevention Training at SCOE
• 9/26 9am-11am: QPR Suicide Prevention Training at SCOE
• 9/26 12pm-2pm: Lethal Means Safety Training at Finley Center
For more information about these events go to the Behavioral Health website at: <http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Health/Behavioral-Health/>
In support of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2023). Suicide is Preventable is excited to provide the 2023 Suicide Prevention Activation Kit <https://www.suicideispreventable.org/prevention-kit.php>.
The theme of this year’s activation kit is Share Hope Together. The 2023 Suicide Prevention Activation Kit can be found here: <https://www.eachmindmatters.org/spw2022/>
Prior Board Actions:
Most recently, on August 9, 2022 the Board adopted a gold resolution proclaiming the month of September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month in Sonoma County.
Fiscal Summary
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Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None