JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file<br><br>San Juan Basin Health Department will host a summit in order to gain more information from the community on how to combat the high rate of suicides here.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file<br><br>San Juan Basin Health Department will host a summit in order to gain more information from the community on how to combat the high rate of suicides here.du1-i-syn

In response to the region’s high suicide rate, San Juan Basin Public Health is holding a summit Thursday to gather information about the community’s needs and offer suicide intervention training.

Breakout sessions are planned to address issues specific for individual groups, such as seniors, preteens, men, women, parents of elementary-aged children and LGBT youths.

“We really are looking for feedback from the community, especially from specific subgroups, on what supports they want, what is out there and what is missing, so we can start to fill those gaps,” said Claire Ninde, a spokeswoman for the public health department.

There have been nine suicides in La Plata County since the beginning of the year, and Southwest Colorado has a higher suicide rate than state and national averages.

The summit is the first in a series of events and trainings focused on the issue, Ninde said. The health department is leading a collaborative effort around suicide prevention that will involve many groups.

“No one agency is going to solve this issue; it has to be a community-wide effort,” Ninde said.

The department recently received two grants to promote healthy behaviors in the community and prevent suicide, she said.

One is focused on preventing youth substance abuse and one is geared toward integrating primary care and behavior health care.

The department is planning to use some funds for a campaign focused on reducing the stigma around talking about mental health, she said.

But the department wants to gather feedback before planning more prevention efforts.

During the summit, the department plans to pose questions focused on what supports are missing in the community. The questions will be posted on the wall in a gallery and attendees will be asked to provide written responses.

A suicide intervention training for adults will be presented by Susan Becker, president-elect of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Spanish-language interpreters will be available for attendees.

During the event, the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County will hold activities for children 6 and older.

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If you go

A suicide prevention community summit will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction St.

Breakout sessions

Breakout sessions at the suicide prevention summit will be 5:30 to 7 p.m.
LGBT Youth: Jen Stucka, a child, youth and family mental health therapist, will present on suicide rick factors specific to LGBT youth.
Seniors: Brittany Brumfield with Senior Reach at Axis Health System will offer an education and interactive discussion on how to identify at-risk seniors, and how community support and engagement can help with suicide prevention.
Women: Kate Niles, a psychotherapist at Riversage Counseling specializing in trauma, women’s and family issues, will lead a session on suicide risk factors specific to women, including postpartum depression, isolation, rape culture and suicide.
Men: Jarrod Hindman will give a presentation on the risk factors, warning signs and resources to prevent suicide among men between ages 25 and 64.
Parents of elementary-aged children: Sean Evans, coordinator of behavioral health support services for Durango School District 9-R, will discuss risk factors among elementary-aged children and offer intervention techniques.
Pre-teens and teens: Sarah St. John, a Miller Middle School counselor, will focus on empowering students and challenging sterotypes.