A four-week suicide prevention program tackling a handful of suicide-related issues will begin in Fairhope Sept. 8. The series is a collaborative effort between the Fairhope Police Department, Fairhope United Methodist Church, the local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s “Out of the Darkness” Chapter, Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation and Baldwin County Community Alliance through AltaPointe Health Systems.
The sessions, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. each night at the James P. Nix Center at 1 Bayou Dr. in Fairhope, are free and open to the public.
“This is an issue that requires the support of community,” Fairhope Police Lieutenant Stephanie Hollinghead said. “Our primary goal is to educate the public about misconceptions, risk factors, how to seek help and how to help one another. Also, we hope that this will be an opportunity to educate lawmakers on funding that is needed for education and mental health services, as well as the need for an emergency detention process for mental health evaluations. One suicide is too many.”
The first session Sept. 8 will focus on misconceptions, signs, and risk factors of suicide. The Sept. 15 session will focus on medical risk factors, various aspects of suicide, prescription benefits, misuse of medication and where to access help. The third session Sept. 22 will discuss the link between post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicide. The final session will be Sept. 29 and will discuss best practices to implement at home, school, or work.
No reservations are required and interested persons may attend any or all sessions.
