76% of Yearly Gun Deaths in Oregon Are Suicides
We hope you had a nice summer! It’s been a while since we’ve been in touch, so here’s an update on what we’ve been up to lately and ways you can get involved with gun violence prevention.
September is Suicide Awareness & Prevention Month
September is Suicide Awareness & Prevention Month, and we’re sharing facts and resources all month on Instagram. Please follow us here.
**This weekend: The Central Oregon ASFP Walk
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosts walks in various communities to raise awareness. There is a walk in Bend on Saturday, September 12th at 11 am in Alpenglow Park. The event includes a short ceremony and walk to honor those we’ve lost to suicide. Learn more about the local ASFP walk here.
You’ll also find resources and more information at the bottom of this email for Suicide Awareness & Prevention.
La Pine Rhubarb Fest
We had a great time at the Rhubarb Festival in La Pine in June!
We raffled off 6 pistol safes, handed out over 60 free gun locks, and had meaningful conversations about the importance of secure storage.
These outreach efforts are made possible through our partnership with Gun Owners For Responsible Ownership and St Charles Health System.
Redmond National Night Out:
We were sad to miss Redmond’s National Night Out in August due to wildfire smoke. It’s one of our favorite events to get involved in, so we’ll see you there next year! 🤞
Trainings & Education
This year we’ve facilitated several trainings for local agencies that provide health care, mental health care, and other direct services to families in the tri-county area. Our trainings highlight public health data and strategies for gun violence prevention, with a focus on the importance of secure storage.
Contact us to schedule a free training for your agency, neighborhood potluck, or social group. You can learn more about our training topics here.
More Information on Suicide Prevention & Awareness
76% of yearly gun deaths in Oregon are suicides (source link).
Firearm suicide is gun violence, and it is often preventable. Support is available for those having suicidal thoughts and for their loved ones.
Need to Talk?
People can call or text 988 or chat at www.988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. No matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
AFSP offers a comprehensive website to guide individuals and their loved ones toward help before a suicide attempt or after an attempt, and support for suicide loss survivors. Also learn facts about suicide and find opportunities to attend events or become a volunteer.
YouthLine
YouthLine is a free peer-to-peer help, support, and crisis line for youth up to age 24.
Deschutes County Stabilization Center
If you or someone you know is in crisis, the Stabilization Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is located at 63311 NE Jamison Street, Bend, OR 97703.
Friends for Survival:
Friends for Survival is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those grieving the suicide death of a family member, friend, or loved one. They offer monthly peer-to-peer meetings, grief groups, webinars, grief handouts + booklets.
Back To School
As we gear up for fall and back-to-school, child safety is top of mind for families in Central Oregon.
Keeping children safe from firearms means asking about secure firearm storage at homes where our children visit. Click HERE for a helpful guide.
And remember, safe firearm storage saves lives. Here’s a link to a list on our website of Central Oregon locations that offer free gun locks to the public, including the Bend-La Pine School District education center in downtown Bend.
Let’s keep our kids and community safe!
Your local team