Elizabeth Larson – Record-Bee staff
LAKE COUNTY The year 2002 was a tragic one for the families and friends of six young county residents.
That year in Lake County, six young people between the ages of 10 and 25 took their own lives.
While that number is large, it becomes startlingly more significant when held up against statewide statistics for the same age group. In fact, that year California lost 19 young people to suicide who were between 10 and 25.
That means that Lake County had 32 percent of the state s suicides in that age group while having only 0.2 percent of California s population.
That knocked my socks off, said Gloria Flaherty, executive director of Lake Family Resource Center.
Flaherty came across those numbers as the resource center formerly Sutter Lakeside Community Services prepares to launch a teen suicide hotline in conjunction with its crisis line.
Referring to the six suicides in 2002, Flaherty said, If ever there was an argument that something like this is necessary, that is a strong one.
Flaherty said she hopes to have the Teen Life Line up and running by the middle of May.
Training will begin next week April 25 and 26 for volunteers who will help staff the life line. (See At a glance, Page A14, for more information.)
Flaherty credits Bruce Cakebread of Cakebread Cellars in Napa County for initiating this local effort.
Many local families work in Napa County s wine industry, Flaherty explained. Cakebread knew just such a Lake County family who lost a teenager to suicide, and he wanted to help find a way to prevent young people from taking their own lives.
Cakebread got in touch with Congressman Mike Thompson s office, and Thompson then put Cakebread and Flaherty in touch.
They quickly agreed that a need for suicide prevention exists in Lake County, Flaherty said. Cakebread Cellars partnered with Lower Lake s Snows Lake Vineyard to provide the effort s startup costs, said Flaherty. Snows Lake through its Myers Kauppila Family Foundation and Cakebread Cellars each pledged $5,000 a year for two years, Flaherty said.
It s awesome, she said.
As Flaherty has researched the county s teen suicide problem, she s encountered other statistics she called startling.
She pointed to a student survey conducted in 2000 by local middle and high schools. The survey reported that 29 percent of the county s seventh graders said they have considered suicide; 18 percent of ninth graders and 20 percent of 11th graders also admitted to having contemplated taking their own lives.
Numbers provided by the state reported that from 1995 to 2002, nine young people in Lake County between the ages of 10 and 25 committed suicide including the six suicides in 2002.
Next week s training will prepare a group of volunteers for the unique needs of suicidal individuals, said Flaherty.
The training involves really helping people develop the skills for suicide intervention and prevention, she explained. How do you respond to someone who is contemplating suicide or is suicidal on the other end of the phone?
Volunteers will be trained to understand a suicidal person s attitudes, will develop the skills to discuss suicide, learn to identify the risks and identify community resources to help the person in need.
The point really is that there is someone on the other end who you are making a promise to, she said.
When the life line opens next month, it will be the same line as that shared by center s domestic violence and sexual assault crisis lines, which Flaherty reported take 600 calls annually. The line will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Flaherty said. Monthly volunteer meetings will serve as both training and social time for crisis line workers, she added.
Community outreach will include posting fliers at schools, fast food restaurants and other places young people frequent, Flaherty said.
But help for suicidal people isn t going to be limited to just teenagers, she added.
The county s sizable senior population which the 2000 census reported to be nearly 20 percent of the total residents also will be a focus, said Flaherty, with outreach plans aimed at local senior centers.
However, anyone who needs to call no matter their age is encouraged to do so, said Flaherty.
As well, the line will offer education for anyone who needs it, she said, who are absolutely welcome to use the line as a resource. It can also be for people who are afraid that someone they know is going to commit suicide, she said.
To reach the center s crisis line, call (888) 485-7733.
Suicide a leading cause of death for teens
The American Psychiatric Association reports that suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24. APA finds that depression increases by 14-fold the possibility that a young person will have a first suicide attempt.
Other APA findings:
* More than half of all young people who suffer from depression will attempt suicide at least once; of those who do make the attempt, 7 percent will succeed.
* Four times as many men as women commit suicide, but young women attempt suicide three times more frequently than their male counterparts.
* Fifty-three percent of young people who commit suicide abuse drugs and alcohol.
Firearms are used in more than half of all youth suicides.
At a glance
Volunteer training offered
Lake Family Resource Center s training is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 26 at United Christian Parish, 745 Brush St., Lakeport.
The cost is $125 for two days, and includes snacks, lunch on both days, and materials. Those who commit to working on the hotline may receive the training for free.
Five continuing education units will be offered for health care professionals.
To sign up call 262-1611 or 888-485-7733.
Community outreach:
Have you lost a young person to suicide? Are you interested in sharing your story as part of an in-depth study on the causes of teen suicide in Lake County?
If so, contact Editor Elizabeth Larson, 263-5636, extension 39, or e-mail elarson@record-bee.com.
