Despite the overall decline of deaths by suicide in the state of Nevada since 2019, the Humboldt County community has been stunned by six suicides in the past two months. Amongst the most preventable types of death, suicide claims hundreds of people in Nevada every year, according to the Nevada Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS).
The Humboldt Connection Suicide Prevention Task Force (HCSPTF) helps to advocate for and support those at risk, spread awareness and educate the community about prevention, and connects loved ones of victims to support and resources.
“We don’t want to wait until there’s a suicide to act, we want to be responsive prior to a tragedy occurring,” said HCSPTF Vicechair, Pauline Salla, and added that this time, a time after such tremendous loss, is critically important for the healing of families, friends, and the community.
Nevada is 12th in the nation for suicides, according to a report by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), dropping from number seven since 2019. The recent cluster of suicides, although, have left the community with intense grief and other deep emotions that can be both consuming and heart-wrenching. Other feelings, such as guilt or shame are all also completely normal, according to HCSPTF. The question—What’s next?—weighs heavy on the community.
“We have to be able to have the conversation and ask the question—Are you suicidal? Asking the question is the first step, then, if the answer is yes, knowing what to do after that is really important,” explained Salla.
Suicide prevention is everybody’s responsibility, but that also means that anyone can make a difference. HCSPTF is holding a postvention for the community on Aug. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the East Hall of the Convention Center with resources, support and mental health professionals available to everyone. This is a time when the community can come together to soothe some of the heartache and anguish such tragedy often causes. Training in awareness resources are also available for any individual, organization or business for free, according to Salla, through the safeTalk program, which helps communities learn how to recognize when someone is having thoughts of suicide and how to connect them with intervention resources. The safeTalk program is widely used and helps to ensure that people are informed and can be a compassionate proponent for those in mental health crisis. Salla explained that the HCSPTF will work to organize training and assistance for as many people as possible. The class is only four hours and the HCSPTF provides all of the materials for no cost.
“You don’t have to be a therapist or counselor to be a suicide-alert person,” said Salla, “Anybody can be trained to provide help and keep people safe. You just have to ask the questions and connect them to the next level.”
Salla explained that many people who are actively suicidal often send out “invitations”—which can look like a change in appearance, attitude or behavior, or the purging of personal items— that can be “avoided, missed, or dismissed” if people are not present and listening for warning signs, which is neither easy nor first instinct. Many of these signs, unfortunately, are only realized after a tragedy. Just being able to listen and respond is an intervention in and of itself, according to Salla.
“It’s so hard to ask those hard questions because no one wants to hear the answer, especially if it’s a yes,” said Salla.
On July 16, 9-8-8 became a universal entry point for those in need of emotional support. The number can be called or texted, just like 9-1-1, no matter the time or place in the U.S., providing immediate access to suicide crisis intervention. This resource is a gamechanger for mental health resources, according to Salla, and can play a very big role in getting help to people when they need it most.
“Connection—it’s such a simple word but makes the biggest difference,” said Salla.
Important Resources
• Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (1-800-273-8255 line still available, Veterans Line, option 1) or Text LISTEN to 839-863
• Mobile Crisis Response Team Call 688-1670
• NAMI Warmline Call (775) 241-4212
• Nevada Teen Text Line (775) 296-8336
• Family Support Center (775) 623-1888
• HGH Behavioral Health Clinic (775) 375-1299
• Rural Clinics (775) 623-6580
• Juvenile Services (775) 623-6382
• District Court (775) 623-6371
Support Groups:
• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: offers one on one support for survivors of loss.
https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone
• Rise Wellness: holds a hybrid in-person and virtual SOSL group
https://risewellnessnv.com/suicide-prevention-outpatient-services/
• Monica Gonzales, Hope/Grief Circles (775) 229-1807
• Hope Tree at FCAA (775) 623-9003
• Grief Share at United Methodist Church (775) 623-2814