Story provided by Payne County Youth Services
Every September, organizations and individuals around the United States and across the world come together to promote suicide prevention awareness.
Suicide is a growing public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was already the 10th leading cause of death in the United States with 47,500 deaths in 2019, one death by suicide every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2019, the CDC reported that 12 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.4 million attempted suicides.
Everyone can play a part to help prevent suicide. PCYS invites you to help raise awareness this month by wearing an awareness ribbon and joining us on September 10th for World Suicide Prevention Day by lighting a candle near a window to show support for suicide prevention, to remember a lost one and for the survivors of suicide. PCYS has ribbons and candles available and will be taking them out to organizations and businesses. Please contact PCYS if you would like a candle and ribbons delivered to your organization or business. Candles and ribbons may also be picked up at the PCYS Clinical and Administrative Office at 2224 W 12th Ave, Stillwater, by appointment only.
PCYS specializes in working with children and youth who may also experience high rate of self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts and actions. According to the CDC, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for persons ages 15-34. Within the Payne County community and the State of Oklahoma, PCYS provides suicide prevention training to individuals, schools, organizations, churches, and businesses. PCYS utilizes the QPR module as well as the Talk Saves Lives. Please contact Angie Freeny, PCYS Prevention Programs Director at 405-377-3380 or [email protected] to find out more information or to schedule a training.
Additional PCYS services include counseling, the Safe Place program, a parenting class, the Safe Sitter training program, life skills classes, a Transitional Living Program, and an Emergency Youth Shelter. All PCYS services are free.
Visit PCYS on Facebook or at www.pcys.org for more information.
