PUBLIC HEALTH
A campaign to bring attention to the topic of the problem of suicide and ultimately prevent it is entering its fourth year and appears to be making a difference.
The Jones County Suicide Prevention Coalition met Oct. 24 in the Community Room of Jones County High School led by Brandon Warrick, community program coordinator for the University of Augusta.
The first meeting focused on suicide prevention in Jones County was held in July of 2019, sponsored by Family Connection and Augusta University. It was from that meeting the Jones County Suicide Prevention Coalition was formed, and the coalition started meeting monthly in September of 2019.
The high number of suicides reported in Jones County in 2016 was the catalyst for the effort, but Jones County was not alone in alarming statistics. Jones County had eight deaths by suicide that year, which ranked the county 10th the state.
Richmond County was also struggling with a high suicide rate, and Augusta University applied for and received a grant from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development to help both counties reduce those numbers.
Warrick began with QPR (question, persuade, refer) training that teaches warning signs of suicide and how to support someone who is struggling. The training takes 90 minutes and in Jones County is coordinated by Joy Carr with Family Connection.
He said more than 300 have received the training in Jones County.
Warrick also talked about the availability of the “My Ascension Documentary” that is about a young girl who uses her survival of a suicide attempt to inspire hope. He said the documentary can be screened at no charge to any audience size.
Gabrielle Mobley gave a marketing and social media update. She said 164 people were reached on the coalition’s Facebook page and 68 on Instagram. She said ads are still on shopping carts at Ingles Market in Gray and on tabletops at Chevy’s Pizza.
Mobley said Georgia Crisis and Access Line materials are available at Bloom in downtown Gray and the Main Street Gray welcome station.
Ashley Prager talked about the Linktree reference page that can be accessed with a QR code. The page has a list of local, state and national resources available. That includes 988 information, Georgia Crisis and Access Line materials, parent guidance and survivors of suicide loss resources.
All the Linktree resources are free.
Community outreach included passing out bracelets and other resources at the Jones County High School Homecoming Football game and Not So Scary Grayberry Spectacular.
Prager said work continues to organize a Hope Squad for JCHS, which would be led by students.
Guilianna Larosa gave an update for PIPP (Partners in Progress Project). She said student surveys had been collected and they were in the process of creating posters for the middle schools with positive messages.
Larose said the four sessions for the Catch My Breath program had been completed at the Health Class of JCHS. She said a class survey was done after the sessions.
JCHS Principal Dennis Woolfolk said the PIPP effort has been very effective.
“Our vaping numbers are down. We are not where we want to be, but it is making a difference,” he said.
The principal added that he hopes the program continues.
Larosa said Project Alert was being implemented at Clifton Ridge Middle School. The program addresses the consequences of smoking cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol. She said the next step is to continue implementing the school programs.
The next coalition meeting is scheduled 10 a.m., Nov. 28 at the JCHS Community Room.
