Welcome to Ozark Center
BE SOMEONE'S LIFEBOAT
Online Suicide Prevention Event
What Memorial Boat Launch and Virtual Suicide Prevention Event
When: Training event at 9:00 am, September 8, 2020, Memorial boat launch & media interviews at 10:00 am
Where: Ozark Center Hope Spring upper level conference room and pond, 3901 East 32nd Street
Background: People are becoming more comfortable talking about mental health especially in the past year during the pandemic. But the topic of suicide is still scary and often avoided. Ozark Center hopes to shed light on the subject and help everyone learn the warning signs of suicide in order to offer support to those struggling with thoughts of self-harm.
A person dies by suicide every 11.1 minutes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is in the top ten causes of deaths for adults and the second leading cause of death for 10- to 34-year-olds. The CDC reports suicide rates increased 33% between 1999 and 2019, with a small decline in 2019.
September 5 — 11 is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. On Wednesday, September 8, Ozark Center will again host a suicide prevention event to educate and raise awareness. The event’s theme is Be Someone’s Lifeboat. The free online suicide prevention event includes:
- Education about how to talk to someone who might have suicidal thoughts with Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Training
- Q&A with Ozark Center staff
- Free online depression screenings
- Memorial origami boat launch for local lives impacted by suicide
Interested participants can join the event on Zoom at:
Meeting ID: 858 9575 2761 Passcode: 12345.
Media: You are welcome to attend the training event for video. Interviews will be available with Vicky Mieseler, Ozark Center Chief Administrative Officer, and Debbie Fitzgerald, Ozark Center Director of Crisis Services.
Contact Lisa Olliges at 417.434.3458 if you plan to attend.
