O’Brien County department heads asked the O’Brien County Supervisors in September of 2021 to form a coalition aimed at preventing suicides. Emergency Management Director Jared Johnson, Mental Health Advocate Abby Wallin and Public Health Director Kim Morran were seeing an increase in in-county suicides and suicide attempts. A conversation among them lasted months before asking the Board of Supervisors for approval to find ways to bring down the number.
The core trio began their effort without any real idea of what it would look like. They added Emily Rohlk who was with Season’s Center and is not the Juenile Court Officer, and Kate Steward with ISU Extension to their core group. The effort was started with $40,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
As the department heads were seeing an increase in devastating events within the county they began looking for something to help predict and minimize the frequency of suicide and suicide attempts. They looked at age, ethnicity, gender, economic status and anything they could think of. The only identifier, if it can be called that, is that most of the victims were age 20-50 years old. Nothing more. As the in-county frequency rose, the department heads began making comparisons to other measurable units; other counties, statewide, in an effort to understand O’Brien County. They found that during 2020 the O’Brien County suicide rate increased to above the state average.
The first year has focused on outreach. Letters were sent to stakeholders across the county. Stakeholders included the schooll superintendents, therapists and agency staff within O’Brien County, Sheriff Bruce Devereaux. The churches were offered to send representation. According to Wallin, many of those initially invited are faithful attendees.
The first meetings set a core audience for the coalition. Focus for this group is Junior High School, High School and young adults in O’Brien County. The idea is that if a trained, skilled person can catch a person in crisis early enough he or she will benefit from shaping or broadening their perspective and maybe prevent a tragedy.
Mental health is often named as a cause for such a drastic action. “Not always,” said Wallin. Mental health can be circumstances or external factors. She explained that a people who attempt suicide do not always have a diagnosis. Often the temporary state can be worked through.
A long term goal is to identify and spread intentional responses to suicide. Developing that must start by eliminating the stigma of mental health. Wallin feels they are making in-roads but acknowledges it is a long road. She says, “reducing the stigma and creating a comfort zone to talk about it and address suicide is important.” She goes on the explain that some are afraid to talk about suicide carrying the belief that talking about it might “plant the idea”. It is, afterall, an uncomfortable topic. The good news about talking about suicide is that research tells the professionals that is wrong.
Applied suicide intervention skills training is coming to O’Brien County in November. The event is open to anyone, but limited to 20 attendees with 10 already reserved. Plains Area Mental Health is conducting the training. For more information about the training, a coalition meeting or for more information contact Abby Wallin at 957-5985.