Help prevent Wyoming suicides

Suicide continues to plague Wyoming. Year-in-and-year-out our state has one of the nation’s highest rates of suicide, often times leading the United States. Despite numerous efforts by state, city, and volunteer groups our state’s rate of death by suicide continues to grow. This can no longer be acceptable.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. During the month there will be numerous opportunities and trainings to equip each of us with a better understanding of suicide and how we can beat this epidemic. September will provides us with the opportunity to remember our loved ones, friends, and neighbors we’ve lost over the years through community walks and rallies. Openly talking about suicide is a great place for us to begin in reversing our high rate of death by suicide.

When the Wyoming’s Prevention Management Organization (PMO) and the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming entered into a relationship last year to address our state’s rate of suicide we knew our greatest opportunity was education. Together, we have offered numerous QPR trainings (Question, Persuade, Refer), the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming has produced and made available videos to help us talk to our loved ones (www.diowy.org), and we have partnered in community events in educating our neighbors about suicide and suicide prevention.

This is an epidemic that affects Wyomingites regardless of color, sex, income, or age—and it’s one in which we can reverse the trend. If you or a loved one is contemplating suicide we encourage you to seek help. If you are concerned that a loved one is contemplating suicide we encourage you to ask them. If you want to help tackle suicide in Wyoming we invite you to get involved. Take the first step by contacting a local PMO office http://pmowyo.org/contact/) or one of the Episcopal churches near you http://www.diowy.org/digital_faith/parishes).

Dr. Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth

Director of Statewide Suicide Prevention

Prevention Management Organization of WY

The Rt. Rev. John S. Smylie

Bishop of Wyoming