AMHC Raises Awareness on Suicide
September is designated as Suicide Prevention Month and Aroostook Mental Health Center has been partnering with other community organizations to highlight awareness, prevention, and local resources that are available to everyone.
“According to the Maine Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Mainers ages 10-45,” explains Michelle Ferris, Director of Emergency Services. “AMHC has been busy this month working with a number of other organizations to raise awareness. Maine’s suicide rate remains higher than the rest of the nation; I recently learned that more people in Maine die from suicide than from car accidents or breast cancer and for every homicide in Maine, there are seven sucides. AMHC is available to anyone experiencing a crisis. To access our Mobile Emergency Services team please call or text the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112.”
Activies that have taken place include:
- Crisis Intervention Team training for Law Enformcement in Houlton – AMHC collaborated with NAMI Maine (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to train 17 officers on behavioral health issues. The offiers were provided tools and resources to manage behavioral health crises in the community.
- Suicide Prevention training for Resident Assistants, UMFK
- Out of the Darkness Walk, Fort Kent
- Awareness table at Machias Saving Bank, Caribou
- Student presentations on suicide prevention at Van Buren Middle and High Schools
- Illuminate Life event, Boys and Girls Club, Presque Isle on Septembre 18
- UMFK Student Health Fair on September 19
- Community Suicide Awareness Presentation with NAMI and MADRN (Make A Difference Right Now), on September 19 in Calais
- Anxiety and depression screenings at Cary Medical Center Health Fair on September 21 in Caribou
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