DeKalb Wellness Commission Suicide Sub-Committee

Basement Courtroom, DeKalb County Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Smithville
quarterly, third Thursday, 1 PM

The DeKalb County Suicide Prevention Task Force was commissioned in 2005 in an effort to combat above-average suicide rates in the area. The group was organized in response to a report in Advancing Suicide Prevention on suicide in rural America which was followed up by an article in the 4 October edition of the Tennessean. Over a four-year period, DeKalb County posted a suicide rate of 42.8 per 100,000, the fifth highest in the United States and the highest of any county east of the Mississippi.

The meeting is open to suicide survivors and their families, community volunteers, counselors and mental health professionals, representatives from state departments, and any other persons who work in a capacity that puts them in contact with potential suicide victims.

The task force will teach county residents about the warning signs of suicide and methods of prevention and promote opportunities for training in suicide prevention within DeKalb County. It will serve as a clearinghouse for regional, state, and national resources and a contact point for those needing immediate professional care.

To get involved with the task force or for additional information, contact Shannon Railling at (931) 528-7531, extension 7507, or via e-mail at shannon.railling@state.tn.us.