This morning we talked with Dodie Melvin who is the director of NAMI. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Dodie spoke about their new faith based initiative for suicide prevention resources for faith leaders and how to get involved. She also shared how important it is to get church leaders involved.
If you missed any of that talk click HERE
Today on the Morning Thing we talked with Kathy Wantland and Carla Lowe. Kathy is the Knox County Hospice Bereavement Coordinator and Carla is a volunteer with the Knox County Suicide Prevention Coalition. We talked with them about the survivor dinner and 5K coming up tomorrow. Click HERE to listen in to the whole conversation. Click HERE and HERE for more information about the event and how to help and get help for yourself or someone else contemplating suicide.
For WNZR’s Meet the Team feature this week, we shine the spotlight on the Knox County Suicide Prevention Coalition. This group is partnering with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to bring awareness to our community during National Suicide Prevention Week.
Did you know?
– Every 12.3 minutes, an American dies by suicide.
– Nearly 43,000 Americans die by suicide every year.
– In the U.S., death by suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for people of all ages.
– Each person’s death by suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people, with over 250,000 newly bereaved each year.
– From 1995 – 2016, 121 Knox Countians have died by suicide and several thousand friends and family members lives were changed forever by losing those they loved.
– 90% of those who die by suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death. Many of those individuals who died never received effective behavioral health services because of the stigma surrounding such disorders and the risk of suicidality that further traumatizes survivors of suicide.
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Knox County is comprised of representatives of behavioral health organizations, state agencies, healthcare agencies and hospitals, law enforcement, first responders, related nonprofit service organizations, survivors and other interested citizens. This group is dedicated to reducing the frequency of suicide attempts, threats and deaths, and the pain for those affected by suicide deaths. They create educational programs, intervention services, community resources and bereavement services.
They are also hosting a 5K Walk/Run this Saturday, 9/16. Click HERE for more information on how to participate.
WNZR’s Jenna Potts talked with several team members. Click HERE to hear her conversation with Dodie Melvin, Executive Director of NAMI; David McElroy, Detective with the Mount Vernon Police Department and Kathy Wantland, 5K Walk/Run Coordinator.
Rise and Shine 