MARQUETTE, MI-- The newly formed Marquette County Suicide Prevention Coalition is working on a plan to provide training around the region.
Sarah Derwin is a health educator with the Marquette County Health Department. She says a number of high-profile suicides in the area shows a real need for “gatekeeper” training.
“Almost anybody could benefit from an hour training that would help them recognize signs of suicide and also then resources of where to refer somebody if that happens,” she says.
Derwin says the coalition will also work to promote the Out of the Darkness walk in September and get people talking about suicide and its signs.
Derwin notes it’s hard to identify how many people actually struggle with thoughts of suicide.
“When we’re looking at the spectrum of suicide prevention we’re also looking at depression,” she says. “There’s lots of things that can be a precursor to suicidal thoughts, so the number can be very wide, you know, if somebody who’s ever thought about it or contemplated suicide, you know, depression is a huge issue.”
Derwin says the coalition—made up of people from area schools, hospitals, Pathways Community Mental Health, Great Lakes Recovery, community members and high school students—will ultimately develop a plan and website for training year-round.
