Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) invites anyone interested in discussing local public mental health services for suicide prevention to participate in a community forum on Thursday, September 12, 2019 in San Ramon.
The forum offers an opportunity to express the needs of the community and meet with service providers to discuss current issues relevant to suicide prevention. These discussions help inform future use of local Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding.
WHO: Interested members of the community are welcome to attend this free event. Register at Eventbrite or cchealth.org/mentalhealth/mhsa (link in the gray box), or contact our staff at 925-957-2617 or mhsa@cchealth.org.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 12 at San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Boulevard, San Ramon.
Contra Costa County’s current MHSA budget provides more than $50 million in support of more than 80 mental health programs and services. Forum goals include identifying service needs, priorities and strategies to inform the county’s MHSA Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan for fiscal years 2020-2023.
Fifty years ago a friend of mine committed suicide. He said he would and he did. It took me years to get over it because he was so talented – very creative – and fun to be around. But there was something wrong that he could not deal with and so when he finally did what he said he would I was not surprised. Yet it still hurt and it hurt for years because I felt I could have done something to help him. Over the years I have concluded that people have the right to commit suicide, that society’s stigma is ill placed and like so many other things in the world not thought out at all. A person’s life belongs to that person and no one else, therefore a person has a right to do whatever that person wishes to do and if it’s suicide so be it. I really think those who commit suicide have a special place in heaven (yes, I believe in heaven – I’m Catholic) and their heavenly reward makes up for the unhappiness they suffered here. Frankly, rather than condemn those who commit suicide, we should celebrate the event and make it something fun rather than the dour whispered account we always hear.
Oh, I hear you, AJ Buttacavoli – I, too, believe that if a person WANTS to end their life (and they’re not so mentally ill that they’re incapable of making a reasonable decision) they should be allowed to take their own life. A friend from high school (while we were in our late 20’s) kept trying to commit suicide and people (including myself on her first attempt) always seemed to find her and get her to a hospital. She was miserable for YEARS and then in our 40’s she finally succeeded. I was sad to lose her, but also sad that she suffered for so many years despite medical and mental health interventions.
Regardless of how you feel about whether or not a person should be able to commit suicide, or whether or not they go to heaven (salvation), the family is horribly effected for life. There haven’t been any suicides in our family (thank goodness) but I do know a couple of families who were effected, and they were NEVER the same. The families suffer for life, and sadly, suicides run in families.
Fully agree. This should be less stigmatized and people should be given more control over their desire to die. This would prevent some horrific situations in which people die by suicide and take others out as well. They should be provided a safe way to kill themselves and this would save so much money and heartache in the long run. But people are apparently not allowed to make that decision for themselves even when we allow women to make that decision for their unborn babies….
it would appear that they really don’t want many people to actually go; based on the day and time they scheduled it…
S I completely agree
People working in the field of mental healrh can likely attend this as a work-related activity, with pay, and that is why it has been scheduled during regular working hours. If they truly wanted “community participation” that wouldn’t be the case.
Are suicide rates up? Based on what we hear about mental health among the homeless, it would appear suicide is not where the need exists. If nothing else, homeless are survivors in spite of their predicament. Some may just need guidance, perhaps medication, and help overcoming a few specific issues.
And flowers + sunshine will solve the impending world food crisis.
It is not always about the homeless. Suicide effects children, teens as well as adults. Suicide effects military personel, moms and dads. Suicide due to depression effects many walks of life. The problem is the lack of resources for those who are in need. It is not just the homeless. My family has been torn by 3 suicides in the last 4 years. They were normal working and going to school people. They suffered from depression and did not know where or how to ask for help. The need is great and this is a place to start.
Look beyond the homeless. Look at those who you are close to. Depression and mental illness is what causes homelessness.
“Depression and mental illness is what causes homelessness.” Well, then, it sounds like a very good place to start.