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Rural Suicide: One California County’s Fight To Save Lives

 

A rural pocket of Northern California is seeing some of the highest rates of suicide in the state. We’re exploring the mental health crisis in Amador County, and what’s being done to solve it.

Series and Project Archive

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Energy, Resolve After CapRadio’s Gathering On Rural Suicide

Monday, September 24, 2018 | Sacramento, CA | Permalink
Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

Nearly 100 people convened in Jackson at an event organized by CapRadio and Amador County Behavioral Health following reporter Sammy Caiola’s six-month investigation into the topic of rural suicide.

Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

Olivia Henry, USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

Last Tuesday, nearly 100 people gathered in Jackson to connect with their neighbors around a troubling statistic: Amador County has the third-highest suicide rate in California.

The event was organized by CapRadio and Amador County Behavioral Health following reporter Sammy Caiola’s six-month investigation into the topic. Her series examines the factors that contribute to the high rate, existing services and barriers to accessing those services. Listen here.

Ashley Moore, a source in Sammy Caiola's project exploring the high rate of suicide in Amador County, speaks at the gathering organized by CapRadio and Amador County Behavioral Health.Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

Many attendees came from groups already engaged in suicide prevention — NAMI Amador, Sierra Wind Wellness & Recovery Center, Nexus, Operation Care, WellSpace Health, Tribal TANF, Victory Village and more. Some attendees were sources in Sammy’s reporting. Others came after reading or hearing the series in local media. But everyone came with a story: about their own struggles, the struggles of a loved one, or someone who died by suicide.

After a meal, attendees listened to clips from the stories and discussed them in 16 small groups. People shared reactions, questions and advice: Two students said boredom is a risk factor for teens. One woman asked how seniors are expected access services when they don’t have a computer or a cell phone. Some traded suggestions for LGBTQ resources. Others asked about the data driving Sammy’s reporting — read her data explainer here.

CapRadio reporter Sammy Caiola listens in as attendees discuss how to prevent suicide in Amador County.Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

The most common message was about ending the culture of silence around mental illness and suicide. The seeds of that change were in the room: On the dessert table, local mental health workers laid out sign-up sheets for upcoming safeTalk trainings, and CapRadio staff previewed the Conservation Kit, a collection of audio clips and questions to support dialogue around suicide.

The event marked the close of reporter Sammy’s reporting series on suicide prevention, but many attendees expressed hope that it was the beginning of a broader commitment — not just to reducing the suicide rate, but bringing it to zero.

    Related Stories

  • Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

    Q&A: How CapRadio Found Data On Suicides In Amador County

    Friday, September 21, 2018
    Six months ago, CapRadio’s Sammy Caiola set out to learn more about who dies by suicide in rural California, particularly Amador County. Here, we look at where our data came from and what they reveal about the problem.
  • Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

    Preventing Suicide, One Conversation At A Time

    Monday, September 17, 2018
    Suicide is a difficult topic. A big part of confronting the problem is talking about it. This conversation kit can help.
  • Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

    The ‘S’ Word: How Suicide Is Devastating Amador County And Rural Communities

    Monday, September 10, 2018
    Amador has the third-highest suicide rate of any county in California — about three times the state average and the top 20 counties on the list are some of the most remote and least populous places in the state.

 rural suicide

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More Rural Suicide Stories

Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

Chronic Loneliness Is A Major Cause Of Suicide For Seniors, Especially in Rural California

September 12, 2018

Vanessa S. Nelson / Capital Public Radio

Why Veterans Face Heightened Suicide Risk In Amador County And Other Rural Areas

August 27, 2018

Bill Lavallie / Ledger Dispatch

Second Murder-Suicide In Five Months Casts Violent Shadow On Amador County

September 4, 2018

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