For Immediate Release

January 14, 2010

Contact:           Vicki L. Duey, Four Corners Health Department

                           402-362-2621, toll free 877-337-3573

Video Conference available at Four Corners Health Department

Suicide prevention is topic for statewide summit January 29, 2010

Lincoln, Neb., Jan 11, 2010 – The Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Summit will be held on January 29, 2010 to provide an overview of suicide as a public health concern in Nebraska, present opportunities to discuss local needs on suicide prevention and feature an introduction to proven suicide prevention practices.  The event is 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at BryanLGH West Conference Center and will be videocast to sites across Nebraska via the Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network.

The summit is co-sponsored by Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, BryanLGH Medical Center, Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, and University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

The keynote speaker is Tom Osborne, University of Nebraska Athletic Director.  Participants will hear a statewide inventory of suicide prevention practices, have small group discussions and report back period on community suicide prevention activities and needs, have an introduction to evidence-based, best practices to prevent suicide by Elana Premack-Sandler of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and receive technical assistance to apply for forthcoming youth suicide prevention seed grants.

Anyone working with youths or adults including community members, professionals, suicide survivors, or youth or adults interested in promoting suicide prevention practices in their communities will find the seminar of interest.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Nebraska youth ages 15-19. In 2006, Nebraska’s suicide rate for youth ages 10-224 was 11.86 per 100,000 people, exceeding the national rate of 7.14.  Every 2 hours and 5 minutes there is a teenager in the United States who has lost his or her life to suicide.

The summit is part of a larger statewide suicide prevention initiative.  For more information about the initiative, visit http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/newsroom/newsreleases/2009/sep/grant/htm.  For more information and registration for this event, visit http://www.suicideprevention.nebraska.edu/.  If you would like to attend the video conference at Four Corners, please contact us at 402-362-2621 or email us at questions@fourcorners.ne.gov.