The NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention
Helping NH Get To Their Zero Suicide Goal
While NH has a strong network of organizations focusing on suicide prevention, the Brain Injury Association of NH was inspired to start the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention in order to focus on those members of NH’s population who are particularly vulnerable to suicide. For example, people with lifelong disabilities who face challenges every day; Veterans who may be suffering from PTSD and depression; first responders and police officers, who see so much death on the job; people living with cognitive impairments who may find everyday life frustrating, and people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that might consider ending their lives prematurely.
The purpose of this coalition is to augment the good work of organizations like the State Suicide Prevention Council (State Suicide Prevention Council | Bureau of Community Health Services | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and The Samaritans | Connected. Resilient. Community. By fostering a dialogue on the issue of suicide prevention, providing help and resources for those considering suicide while also advocating for legislation that protects those most vulnerable to suicide.
According to data from the CDC, NH has the second-highest suicide rate in New England and the 19th highest suicide rate in the U.S. The latest report from the NH Suicide Prevention Council stated that adults age 45-64 make up the largest share of suicides in the Granite State. Compounding the problem are factors like isolation experienced during COVID-19, an increase in the number of individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and mental health issues, and the impact of social media making people feel as though they do not fit into today’s society. Nationally, one quarter of American adults in 2020 had a form of mental illness, while 40% of people with a lifelong history of depression also met the criteria for addiction. Close to 40% of people seeking treatment for a Substance Use Disorder in the past year also had a co-occurring mood disorder, and Substance abuse can lead to more suicidal thoughts and behaviors
In short -- we want to create a “help-seeking culture” that allows people to access the help they need. It is our firm belief that all lives are valuable. We know of many examples of individuals who have faced challenging situations in their lives and have overcome them to lead happy and productive lives. Suicide is never the answer.
We hope you will consider becoming an active participant in this important conversation. If you are interested in learning more about the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention, please contact Steve Wade at steve@bianh.org or Robin Schell at rschell@jjwpr.com or (603) 770-3607.