Community Counseling Center recognizing Suicide Prevention Month
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Community Counseling Center employees are spreading awareness in September, as it is Suicide Prevention Month.
Missouri is ranked 19th in the United States for suicide rates, making Missouri suicide rates consistently higher than those in the United States.
“The statistics just continue to rise, and so it’s very important,” said Michelle Ramsey, executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation. “It’s kind of one of those subjects that’s been taboo, and because of all the work that we’ve done, not just us but around the world, it’s finally becoming something that people talk about.”
Heather Williams is the Program Manager with the Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders team with the Community Counseling Center.
“It impacts everyone in one way or another,” said Williams. “I think having Suicide Prevention Month normalizes some of that.”
Williams says the most impactful way to help someone experiencing these thoughts, is to educate yourself. She recommends the free online training provided by Ask. Listen. Refer. to be able to recognize the signs of suicide.
“I think it’s important for us to do that because a lot of individuals want to help somebody whose experiencing suicidal thoughts and they may not know how, or they may be afraid they will say the wrong thing,” said Williams.
To celebrate recovery efforts Community Counseling Center is having an event, the 2023 Recoveryfest in Capaha Park this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shelter 1.
