Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program
Our mental health is just as important as our physical health to our overall well-being, and are often closely intertwined. At Siskiyou County Public Health, we aim to take a public health approach to mental health by providing resources, helping people engage with self-care, working to reduce stigma, and increasing protective factors in our community. Through prevention, early intervention, and care navigation, we can positively impact the mental health of our community members.
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately.
- Call 911,
- Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or
- Call the local hotline at 1-800-842-8979.
Our Suicide Prevention Strategy
Siskiyou County is one of 13 counties in the state that has both a self-harm and suicide rate higher than the overall state rate. As a result, we have identified three key strategies to prevent suicide and self-harm in our community:
- Increase awareness of mental health and wellness, recognition of warning signs and risk factors, and how to respond to warning signs.
- Increase protective factors in our community, including distributing handgun/medication lockboxes.
- Identify and support people at risk by making training available to the community.
For Our Community Members
Understanding your mental health is the first step in improving it. Below are various online self-assessments that can help you better understand your mind and if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
UW Forefront Suicide Prevention created the LEARN Steps. This five-step process can help you talk with someone you’re worried about, learn if they are considering suicide, and take early steps to keep them safe.
Siskiyou Safer Homes Project
The Siskiyou Safer Homes Project is an initiative aimed at addressing the issue of elevated deaths by firearms in Siskiyou County. By focusing on promoting and educating about firearm safety and responsible storage practices, such as using storage devices including lockboxes or trigger locks, the aim is to reduce access to firearms during moments of crisis.
This proactive approach not only addresses the immediate risk of firearm-related fatalities but also allows for other intervention methods to be implemented before loss of life occurs. The project contributes to creating a safer environment for individuals and communities by raising awareness and providing education and resources for safer firearm storage.
Our program can provide several resources to support you and your mental health:
- Lockboxes to safely store your handguns and medications
- Cable locks and trigger locks for firearms
- Wallet-size mental health support hotline call cards
- Safety Plans Work [PDF]
- Resources for Immediate Response [link]
LEARN Saves Lives-Suicide Prevention Steps [PDF]
For Our Community Partners
Interested in how your organization can help promote mental health and suicide prevention in our community? Our program can provide the following:
- Posters promoting 988, mental health self-care tips, and prevention information
- Tear-away safety plan pads
- For middle and high school staff, email us to learn how you can access free online suicide prevention training
For more information, or to request resources, call us at 530-841-2134 or email us at phinfo@co.siskiyou.ca.us
Contact Information
Shelly Davis, MN BSN-RN PHN CCHP
Director, Public Health Division
Aaron Stutz, MD FAAEM CCHP
Public Health Officer
810 South Main St.
Yreka, CA 96097
Phone: 530-841-2134
Fax: 530-841-4094
phinfo@co.siskiyou.ca.us
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday