>> SUPPORT FOR "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT"IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," CALTRANS HAS FINISHED THE FIRST PHASE OF ITS PROJECT TO IMPROVE AND MAKE SAFER THE INDIANOLA CUTOFF ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 101.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE.

ALSO, WE INTERVIEW TWO FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO REDUCE AND PREVENT SUICIDES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS THIS WEEK ON MAKING THE MEANS TO DO SO LESS ACCESSIBLE TO AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

ONE LOCAL ISSUE OF CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE HEADLINES ALMOST PRECISELY AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN A REPORTER HERE IS INDIANOLA CUTOFF.

IN 2001, FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST ASSIGNMENTS, A SEDAN HAD MADE A CALIFORNIA STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF INDIANOLA ROAD AND THE HIGHWAY, SLOWING, BUT NOT STOPPING, TRYING TO BEAT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE VEHICLE CLOSE, BUT IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO STOP.

THE T-BONE COLLISION THAT ENSUED ULTIMATELY LEFT FOUR PEOPLE DEAD, THEIR NECKS SNAPPED BY THE FORCE OF THIS FEROCIOUS CRASH.

SHARDS OF SAFETY GLASS AND BASEBALL CARDS LITTERED THE ROAD WHEN I ARRIVED WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER IN TOW.

IT WAS SURREAL, A LATE AFTERNOON TRANSITIONING INTO EVENING AND I REMEMBER THAT THE THOUGHT OF TAKING NOTES SEEMED UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.

MY PEN HAD GREEN INK.

AN EFFORT BEGAN THAT VERY WEEK TO DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING, THAT WOULD MAKE THIS DEADLY INTERSECTION MORE SAFE FOR THE MANY MOTORISTS WHO PASSED IT EVERY YEAR.

THEY SLOWED PEOPLE DOWN, MADE IT A DOUBLE-FINE ZONE, ISSUED COUNTLESS TRAFFIC TICKETS, DOING WHAT THEY COULD TO MITIGATE THE RISK.

BUT THE BIG FIX, THE LONG GAME, WAS YEARS OUT AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT.

WELL, MORE THAN TWO DECADES LATER, PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT IS NOW COMPLETE, AND THE SECOND PHASE IS SET TO START.

THE GEARS OF GOVERNMENT MAY GRIND SLOW, BUT THEY DO WORK, AS LONG AS THE MONEY IS THERE.

LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST JONATHAN ABIDARI AND ELIZABETH ROSE-MARINI TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF SUICIDE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE ITS LIKELIHOOD BY KEEPING THE MEANS UNDER BETTER CONTROL.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

AT THIS WEEK'S EUREKA CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE COUNCIL HEARD FROM STAFF ON ITS HOMELESS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND THE SUCCESS THEY'VE HAD THAT'S BEEN NOTICED BY THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRAND JURY.

THE GRAND JURY ISSUED A REPORT EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT THE COUNTY'S HOMELESS PROGRAMS, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND THE STREETS: WHAT WORKS?

IN THAT REPORT, THE GRAND JURY REPEATEDLY POINTED TO EFFORTS MADE IN THE CITY OF EUREKA AND HOW THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN THE FIELD.

EUREKA MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN JACOB ROSEN TOLD THE COUNCIL THE CITY'S SUCCESS HINGES ON THE WILLINGNESS OF THE EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO STAY ENGAGED ON THIS ISSUE AND WORK WITH ANYONE WILLING TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THE EXISTING PROGRAMS NEED MORE SECURE FUNDING, HE SAID, BUT THE EFFORT IS MAKING PROGRESS.

>> I'M TEARING UP.

WHEN I FIRST LANDED IN THIS COUNTY, I WAS DOING OUTREACH WITH YOUTH ON THE STREETS AND I SAW TOO MANY PEOPLE RUN RIGHT UP AGAINST A WALL.

AND JUST TO KNOW THAT THE WORK THE CITY'S DOING TO REMOVE THOSE WALL AND TO GIVE PEOPLE A HAND UP OF SOME REALLY DESPERATE TIMES IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF WORK I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING.

THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS MARGINALLY AWARE OF, WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING PRIOR TO MY ELECTION AND THEN HAVE BECOME SO MUCH MORE AWARE OF ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE INVOLVED IN AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND IT'S SO REMARKABLE TO ME THAT SUCH A SMALL CITY IS DOING SO MUCH IN THIS AREA.

AND IT IS UNIQUE.

IT'S TRULY UNIQUE.

AND IT'S ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS AND COMMANDER LA FRANCE AND THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZED THIS.

AND I THINK IT IS REALLY SOMETHING JUST TO KIND OF SEE HOW YOU GUYS HAVE CREATED THIS WARM, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK LIKE THIS TRYING TO KIND OF WRAP PEOPLE IN A BLANKET, SENSE OF SAFETY AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND TO KIND OF MAKE PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A NET AND THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM.

SO I JUST FREQUENTLY BRAG ON OUR STAFF HERE BECAUSE YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE AND YOU THINK, WOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME, BUT I JUST DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> CALL TRANSHAS FINISHED THE FIRST PHASE OF ITS LONG-RUNNING PROJECT TO MAKE THE INDIANOLA CUTOFF AND SURROUNDING HIGHWAY SAFER FOR MOTORISTS.

THE EUREKA-ARCATA U.S. 101 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS INITIALLY CONCEIVED FOLLOWING A HIGH NUMBER OF FATAL AND INJURY COLLISIONS AT THE SITE, INCLUDING A FOUR-PERSON FATALITY IN 2001.

AFTER MANY YEARS, MUCH BUREAUCRATIC WRANGLING AND A MOUNTAIN OF HARD WORK, THE FIRST PHASE IS FINISHED.

THE SECOND PHASE BEGAN THIS WEEK AND, OF COURSE, IT COMES WITH NEW TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS, AS ANYONE DRIVING THAT WAY THIS WEEK WILL HAVE NOTICED.

THE INDIANOLA CUTOFF MEDIAN IS NOW CLOSED, RESTRICTING SOUTHBOUND ACCESS.

MOTORISTS CAN STILL REACH THE INDIANOLA CUTOFF FROM THE NORTHERN SIDE.

THIS CHANGE WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.

ULTIMATELY, BY THE END OF 2025, A NEW BRIDGE WILL BE IN PLACE AND AN EXTENDED INDIANOLA CUTOFF WILL RUN BENEATH IT, NO MORE INTERSECTION.

HERE'S A PROJECT UPDATE AND DESCRIPTION FROM CALTRANS FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> TODAY WE ARE OUT HERE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR THE INDIANOLA UNDERCROSSING PROJECT.

WE HAVE COMPLETED STAGE ONE OF CONSTRUCTION, BEHIND ME YOU SEE THE NORTHBOUND DETOUR, WHERE EXISTING NORTHBOUND ALIGNMENT AND TRAFFIC HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO THE EAST AND NOW WE WILL BEGIN STAGE TWO OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT.

IN STAGE TWO OF CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE GOING DO A FEW THINGS.

ONE OF THOSE IS CONTINUE INSTALLATION OF CONCRETE COLUMNS INTO THE GROUND TO STRENGTHEN THE SOIL.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THEM PLACED WITH 40% REMAINING.

WE WILL BE REMOVING THE EXISTING NORTHBOUND LANING I'M STANDING ON TODAY.

WE WILL PLACE FILL FOR THE EMBANKMENT FOR THE APPROACHES TO THE STRUCTURE AND BEGIN WORK ON THE STRUCTURE FOUNDATION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF TWO-FOOT DIAMETER CONCRETE PILES 90 FEET IN DEPTH AND PLACING 120 OF THEM.

LAST YEAR WE CLOSED THE WESTBOUND INDIANOLA MOVEMENT TURNING SOUTHBOUND ON TO 101.

WE WILL CLOSE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1, THE SOUTHBOUND 101 MOVEMENT TURNING LEFT ON TO INDIANOLA GOING IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION.

WITH ALL THE ACTIVITY IN THE MEDIAN, LARGE EQUIPMENT, WORK ON THE EMBANKMENTS AND PLACING FILL, WORK ON THE STRUCTURE'S FOUNDATION, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISTRACTION AND IMPEDIMENTSES FOR VISIBILITY FOR SITE DISTANCE.

FOR THE INTEREST OF SAFETY WE WILL CLOSE THAT.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE SPEED LIMIT FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR WORKERS.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION UPDATES AS THE PROJECT UNFOLDS AND WE ARE GLAD TO BRING THIS CRUCIAL SAFETY PROJECT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> THANK YOU NORTH COAST JOURNAL READERS.

WE ARE HONORED TO BE VOTED HUMBOLDT'S BEST TELEVISION STATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KEET, YOUR PBS STATION FOR THE NORTH COAST OF CALIFORNIA.

>> THANK YOU.

HEY PARENTS, BRING YOUR KIDS TO OUR EXCITING MAKE IT FLOAT WORK SOP SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15 AT 10 A.M. AT THE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER IN EUREKA.

WE WILL KICK THINGS OFF WITH THE KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY, LEONARDO DI VINCI.

STICK AROUND FOR MORE AWESOME DA VINCI ACTIVITIES.

REGISTER AT KEET.ORG.

SUPPORT FOR "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT"IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU, JONATHAN.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY DOESN'T RANK VERY WELL IN TERMS OF SUICIDE.

WE HAVE A RELATIVELY HIGH NUMBER OF SUICIDE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY?

>> WE RANK HIGH IN SUICIDE.

ONE IS THE REMOTENESS OF THE COUNTY MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVING IN SITUATIONS THAT WOULD HELP THEM GET THROUGH A SUICIDE CRISIS WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.

THAT IS PART OF THE REASON.

>> YEAH.

ANOTHER PART OF THE REASON, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY DEPRESSED ECONOMY SO THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES PEOPLE ENCOUNTER UNIQUE TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY THAT MAY MOVE THAT UPWARDS.

THE BIGGEST THING THAT CONTRIBUTES IS SUICIDE DEATH BY FIREARM.

IT MAKES UP HALF OF OUR SUICIDE DEATHS WHICH IS A TREND THAT HOLDS TRUE NATIONALLY.

>> YOU GUYS ARE DOING A PROGRAM TO HOPEFULLY BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

I WANT TO GET THERE IN A SECOND, FIRST, ELIZABETH -- >> YEAH.

>> YOU WORK WITH THE VA. >> I DO.

>> WHAT IS THE VA'S ROLE IN THIS WORK AND IS IT NATIONAL OR SPECIFIC TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND WHAT IS THE VA CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> WELL, SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR VETERANS REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE CLINICAL PRIORITY SIMPLY FOR THE REASON THAT VETERANS, WELL, IN TERMS OF NATIONAL STATISTICS, ABOUT TWICE AS LIKELY TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> WOW.

>> HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY VETERANS WHO LIVE HERE, THEY WERE FROM HERE IN THE BEGINNING OR WANT TO MOVE HERE AFTER THEY DISCHARGE FROM THE SERVICE, IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAT.

IT IS DOUBLE, AGAIN, WHAT THE NATIONAL RATE.

UNFORTUNATELY, HERE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY IT IS ABOUT SIX AND A HALF TIMES THE RATE OF THE STATE.

WE ARE A FAIRLY SMALL POPULATION COUNTY.

THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT ANY ONE IS ONE DEATH TOO MANY.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

MY POSITION, WE ARE ALL ACROSS THE NATION IN EVERY AREA THAT THE VA SERVES AND INTERNATIONALLY, WE HAVE PEOPLE, I HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO COVER HAWAII, GUAM, AND THE MARSHAL ISLANDS.

WE ARE TRYING TO HELP COMMUNITIES ADDRESS THIS.

WE HAVE CLINICIANS INTERNALLY WHEN VETERANS COME TO US IN NEED OR AS A RESULT OF A HOSPITALIZATION WHO NEED HELP.

BUT WHERE IT IS HAPPENING REALLY IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> WE ONLY SEE NATIONWIDE ABOUT 63% OF ALL VETERANS AT THE VA.

THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS FOR THAT, SOME ARE GOOD, SOME ARE NOT SO GOOD.

HERE IN OUR COUNTY WE ONLY SEE ABOUT 30% >> WOW.

>> YEAH.

>> ONLY 30% OF THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES THEY ARE OWED, BASICALLY.

>> YEAH.

SO, OF COURSE, ONE, WE WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT.

IN A COUNTY THAT HAS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT JONATHAN MENTIONED, PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULTY BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY RURAL ACCESSING SERVICES, WE WANT TO EDUCATE AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY CLINICS, MAKE SURE THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT THE VETERAN POPULATION.

PARTICULARLY THE ISSUE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, KEEPING MEANS SAFER, PARTICULARLY WITH FIRE ARMS BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE AND AMONG, ESPECIALLY MALE VETERANS, IT IS ABOUT 75% OF THE CHOICE THAT THEY MAKE TO END THEIR LIVES.

>> ON THAT FRONT THEN, YOU GUYS HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET GUN SAFES FOR THEMSELVES FOR FREE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT IS CALLED THE KEEP IT SAFE PROGRAM.

IT IS A JOINT OPERATION BETWEEN MY PROGRAM WHICH IS SUICIDE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND ANOTHER HEALTH PROGRAM, SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM.

WE ASK THE PUBLIC, ANYONE WHO WANTS A LOCK BOX, TAKE A SURVEY.

IT IS A QUICK DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND TAKES 30 SECONDS AND THEY CAN WALL AWAY WITH A LOCK BOX.

IT IS T SA AND CALIFORNIA JUSTICE FOR STORING A FIREARM.

ONE IS PUTTING TIME AND DISTANCE BETWEEN A PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING A SUICIDAL CRISIS AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THEY MIGHT ATTEMPT TO TAKE THEIR LIFE CAN IN AND OF ITSELF BE A FACTOR THAT CAUSES THEM TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

>> SECOND THOUGHTS.

PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECONSIDER.

>> THE MORE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE PERSON AND THE METHOD THEY HAVE CHOSEN, THE MORE TIME THEY HAVE TO RECONSIDER.

WE LIKE THESE LOCKING DEVICES.

THEY COME WITH A KEY BECAUSE IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEBODY THINKS OR MAYBE THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR LIFE CAN SUPPORT THEM AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY, THEY CAN HAND THE KEYS TO ANOTHER PERSON TO HOLD ON TO THEM UNTIL SUCH TIME THEY CAN TAKE IT BACK AND FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AGAIN.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AS ELIZABETH WAS SAYING, CLINICS, COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS AND FIREARM RETAILERS AND RANGES WHO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THESE LOCK BOXES.

BALLISTIC OUTFITTERS, ACE HARDWARE IN FORTUNA, WE WORKED WITH KEVIN CHRISTY WHO MANAGES ACE HARDWARE IN EUREKA TO ATTEND ONE OF THE NRA BENEFIT DINNERS.

WE HAVE HAD STRONG PARTNERSHIP FROM OUR FIREARM COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THEY STAND WITH US IN EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIREARM OWNERSHIP.

NOT JUST FIREARM OWNERS, BUT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> I WAS BASICALLY GOING ASK THAT.

IF YOU HAVE A PISTOL OR A GUN AND YOU WANT TO KEEP IT SAFE, IT IS NOT JUST IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING BE SUICIDAL.

IT IS SO NO ONE ELSE CAN ACCESS YOUR GUN AND THAT TAKES THAT OPTION OFF THE TABLE FOR ANYONE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS NOT ONLY FOR THE GUN OWNER, BUT ANYONE ELSE IN THE HOUSEHOLD OR HAS ACCESS TO THE HOUSEHOLD.

SECURE STORAGE IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE CONSIDER YOUTH SUICIDE.

THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS A MAJORITY OF YOUTH SUICIDES ARE ATTEMPTED OR END IN A DEATH WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S FIREARM.

IF THEY ARE DONE BY FIREARM, THAT IS.

THAT IS USUALLY A FAMILY MEMBER'S GUN SO SECURE STORAGE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON THAT LEVEL AS WELL.

>> THERE IS THE OTHER LETHAL MEANS PREVALENT IS MEDICATIONS AND STUFF.

>> MM-HMM.

>> IF YOU HAVE NARCOTICS OR SLEEPING MEDICATION, THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING -- DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER FOLKS IN THAT REGARD?

>> WE DO.

COLLECTIVELY, A LOT MORE OF THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY FALLS ON JONATHAN'S SIDE BECAUSE HE IS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WHEREAS I ONLY WORK FOR ONE AGENCY.

IT SO HAPPENS OUR POPULATIONS HAVE A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS TO THIS PROBLEM WE ARE DISCUSSING.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN USE THE LOCK BOXES FOR SAFELY LOCKING UP MEDICATIONS.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TAKEBACK PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT PHARMACIES.

OUR CLINIC HAS ONE.

PRETTY MUCH ANY CLINIC IN HUMBOLDT HAS ONE, YOU CAN TAKE OLD, EXPIRED, OR NO LONGER USING MEDICATIONS THERE.

FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION BECAUSE OF JONATHAN'S PROGRAM WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY LOCK BOXES TO OUR HOMELESS VETERANS TO KEEP THEIR MEDICATIONS SECURE IF THEY ARE IN A ROOMMATE SITUATION AS THEY GO THROUGH THE HOUSING PROGRAM.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER THING, LIKE WITH THE GUNS, KEEPING THESE THINGS SECURE ISN'T JUST ABOUT SUICIDE, ALTHOUGH THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE DIRECTED RIGHT NOW.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IT IS SOUND PRACTICE TO PREVENT SO MANY DOWNSTREAM CATASTROPHES, RIGHT?

>> YES.

EXACTLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE TRY TO EMPHASIZE OUR WORK IS IN THE PREVENTION CATEGORY, TRYING TO PREVENT THINGS UPSTREAM OF A CRISIS ACTUALLY OCCURRING.

IF WE CAN MAKE SURE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD GO INTO A DEATH HAPPENING ARE NOT THERE, WE CAN PREVENT THAT DEATH MAYBE BEFORE CRISIS ARRIVES IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

IF THE COMMUNITY IS PRACTICING THESE THINGS TOGETHER.

>> YEAH.

NOW ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, JONATHAN, I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THERE IS A MULTIPERSON TEAM WITHIN THE COUNTY DEDICATED TO THIS WORK.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE KIND OF WORK YOU GUYS DO BROADLY TO REDUCE SUICIDE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

>> SURE.

MY TEAM IS HUMBOLDT COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SUICIDE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAM.

I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

WE KIND OF SPECIALIZE IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

I SPECIALIZE MORE IN THE LETHAL MEANS SAFETY, LOCK BOX DISTRIBUTION ASPECT OF THINGS.

WE OFFER TRAININGS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.

AND THESE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE HOW TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF SUICIDE.

HOW TO HAVE A SUPPORTIVE CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE.

WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES YOU CAN REFER SOMEBODY TO THE THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A SUICIDAL CRISIS BUT HOW WE CAN BE A SUPPORT TO PEOPLE AND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT PEOPLE.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE MAY BE IN ISOLATED SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN'T NECESSARILY ACCESS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR SUPPORT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, LEARN AND PRACTICE WAYS OF SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

>> YOU GUYS ARE BOTH AS PART OF THE SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK.

ELIZABETH, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS AND HOW IT SORT OF GETS MORE THAN ONE AGENCY INVOLVED AND MAKES A COLLECTIVE EFFORT?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I HAD PREVIOUSLY COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK WITH MY ORIGINAL JOB WITH THE VA DOING HOMELESS SERVICES.

WHEN I MOVED TO THE COORDINATOR POSITION I GOT TO COME ON MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY.

IT IS A LARGE ORGANIZATION.

I HAVE A HARD TIME THINKING OF ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION IN IT.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR CLINIC PROVIDERS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER AGENCIES LIKE OUR YOUTH AGENCIES COME TOGETHER, WELL, EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR A GENERAL MEETING TO DISCUSS THINGS LIKE SOME OF THE INITIATIVES AND EVENTS YOU ARE GOING TALK ABOUT LATER, HOW TO MAKE THOSE HAPPEN, WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE THEM.

AS WELL AS TO LOOK AT THE WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE SAYING, RIGHT?

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF THE WORK WE NEED TO DO TOGETHER TO ADDRESS WHATEVER IS COMING UP, WHATEVER IS CHANGING AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THIPGS -- THINGS I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IS IT IN PARTICULAR SEGMENTES OF THE POPULATION?

WHAT ARE HIGH RISK SEGMENTES OF THE POPULATION.

>> THERE IS DISPARITY IN SUICIDE AMONG DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

SUICIDE RISK CAN'T BE NARROWED TO A DEMOGRAPHIC OR THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS.

PEOPLE WHO TAKE THEIR LIVES, ABOUT HALF HAVE A DIAGNOSED MENTAL ILLNESS AT THE TIME OF DYING BY SUICIDE OR MAKING A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.

IT IS HARD TO CATEGORIZE AND THAT MAKES SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION AND CRISIS DIFFICULT.

THERE ARE SIGNS PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING SUICIDE.

THEY DO TEND TO TALK ABOUT IT AND DO TEND TO MENTION IT.

THEY MAY GIVE DIRECT OR INDIRECT VERBAL CUES AND BEHAVIORAL CUES.

WHEN A PERSON IS GIVING AWAY VALUED POSSESSIONS.

IF THEY ARE NOT TAKING INTEREST IN HOBBIES THAT THEY USUALLY WOULD TAKE INTEREST IN.

THEY ARE STARTING TO MISS DEADLINES OR NOT PERFORM WELL AT WORK.

THEY ARE NOT HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, SO BASICALLY ISOLATION, WITHDRAWAL.

THESE KINDS OF THINGS, IF YOU SEE MULTIPLE THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENING, THAT IS WHEN WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONCERNED AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND ASK SOMEONE A DIRECT QUESTION IN THAT CONVERSATION OF WHETHER THEY ARE THINKING OF SUICIDE.

>> YEAH.

SO DON'T JUST SAY IS SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU.

GO AT IT?

>> ASK THAT QUESTION DIRECTLY.

ARE YOU THINKING OF SUICIDE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE IS A MYTH THAT WE THINK WE ARE SUGGESTING IT TO SOMEONE.

WE ARE NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS A RELIEF FOR THAT PERSON.

>> THAT IS QUESTION I HAD IS IT A RISK TO ASK SOMEBODY.

>> NO.

A LOT OF STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ON THAT AND AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE THERE IS NO REAL CORRELATION.

MOST PEOPLE REPORT BEING RELIEVED TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BE HONEST ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FEELING.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE TREMENDOUS PRESSURE PEOPLE ARE FEELING INTERNALLY TO THINK OF THIS AS A SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS.

>> YEAH.

>> TO HAVE SOMEONE SAY, LOOK, I'M WILLING TO HEAR THE MOST DIFFICULT THING YOU ARE WILLING TO TELL ANOTHER PERSON CAN BE A RELIEF AND THEY GENERALLY WILL TELL YOU.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER INTERESTING QUESTION.

IF SOMEONE SAYS THAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY MAY CONFIDE IN YOU, BUT STILL GOING AHEAD WITH THAT CONSIDERATION, WHAT CAN YOU DO THEN, JONATHAN?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN GIVE THEM A REFERRAL TO RESOURCES TO HELP.

SO WE DO TRY TO PROMOTE THE 988 SUICIDE CRISIS.

>> IF ANYONE HAS AN ISSUE, THEY ARE CONSIDERING SUICIDE OR KNOWS SOMEONE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> YOU CAN CALL POUND 988.

>> I THINK IT IS JUST 988.

>> JUST 988.

YEAH.

IT WAS CHOSEN TO THE SIMILARITY OF 911 AND FABLE TO REMEMBER.

THERE YOU CAN SPEAK WITH A TRAINED CRISIS COUNSELOR, 24 HOURS A DAY.

THAT IS A NATIONAL HOTLINE.

WE HAVE LOCAL RESOURCES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THAT PEOPLE CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES AND YOU CAN REFER SOMEONE TO.

BUT IN SOME SITUATIONS, A PERSON MAY NOT BE WILLING TO SPEAK TO RESOURCES OR THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS.

AGAIN, IF YOU ARE IN A REMOTE AREA, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE CONSIDERING SUICIDE, WHEN THEY ARE IN THAT MOMENT WITH YOU, THEY ARE SAFE.

THE CONVERSATION DOESN'T NEED TO BE ABOUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT RESOURCE OR HOW DO WE FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY, BUT HOW DO WE KEEP YOU SAFE FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL WE GET YOU TO THE BEST SOURCE OF HELP FOR YOU, RIGHT?

IT MAY NOT BE THE CRISIS HELP LINE.

IT MAY WELL BE.

THAT IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE WE WANT TO PROMOTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

IT IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND PUTS YOU IN TOUCH WITH A TRAINED COUNSELOR.

BUT PEOPLE STILL MAY NOT BE WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH THAT.

THEY MIGHT BE ISOLATED SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY AND THEY SAY I NEED TO SPEAK TO A CERTAIN PERSON FROM THEIR LIFE THEY CAN'T GET ACCESS TO.

IF IT IS THEIR FAITH LEADER, A FORMER TEACHER, IF IT IS JUST SOMEONE, AN OLD FRIEND THEY CAN'T TRAVEL THE DISTANCE TO SEE.

THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

BUILDING A TEAM TO SUPPORT SOMEBODY THEY HAVE AGENCY IN CHOOSING IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCE OF ACCESSING RESOURCES IN A TIMELY FASHION IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

>> AND POTENTIALLY SOMEONE THEY TRUST.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO CAN GET THROUGH AND NOT JUST A SURFACE, POLITE CONVERSATION, A LITTLE DEEPER THAN THAT.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EVENTS COMING UP FOR THE MONTH.

THERE IS THE HOLDING SPACE EVENT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TONIGHT AT GARBERVILLE TOWN SQUARE.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK ON SUNDAY AT THE ARCATA PLAZA.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT, ELIZABETH?

>> IT IS FROM 9:00 TO 1:00 AND GO TO AFSP.ORG.

IT IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT.

ONE, THE WALKING RAISES FUNS FOR AFSP, A PARTNER TO ALL OF US WHO DO SUICIDE PREVENTION WORK.

THEY DO A LOT OF RESEARCH.

THEY CREATE A LOT OF MATERIALS THEY GENEROUSLY PROVIDE TO EVERYONE ENGAGED IN THE WORK.

RAISING FUNDS TO CONTINUE THAT WORK IS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY TO ALL OF US.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY ALSO PUT TOGETHER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE THEY CAN BEGIN TO PROCESS AND HEAL.

THEY CAN HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.

WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS.

THERE'S MUSIC.

THERE'S SOME WONDERFUL EVENTS WHERE YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE HANG A TAG ON A TREE FOR THE GOOD WISHING FOR THAT PERSON.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THERE ARE SOME REALLY NICE COMMUNITY CONNECTION PARTS OF THAT EVENT.

>> ME MORIALIZING.

>> PEOPLE CAN BRING PICTURES AND PEOPLE MAKE COASTERS.

>> REGISTRATION BEGINS 9:00 A.M.

THIS SUNDAY, OPENING CEREMONY AT 10:00 A.M. WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

REAL QUICK, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HELP AND THEY DON'T HAVE, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO IF THEY ARE LIVING A NORMAL LIFE AND WANT TO HELP?

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD JOIN THE SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE WORK WE REDOING.

IT CONNECTS PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS BUT ALL INTERESTED IN DOING SUICIDE PREVENTION.

IF THEY START COMING TO NETWORK MEETINGS, THEY CAN SIGN UP AT THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY VIOLENCE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION WEBSITE, THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR THE SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK.

START COMING TO MEETINGS AND SOON ENOUGH, IF YOU HAVE THE WILL TO START WORKING, THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR YOU TO DO IT.

>> YOU CAN GET THERE FROM OUR WEBSITE.

>> THAT IS ALL OUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS VITAL WORK.

I DEEPLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FANTASTIC AND CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS, CHECK OUT OUR NEWEST NEON GALACTIC INTERVIEW WITH PSYCHOLOGIST DR. DEAN RADIN, WHOSE LONG-RUNNING EXPERIMENTAL WORK HAS PROVEN, WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF STATISTICAL CERTAINTY, THAT HUMANS CAN AND DO EXHIBIT ABILITIES LONG CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE.