Home » Santa Clarita News » Events » COC Kicks Off Mental Health Awareness With Shine A Light
The third annual suicide prevention event is taking place Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at COC’s Valencia campus, and it will include free pizza, as well as prize giveaways, to encourage participation.
This KHTS file photo shows 1,100 Chinese lanterns on COC's Honor Grove, one for each suicide committed by a college student nationally, at a recent campus event to raise awareness. COC, through its involvement in a communitywide task force on suicide prevention, hosts events to educate on the topic throughout the year.

COC Kicks Off Mental Health Awareness With Shine A Light

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, KHTS AM-1220 is promoting the resources available to Santa Clarita Valley residents who are seeking help, might be thinking about seeking help, or know someone who might be in need of help. City, college and county officials have been working together for months to discuss outreach methods for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. These stories, which will look at local agencies and resources, will also offer information at the bottom regarding phone numbers and warning signs for those who might be concerned for themselves or others. There are also groups available for those dealing with the trauma of losing someone to suicide.

It’s a situation COC officials, as well as their partners at the city of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County never want anyone to go through.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to 30 reported suicides last year, according to official statistics.

That’s the confirmed number. The even sadder reality, the total figure is probably even higher. Sometimes, there is no note or explanation. It’s not always clear in a drug overdose if the death was intentional.

Also on display, COC officials and volunteers will have 1,100 Chinese lanterns in the Honor Grove, each one representing a college student who committed suicide across the nation in 2014.

Also on display, COC officials and volunteers will have 1,100 Chinese lanterns in the Honor Grove, each one representing a college student who committed suicide across the nation in 2014.

And perhaps the most startling part of that number is that the highest percentage of suicides happen in the 15-24 age range; and nationally, it’s the third-leading cause of death in this group.

It’s a problem facing all communities, and all subsets of the population. In the Santa Clarita Valley, for example, the senior age population, 65-and-over, had the second highest percentage of suicides, according to health officials.

Suicide is an extremely difficult topic for most communities, because of all of the stigma attached to the issue, said Larry Schallert, assistant director for the Student Health & Wellness/Mental Health Program at College of the Canyons.

But that’s why College of the Canyons is welcoming everyone — not just its student population — to Shine a Light on Suicide Prevention & Awareness Event.

“If we can train and educate and inform, the hope is community members will feel comfortable taking  that extra step, asking those certain questions and encouraging to get help,” Schallert said. “Sometimes, that’s all you need to do.”

The third annual suicide prevention event is taking place Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at COC’s Valencia campus, and it will include free pizza, as well as prize giveaways, to encourage participation.

Also on display, COC officials and volunteers will have 1,100 Chinese lanterns displayed in the Honor Grove, each one representing a college student who committed suicide across the nation in 2014.

The college is also inviting nationally renowned speaker Kathleen Snyder, an expert in suicide prevention and community training. She’ll be speaking from 2:30-4 p.m. in Aliso Hall 101 on Wednesday.

The college is also inviting nationally renowned speaker Kathleen Snyder, an expert in suicide prevention and community training. She’ll be speaking from 2:30-4 p.m. in Aliso Hall 101 on Wednesday.

COC’s Cougar Peer Counselors are also going to be on hand to encourage their fellow students to become involved.

The community outreach has been a concerted, coordinated effort with help from numerous other resources, Schallert said, including Santa Clarita city resources, the SCV Child & Family Center, the county’s Mental Health Department, the Sheriff’s Station and Henry Mayo, and the whole idea is to empower the community, as well as let them know about the resources available.

It’s not just about prevention and intervention, he said, but the college also wants to make people aware of the “postvention” services, meaning how to deal with the tragic aftermath.

“We’re out there to tell them where help is,” Schallert said. “We’re going to be educating about recognizing the warning signs of suicide, where the resources are and how they can get them.”

The college is also inviting nationally renowned speaker Kathleen Snyder, an expert in suicide prevention and community training. She’ll be speaking from 2:30-4 p.m. in Aliso Hall 101 on Wednesday.

“If we can get the whole community to kind of think that way, that, ‘Hey, you’re a gatekeeper, if you can see (a warning sign), say something; listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance, encouragement and offer professional help,’” Schallert said. “And if they know where the resources are… they can always call the suicide hotline.”

 Here are some Suicide Warning Signs to look out for, courtesy of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) :

  •        Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
  •        Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun
  •        Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
  •        Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
  •        Talking about being a burden to others
  •        Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
  •        Acting anxious or agitated, behaving recklessly
  •        Sleeping too little or too much
  •        Withdrawing or feeling isolated
  •        Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
  •        Displaying extreme moods

Here are several contacts and information regarding suicide and mental health resources:

In the event of an emergency, 911 should always be the first call.

Those looking to speak with someone can call 1-800-273-8255, for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; 1-800-854-7771, for The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; and 1-800-784-2433, for The Treatment Advocacy Center. You can contact the SCV Child & Family Center at 661-259-9439. The phone number for the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project is 661-257-9688.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

COC Kicks Off Mental Health Awareness With Shine A Light

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.