Suicide and Violence Prevention Program

Due to COVID-19,

Healthy Communities programs are providing virtual community trainings or events at this time. Thank you.

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The Suicide and Violence Prevention Program is focused on primary prevention and does not provide direct client services. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please contact 911, the local Behavioral Health 24-hour crisis line at 707-445-7715 or the following free, confidential, 24/7 hotlines:

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or message on Facebook.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800-273-TALK (8255) or live chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or live chat at thehotline.org.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or live chat at rainn.org.
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Text or call 1800-422-4453 or live chat at childhelp.org/childhelp-hotline/.
Teen Dating Violence Hotline: text “LOVEIS” to 22522, call 866-331-9474, or live chat at loveisrespect.org.

For more information on national, state and local resources, see the Resources section, below.

The Suicide and Violence Prevention Program concentrates on implementing primary prevention and early intervention strategies aimed at the reduction of suicide and violence in Humboldt County.

In 2019, the Suicide Prevention and Family Violence Prevention programs combined to create the Suicide and Violence Prevention (SVP) Program. This merging aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health recommendations about preventing suicide and violence. Both agencies published reports stating that these public health problems share significant risk and protective factors, and require a coordinated, multi-sector approach.

The SVP Program is funded by the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63), the ACEs Aware Initiative (Proposition 56) and CalWORKs.

Current Projects

Humboldt County Suicide Fatality Review

Coordinate and conduct suicide fatality reviews to identify data-driven suicide prevention recommendations that reduce the number of suicide deaths in Humboldt County.

Community Collaboration

Community partners from multiple sectors work together to increase the collective impact through involvement in key coalitions including Suicide Prevention Network, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council Prevention Committee and Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council.

Prevention and Early Intervention Training

Offers evidence-and practiced-based trainings for direct service providers, paraprofessionals, firearm owners and community members to recognize and respond to warning signs of suicide and violence. Offerings include suicide prevention trainings, Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) and LivingWorks Start and a series of domestic violence prevention trainings.

Lethal Means Safety

Focus on preventing overdose, injury and suicide through the Keep It Safe campaign, Lockbox Distribution Program, Gun Shop Project and Lethal Means Safety training.

Social Marketing

Use marketing concepts to design and implement suicide and violence prevention messaging campaigns to share resources that increase awareness, build knowledge and encourage positive behavior change.