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Introduction
Health Care For
Homeless Veterans
Florida Assertive
Community Treatment
Helping Hands
Clinic
Veterans Video
Network
Mental Health
Intensive Case Management
Crisis
Intervention Team
Assisted Living
Facilities
National Alliance
On Mental Illnesses
Alachua County
Survivors Of Suicide and Alachua County Crisis Center
Mental Health
Court
Acknowledgements |
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Suicide is one of the most tragic events a family and a community
can experience. Suicide ranks third as the leading cause of death
among young Americans ages fifteen to twenty-four. In 2003, there
were 2,294 suicide deaths in Florida. This is higher than Florida’s
HIV related deaths (1,742) and the total homicides (1,004) within
that same year. There were thirty-seven suicides in Alachua County
in 2003, which is up from twenty-eight suicides in 2001.
Unfortunately, stigma attached to suicide and mental illness works
against suicide prevention. Government officials are recognizing the
need for intervention. At a gathering in the state capital, Governor
Jeb Bush proclaimed March 30, 2005 as Florida Suicide Prevention
Day. On that day, he announced a significant step toward preventing
suicide called the Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy (FSPS). The
goal of this initiative is to reduce the incidence of suicide by one
third by the end of 2010. The strategy is designed to serve as both
a guide and action agenda to reduce suicide in Florida, to have a
lasting impact in bringing suicide to the forefront as a public
issue, and over time to save thousands of lives that would otherwise
be taken by their own hands.
It has been estimated that each person who dies by suicide leaves
behind an average of six loved ones or “survivors.” The need for
support during this time of crisis and in the long-term is
tremendous. In Alachua County, survivors of suicide meet at the
Alachua County Crisis Center.
The Alachua County Crisis Center offers a wide range of services
including a twenty-four hour crisis line, a mobile emergency
outreach team, counseling during regular business hours, community
wide debriefings in response to trauma, a twenty-four hour rumor
control hotline, and after hours victim advocacy. The victim
advocacy program provides immediate response to victims as well as
offers support and assistance in the hospital, during law
enforcement interviews and during any legal proceedings. The
Center’s commitment to the community extends beyond its direct
service to individuals in need. Each year, the Center also conducts
hundreds of workshops, lectures, and other educational programs,
which typically focus on topics such as suicide and crisis.
For more information on suicide statistics and the Florida Suicide
Prevention Strategy visit
www.floridasuicideprevention.org
For information about Crisis Center volunteer opportunities contact:
Dana Myers, the Alachua County Crisis Center Training Director
352-264-6779 or visit http://crisiscenter.alachua.fl.us/
For information on the Survivors of Suicide meeting times contact
Marcia Brant, facilitator at 352-264-678
If you are in crisis, call 1-800-SUICIDE and you will be
automatically connected to the Alachua County Crisis Center.
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