Suicide: Someone you know may be considering it.

Sadly, there is a connection between suicide and gun violence. In 2014 alone, Colorado had the 7th highest suicide rate in the nation. In that year, 1,058 Coloradans took their own lives. Guns accounted for half of those deaths.  Colorado is consistently among the ten states with the highest suicide rates nationally.

Come to Congregation Har HaShem on Sunday November 13, 2-4 pm  to learn more from an expert panel that will discuss suicide and the role of guns as the single most frequent cause of suicide deaths.

The diverse panel includes: Jarrod Hindman, Violence and Suicide Prevention Section Manager, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Andrew Romanoff, President & CEO of Mental Health Colorado. Past Speaker of the Colorado State House; Jenny Hecht, Therapist and Coordinator of Boulder County Sources of Strength youth risk prevention program; and Melodi Billera, Clinical/Research Social Worker, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for VA Suicide Prevention, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The panelists will provide information about suicide risk factors and warning signs, and discuss steps we can take to help prevent suicide. Information about community resources will also be available.

This program was organized by Congregation Bonai Shalom’s Working Group on Gun Violence Prevention and is co-sponsored by nine local faith communities and organizations: Congregation Bonai Shalom; Congregation Har HaShem; Interfaith Network on Mental Illness; St. John’s Episcopal Church; Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence; Mental Health Colorado; Congregation Nevei Kodesh; CU Boulder Hillel; and Jewish Family Service.

Har HaShem is located at 3950 Baseline Road, Boulder.

For further information, contact Stephanie Greenberg at research@swgreenberg.com.