Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has seen a promising response in
preventing youth suicide through its three-year partnership with SafeOregon,
an anonymous school safety tip program.

SafeOregon reported a 79 percent increase in the number of potential suicide
threats reported by students between June of 2018 and 2019. This is an
increase from the number of tips received during the first 18 months of the
program. Tips are submitted anonymously by students on the SafeOregon
website, by email, app, text or phone call.

“These tips have truly saved the lives of many students,” said Clackamas
County Sheriff Craig Roberts.

Clackamas County has the highest suicide rates in the tri-county region, with
young residents being particularly at-risk according to county officials. Sheriff
Roberts cites suicide as the second leading cause of death nationally for young
people ages 10-24 and sees the problem as an urgent concern at the local
level due to suicide rates in the county and throughout Oregon being higher
than the national average.

“It’s a significant public health issue,” said Galli Murray, Clackamas County
Suicide Prevention Coordinator.

The sheriff stated the issue has a statistically greater potential to impact
communities in the Mount Hood area and other rural parts of the county.
“Suicide rates are higher nationally in rural areas,” Roberts said. “There are
less services and more chance for isolation.”

Murray added that in addition to a lack of resources, increased access to
firearms and a stigma against seeking help as factors that increase rates in
rural communities. She urged people to speak out and assist at-risk
individuals to prevent suicide in the county.

Sheriff Roberts suggested students have a “check-in” conversation if they
encounter at-risk behavior from a fellow student.

“They could be that lifeline, that takes care of their fellow student and makes
that difficult call,” Roberts said.

“Part of the problem is we haven’t been intentional about having
conversations about youth suicide,” Murray added. “People don’t understand
the signals that indicate a person is at risk.”

Murray stated that across the county schools have implemented suicide
intervention and prevention programs to address the increasing rates of youth
suicide. At the community level Murray noted the Coalition for Suicide
Prevention encourages outreach and communication to eliminate gaps in
suicide prevention.

Sheriff Roberts added the sheriff’s office is taking a multidisciplinary approach
to address county suicide rates and has incorporated a team of clinicians in a
behavioral health unit focused on individuals experiencing mental health
crisis.

The CDC reports that more than half of the people who die by suicide do not
have a known mental health condition.

Clackamas County Behavioral Health’s website details the warning signs for
suicide as:
– Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
– Looking for a way to kill themselves, 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 their use of alcohol or drugs.
– Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
– Sleeping too little or too much.
– Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
– Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
– Displaying extreme mood swings.