NAMI California Logo
September 2019
September is Suicide Prevention Month

If someone listens,
or stretches out a hand,
or whispers a word of encouragement,
or attempts to understand a lonely person,
extraordinary things begin to happen .
– Loretta Girzartis

We all work to shift the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention.

 This month is about prevention-- suicide prevention:

  • September is National Suicide Prevention Month;

  • September 8 - 14 is Suicide Prevention Week; and

  • September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.
Know the Signs
  • talking about death or suicide
  • seeking out the methods
  • talking about having no reason to live

Find the Words
  • tell the person you care
  • listen actively
  • express empathy
  • determine if there are definite intentions

Reach for Help





Ask direct questions
Listen to the answers
Do a safety check
Do not keep this secret
Ensure the person gets professional help
Follow up and maintain contact


What you can do this month:
  • Start volunteering for prevention or crisis organizations

  • Raise awareness and spread the word on social media

  • Create a supportive video then use the hashtags #suicideispreventable #800273TALK #LETITOUT
Upcoming Events
Preventing Suicide in the Latino Community

This PTTC webinar will provide an overview of suicide prevention with the intention of encouraging participants to be available to prevent suicide within the people they interact with. Suicide prevention resources that are easy to implement and culturally based practices that have proven to work in the efforts of preventing suicide will be discussed.

Tuesday, September 17
2:00 to 3:30 p.m ET
Presenter: Diana Rosado, ICP
Focus Group for Families

NAMI California is now recruiting participants for a focus group representing family and loved ones who have lived experiences with mental health conditions. Your feedback will increase the understanding of experiences of family members supporting loved ones with a mental health condition.

 Saturday, September 14
1:30 to 3:30 p.m
San Jose
Family & Peer Support Specialist Training
The Family/Peer Support Specialist training program gives participants an opportunity learn educational skills such as Recovery Model and Trauma Informed Care.

All webinar sessions are guided by trained presenters and provide opportunities for live interaction.

The training series begins on September 24.

For questions and more information contact
Vikie Cole at [email protected]
Cultural and Linguistic Competence Training

This three-part webinar series aims to equip NAMI members, affiliates, and community members with tools and resources to engage diverse communities.

Webinars may be attended as a three-part series or individually, depending on the participants needs or the needs and interest of your organization.

Friday, September 27
1:30 to 4:00 p.m.

California Advocacy Network

NAMI CAN calls are designed to share legislative updates with affiliates and community members. These calls are open to anyone interested in mental health advocacy. We also like to hear about local updates during the monthly CAN calls. 
TOPIC:
Suicide Prevention Month

Monday, September 30
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Grow Your Grassroots:
Latinx Communities
and Mental Health
Grow Your Grassroots webinars are designed to provide NAMI Affiliates and other mental health organizations with tools to reflect and improve on current community outreach strategies in reaching diverse communities. This month's webinar will focus on mental health among Latinx communities. 

Wednesday, October 9
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

October Trainings
Peer-to-Peer
Mentor Training

October 26 - 27, 2019
Solano County
Mental Health 101 Coordinator Webinar Training

Wednesday, October 16
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Family-to-Family
Teacher Training

October 18 - 20, 2019
Santa Barbara
Recent News
Interview with Dr. Thomas Insel

As key advisor to Governor Newsom on mental health, Dr. Thomas Insel is helping lead California in addressing behavioral health challenges. 
Updates from Behavioral Health Action
Suicide hotline on student ID cards

New California law (SB 972, Portantino) requires schools to add the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line to student identification cards for those in middle and high school.
Increasing mental health services in county jails

Sen. Tom Umberg is pushing a bill that would expand mental health treatment options available in county jails, according to Voice of OC.  
Orange County officials are among those backing the bill, calling jails "de facto mental health hospitals.”
LA scraps jail and plans to focus on mental health treatment 

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted last week to cancel a $1.7 billion contract to build a new men's jail facility.  The goal is to formulate "a plan for how best to design and build a facility or network of facilities specifically designed to meet the county’s growing need for mental health services" according to Matt Stiles, Los Angeles Times staff writer.