East Idaho Moms is excited to feature Community Suicide Prevention as our Nonprofit Spotlight for September 2021. Eastern Idaho is fortunate to have a wealth of nonprofit and service organizations. By highlighting some of these groups, we hope to encourage moms and families to get involved and learn about all that our wonderful community has to offer.
Community Suicide Prevention (CSP) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to reduce suicide in Eastern Idaho Health Districts 6 and 7 through advocacy, collaboration, and education in best practices. CSP assists with anything related to suicide prevention, including mental health and addiction. Upstream suicide prevention, or that which helps to avoid “ever getting close to thinking that suicide is an option,” is a focus of the organization. The CSP also supports survivors impacted by loss due to suicide.
Core programs of CSP were developed to:
- Increase public awareness of suicide as a significant problem in the area
- Help provide leadership in coordinating suicide prevention activities
- Build ongoing partnerships with suicide prevention agencies and other stakeholders locally and nationally
- Give voice and support to individuals and families affected by suicide in the region
- Help remove the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness
- Develop additional resources for suicide prevention in Eastern Idaho
Community Suicide Prevention is run strictly by volunteers and its funds come from community donations, with fundraising events when Covid is not of concern. These events include a golf scramble lunch auction and run, a conference and memorial walk in September, and a Survivors of Suicide Loss Dinner in November. The organization assists with other community events throughout the year, including the offer of community support when suicides occur. Funds also help with projects like the Angel Hope Bench that is located in an Aspen Grove of Kate Curley park in Idaho Falls. There will soon be another bench in Rigby, and the CSP plans for others in Pocatello and Blackfoot.
Currently, CSP meets in person at the Community Youth in Action (CYA) building to discuss events, helping the community fight suicide, and other topics. Everyone who cares about the cause is welcome to attend, and the meeting can also be accessed via Zoom for those who prefer that format.
For more information regarding Community Suicide Prevention, please visit communitysuicidepreventioneid.org or visit its Facebook page at Community Suicide Prevention. You can also contact Tina, Co-Secretary/Volunteer, at communitysuicideprevention@gmail.com or 208-243-9411.
“I am involved with CSP because I am a survivor of a suicide loss. I know the depth of pain that this can bring to a family. I did not know what to do when I found myself talking to my son about his desire to end the burden that he felt that he was on those he loved. I really believe that if I knew the things that I know now, I would have been able to have the conversation with him that would have helped him. And not only did I need that information about what to do, but so did many others who interacted with him. There were many people who had the chance to help him. They just did not have the knowledge about how to do that.” – Tina
