Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition Expands Membership and Offerings
The mission of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition (CISPC) is to help give Cape Cod and Island communities the necessary information and tools to raise awareness, promote education, and increase action to reduce suicides. During the past fiscal year (July 2023 – July 2024) membership expanded to include 75 CISPC members representing Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Through its participation in the general membership and steering committee, the Barnstable County Department of Human Services (BCDHS) supported coalition initiatives including a redesign of the CISPC brochure, an updated website with a more user-friendly URL www.cispc.net, and expanded training offerings through an agreement with the Center for Corporate and Professional Education at Cape Cod Community College.
On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Barnstable County Commissioners showed their support of CISPC’s efforts by signing the National Suicide Prevention & Action Month Proclamation (read below). The declaration highlights the importance of raising awareness, supporting mental health, and taking proactive measures to prevent suicide in our region.
National Suicide Prevention & Action Month Proclamation
WHEREAS With September recognized as “Suicide Prevention and Action Month,” the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition invites our communities, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, and allies to join us in helping to destigmatize mental health through initiative-taking action toward suicide prevention. We seek to raise awareness and visibility of suicide prevention resources in our communities and help connect individuals with the appropriate support services such as 988; and
WHEREAS According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (A.F.S.P.), suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages IO and 34 with more than 49,476 people dying by suicide annually in the United States; and
WHEREAS With an average of 132 suicide deaths daily and each one directly impacting 125 additional people, including friends, service members, family, social media connections, and neighbors we know a sizable number of individuals have been impacted by suicide; and
WHEREAS Barnstable County’s suicide rate is 1.5 times higher, standing at 14.4 per 100,000 vs the state of Massachusetts’ suicide rate of 9 .4 per 100,000, we recognize the need to create hope through action locally, and
WHEREAS Our local Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition works hard to spread the word about prevention, awareness, education and action through training, forums, and events in our region; and
WHEREAS Barnstable County Regional Government commits to being an active prevention partner with the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition and publicly places its full support behind those who work in the field of suicide prevention and research, mental health, community health; education, and law enforcement who deal with this daily; and
WHEREAS We encourage all residents to take time to understand mental health and suicide through education and recognize that we need to take care of our mental health while we take care of each other.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2024 as National Suicide Prevention & Action Month in Barnstable County.
