Marin Addresses High Suicide Rate

Marin Independent Journal | September 25, 2021
By Keri Brenner | kbrenner@marinij.com

This article describes findings and events reported in September 2021.

Crisis support: Call the Marin Suicide Prevention Hotline at 415-499-1100. You can also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available around the clock. marinhhs.org

A print of digital art submitted for a youth art exhibit about suicide prevention is shown.

County Report Highlights Mental Health Concerns

Marin’s teens and young adults accounted for a disproportionately high share of suicidal thoughts and mental health incidents. A county report released in September 2021 highlighted the difference between their population share and their need for care.

“While youth between the ages of 15 and 24 represent 10% of the population, they represent 44% of emergency room visits, 36% of hospitalizations and 10% of the deaths,” the report said.

The report also identified disproportionately high suicide deaths among White men in middle age and older adulthood.

“Men make up 49% of the population of Marin and 76% of deaths by suicide,” the report said. “Adults age 45 and older represent 53% of the population and 71% of deaths by suicide.”

An Update to Marin’s Suicide Prevention Plan

The document provided the first update to Marin’s year-old suicide prevention strategic plan. Marin Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health and Recovery Services released it on September 20, 2021, through its website, BHRSprevention.org.

According to the 19-page report, Marin’s overall suicide rate had dipped slightly since August 2020. That was when the county launched its strategic plan. The article reported that Marin had the highest suicide rate in the state at that time.

“The provisional data from 2020 shows that 35 Marin residents died by suicide, compared to 46 the year before,” the report notes.

Although the overall rate dropped during the pandemic, Marin still had one of the highest rates in the Bay Area. However, it no longer ranked among the highest statewide, according to strategic plan coordinator Kara Connors.

The People Behind the Statistics

Each statistic represents more than a number. It also shows the need for greater awareness and compassion, said Jei Africa, director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.

“Families, neighborhoods, and communities across the county continue to the feel the grief and confusion that result from suicide deaths and attempts,” Africa said.

“While much attention has been brought to this issue by the spike in the number of adolescent suicides across the state, we know that suicide affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds,” Africa noted. “Suicide has now risen to the 10th leading cause of death in the United States across all ages.”

The national ranking quoted above reflects the original 2021 reporting.

California’s Response to Youth Mental Health Needs

Statewide, attention focused heavily on young people during the pandemic. Many experienced isolation, anxiety, sleep disorders, and excessive screen time.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, highlighted these concerns. He co-authored Assembly Bill 309, a youth mental health bill.

The Legislature passed the bill on September 10, 2021. At the time of publication, it awaited Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. His deadline to sign or veto it was October 10, 2021.

The bill called for the California Department of Education to create a model mental health referral protocol for schools statewide. Its purpose was to help educators identify students with mental health needs. Additionally, it would guide schools in connecting students with appropriate services quickly and efficiently.

Community Efforts Support Marin Suicide Prevention

Locally, the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative had grown during the preceding year, Connors said.

The working group connects with the county’s strategic plan. It brings together suicide survivors, loss survivors, allies, friends, and counselors. Together, they organize meetings, workshops, and other events.

“All of our activities are directly aligned with the seven core strategies of the strategic plan,” Connors said.

Youth Art and Film Showcase

One activity was a youth art exhibit in San Rafael. About 10 Marin high school and college student interns with the county led the project.

“The goal of our showcase is to bring the young community of Marin closer together through art and use it as a medium of creative expression to help others who are suffering,” said intern Preston Lee of Tiburon, a high school senior.

“So many people endure hardship under the radar,” he added. “When I first got exposed to how many people in my life struggled, it inspired me to advocate for such a prevalent issue in my community.”

The Youth Art and Film Showcase for Suicide Prevention was scheduled for September 25, 2021, from 4 to 6 p.m. The venue was the Marin Health and Wellness Campus, 3240 Kerner Blvd., Room 109, San Rafael.

“With each piece of artwork submitted, these youth are sending a powerful message that stigma has no place in Marin,” said Connors. “As a community, we can talk about mental health and suicide in open and direct ways.”

Sharing Crisis Resources With Young People

Marin’s network also promoted crisis support through the text keyword MARIN at 741741.

Student interns shared the resource on social media, according to Scarlett Goh, a high school junior from Mill Valley.

“Sometimes kids talk about suicide online in a casual way that might not be taken seriously,” she said. “Or, some kids are afraid to reach out for help if they see others ‘joking’ about suicide.”

Goh encouraged peers to share information about the text line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The original article listed 800-273-8255 and the Spanish-language number 888-628-9454.

Current contact information: Call or text 988. For Spanish-language support, call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. 988lifeline.org

“At the end of the day, we just want to keep each other safe,” Goh said.

Skateboarding Events Encourage Youth Connection

Elsewhere in Marin, community groups in Mill Valley organized suicide prevention awareness events around skateboarding.

During the week before publication, they held a competition at Harrison Dunnett Skatepark. The park honors Harrison Dunnett, a former Mill Valley Middle School student and avid skater who died in 2016 while in treatment.

Clarification added by W. Dunnett: Harrison Dunnett passed away from an overprescription of drugs by a doctor, not from suicide.

“We need to think outside the box about how we engage youth and activities and events that we produce for them,” said organizer Ryan Fedoroff. “This was an example of something that we can do to touch all kids.”

Fedoroff said several groups planned similar youth events. Their goal was to provide a positive focus and an outlet for stress.

“For many kids, we observed that skateboarding helped to get these kids through the pandemic and what was an otherwise challenging time,” Fedoroff said. “And rather than leaning into video games, substances and social media as a form of distraction, these kids skated and they skated some more.”

How Community Support Can Help

Connors agreed that events offering positive contact with others can help.

“If you ask those who have struggled with psychological or emotional pain, many will mention that the connection and support of their neighbors and loved ones was critical for their recovery,” Connors said.

Where to Find Crisis Support

For help, call the Marin Suicide Prevention Hotline at 415-499-1100.

You can also call or text 988, or use the online chat at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For local information, visit Marin County Health and Human Services. marinhhs.org

For more articles on medication safety and health awareness, visit TooMuchRx.

Original reporting: Keri Brenner, Marin Independent Journal, September 25, 2021.