North Charleston, SC –
The Rotary Club of North Charleston will be hosting a regional Suicide Prevention Education event Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston.
The event will feature national experts and specialized 'breakout' sessions on the topic of suicide prevention. This event is open to the general public free of charge, but seating is limited to 600 attendees.
"The purpose of this event is to plant seeds in the community that will ultimately save lives," said Stacey Lindbergh, president of the North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club. "By educating the Lowcountry on the risk factors for suicide, our goal is to empower participants to intervene wherever at-risk people are suffering - at home, in the schools, the military and the workplace."
The Centers for Disease Control report 666,000 visits to hospital emergency departments each year. Suicides in the U.S. total 34,598 people, approximately 11.5 deaths per 100,000 population. Suicide remains the third leading cause of death for Americans ages 10 to 24 years. Military rates are even higher, with 12.5 suicides per 100,000 enlisted or discharged personnel for 2010.
With the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in December 2011, mental health officials are now concerned about an elevated rate in suicide attempts among the country's military personnel. The results of a stagnant national economy which impacts people of all ages, ethnic groups and socio-economic levels is increasingly a focal point for health care professionals in 2012.
To reserve a seat for the event or for more information, contact Stacey Lindbergh at 437-1751 or send an email to Stacey.lindbergh@uhsinc.com.