BARTON COUNTY — Barton County lost eight people to suicide in 2012. That number is down from last year from 2011 when the county lost 11.
Repeating the state suicide prevention theme, Mary Waite, Suicide Prevention Task Force, said, “The loss of even one person to suicide is one too many. Suicide is preventable. Take action. Save lives.”
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for 2012, 505 people in the state died from suicide, which is up from 384 suicide deaths in 2011. Eighty-two percent of suicide victims are male. In 2012, the two age groups with the largest number of suicides were ages 45-54 (110 deaths) and ages 25-34 (87 deaths).
Barton County has taken an active step in suicide prevention with the addition of the Suicide Prevention Task Force as a part of the Central Kansas Partnership. The task force has had a speaker come last year and held a fundraiser and remembrance ceremony this September.
The remembrance ceremony went particularly well. “People there were grateful we had it,” said Waite. The task force is planning another walk/run/bicycle and remembrance ceremony for September 2014.
“We appreciate the community support,” she said. The money will be “used for community education about suicide prevention and recognizing suicide symptoms and how to get help.”
“The coalition is raising awareness of suicide prevention and identifying the need for education in the community,” said Janel Rose, Suicide Prevention Task Force.
The task force is partnering with other county entities to  work with youth suicide prevention project regarding bullying.
“Bully—The Movie” will be shown at no charge with four showings on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Golden Belt Cinema 6 in Great Bend for all elementary, middle school, high school, college students, parents and community members from the area who would like to attend.  Starting times are 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.  
Free Comprehensive Suicide Intervention Training will be held for professionals by Bill Geis, PhD., psychiatry professor and suicide researcher at UMKC School of Medicine from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 and 15 at the Sternberg Museum. Attendees receive continuing education units. This two-day evidence-based training addresses all core competencies in assessing and managing suicide risk, along with interventions in deconstructing crises, safety planning, teaching crisis management skills and conducting brief cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce long-term suicide risk.
The training is being provided by Kansas Youth Suicide Prevention and co-sponsored by the Fort Hays State University Psychology Department.  Email chris@suicideprevention.org with questions.
Anyone interested in participating in the prevention task force can call the Barton County Health Department 793-1902.

Suicide Prevention
What to do when someone is showing signs of feeling suicidal:
•Listen and show you care
•Always ask: are you thinking about suicide?
•Always tell: For teens, find a trusted adult to help you both; For adults, find someone who is trained in suicide prevention
•Always eliminate access to firearms, large amounts of medication and other dangers
•Never keep a secret
•Know that suicide is never someone else’s fault
Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255