Ending Deaths From Despair Coalition
the Ending Deaths From Despair Coalition focuses on ways to prevent death by suicide, alcoholism, and drug overdoses.
the pandemic has only emphasized the need to provide better support to those struggling with mental health or addiction issues.
Our task force is made up of 26 people, including mental health providers, first responders and court and community advocates. We aim to take a hard look at the current resources available in the county and fill in the gaps.
Safe Communities is not a counseling or crisis center and does not provide direct services. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Our Coalition is working to coordinate and communicate resources and services that may already be available, but most people just aren’t aware of.
Knowing where you can turn during moments of crisis is critical to preventing losses from despair.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of suicides or attempted overdoses that are going on just in the Madison community. That does not include the entire Dane County. It is mind boggling. People are hurting, people need our help,”
– Charles Tubbs, Dane County Emergency Management Director
ENDING DEATHS FROM DESPAIR
Gun Shop Project
Promote Safe Medicine Storage
Promote Safe Medicine Disposal
Construction industry partnership to eliminate suicides by jumping from parking structures
Webinar series
Community Trainings
Promote Safe Storage
Promote Safe Medication Disposal
Dane Co Narcotics Task Force
Fentanyl public education and test strip distribution campaign
Distribute naloxone to people at risk
Using Sequential Intercept Model (justice system framework) to identify risky stages and provide appropriate support
OUR TEAM
PREVENTION RESOURCES
zero suicide initiative
Safe Communities is coordinating a Zero Suicide partnership that includes all area health care systems as well as community organizations with a role to play in suicide prevention.
Suicide Prevention Training
Safe Communities offers a free training where participants learn the warning signs for suicide, risk and protective factors, theories that drive suicidal behavior, how to offer hope, and how to seek help to save a life.
RESOURCES
Upcoming Webinars Hosted by Ending Deaths from Despair Task Force Finding a Reason to Live: Etiology of Suicide and Provider Self-Care Presenter: Meghan Henderson, LCSW Clinical Practice Leader in
Facts to Know About Suicide: Suicide is the leading cause of violent death in Wisconsin. Firearms are the most common method used in suicide, followed by hanging and poisoning. A
What are Depression and Depressive illnesses? Depression and depressive illnesses occur when chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, become unbalanced or disrupted. A person who has depression does not
RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE
Safe communities has complied a list of abbreviation definitions for finding the right treatment for you.
MAT: Medication for Addiction Treatment.
OP: Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends. individual and group therapy, these can include or not include MAT.
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends individual and extended groups, 9-12 hours a week.
Residential: person lives at the facility for a period of at least 14 days, some last as many as 45 days.
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program is a structured mental health treatment program that runs for several hours each day, three to five days per week.
DBT: Dialectical behavior therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that integrates mindfulness techniques.
