By: Eryn Harvey

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services

“The Mental Health and Developmental Services' office provides a full range of mental health and intellectual disability services responsive to individual and community needs”

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

“VA is committed to reducing Veteran suicide and offers a network of support for all Veterans and their families and friends”

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: Over the past 15 years the male suicide rate in Luzerne County increased drastically. According to the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties MH/MR program most of the male suicides were by gunshot.

VA: According to Suicide Prevention coordinator Denise Carey, many veterans 65 and older commit suicide in Luzerne County due to being alone, relationship problems, and the depressing area they live in

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: I would involve local stores that sell guns, different companies that make stickers, someone that understands how to use Twitter and Instagram, federal officials

VA: I would involve all local radio stations, especially King’s College Radio, WRKC 88.5 FM

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: One of the ways to decrease the male suicide rate especially in Luzerne County is by giving away free gunlocks, put the help line number on guns, create a Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

VA: Create a PSA that will increase the awareness of the crisis line, and discuss anti-stigma

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: Dick’s Sporting Goods should give customers a free gun lock with every gun purchase, also put sticker on the gun with the help line number

VA: PSA should be aired on the Radio Home Visitor

The program reaches 15,000 listeners daily

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: I think to manage the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram there should be one person in charge of regularly posting content, possibly an intern to save money

VA: Having someone read the PSA like a male veteran who has attempted suicide, but is doing well now can empower others to act

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: Have Mayor of WB or Governor at the store the first day they start giving free gun locks with gun purchases

For social media you can have a contest. An example can be one of the first 100 followers gets a free t-shirt

VA: Polling veterans to see if they know what the veterans crisis line is, and how they heard of it

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: If people are responding well to the changes, then keep doing whatever’s working, but if they are not, then go over it and see what needs to be worked on.

VA: If the PSA is working and creates a lot of awareness, then maybe create another one

Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health & Developmental Services: If the changes worked, keep them within the organization

Everyone in the company should continue to support the change

VA: If just one person makes the decision to get help because they heard the PSA, it worked. You should continue to use the PSA in order to save lives

This process has had an impact on my career because I now see I have the skills to help these organizations

I’m happy that I can hopefully make a difference in the community, and decrease the male suicide rate

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=va+hospital+wilkes+barre+pa&qs=LC&sk=&FORM=QBIR&pq=va%20hospital%20wilke&sc=8-17&sp=1&qs=LC&sk=#view=detail&id=D740FD12986C4BEB54E8A31D526A7F14FC7AAF60&selectedIndex=19

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=suicide%20prevention%20ribbon&qs=IM&form=QBIR&pq=suicide%20pre&sc=8-11&sp=3&sk=IM2#view=detail&id=6C98D3993F225C6E9C2114D94D43E6AC3BDA927C&selectedIndex=15

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/Resources.asp