The first Suicide Prevention Conference will seek to put family members of suicide victims into the prevention process. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., whose father took his own life, is expected to speak. The conference will take place with others in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Portland. The reasons for this are complex. This is a very transient town.
People have access to addictive processes.
People come here with high expectations and not much of a support network. When their expectations are not met they don't have family or support. Two years ago in 1997, Flatt became a community organizer for a national group called the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network, established in 1996 by a Georgia couple whose daughter committed suicide. Another year, another rise in suicides. When shown the statistics, suicide prevention advocates said the blame lies mainly with the lack of a comprehensive strategic plan in the county to offer immediate, low-cost outreach services to those considering suicide.