Twelve community forums focused on the topic of youth suicide prevention will be held throughout Oregon over the next two months. The first forum is set to take place in Salem on February 18, followed by LaGrande on Feb 23 and Ontario on February 26. All public input will be compiled and developed into a final statewide plan for youth suicide prevention, according to Ron Bloodworth, youth suicide prevention coordinator at the Oregon Health Division.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in Oregon.
These public forums are being conducted to raise awareness of the problem and to engage communities around Oregon in identifying strategies to prevent youth suicide. These forums will assist our statewide efforts to significantly reduce the tragedy of youth suicide in our state. One in five Oregon high school students participating in a 1997 youth risk survey reported they had considered suicide, Bloodworth stated. In 1996 Governor Kitzhaber appointed a Task Force on Youth Suicide to study the problem. Their report included recommendations for improvements in education, mental health resources, law enforcement, communities and government.