Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Members and Staff Honor Suicide Prevention Month

A group of Tribal members, Elders, and staff from the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe’s Behavioral Health, Social Services, and Culture departments came together to recognize and support suicide prevention, as part of Suicide Prevention Month.

September was a time to raise awareness about an urgent crisis that claims the lives of over 49,000 people annually in the U.S. each year: suicide. Suicide Prevention Month is a nation-wide initiative that seeks to shift public perception, spread hope, and share vital information to people affected by suicide.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that, “Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.”

The group plans to wear the T-shirts pictured above, which sport the phrase “Not all wounds are visible,” each Friday through December to show support for suicide prevention.

If you need immediate mental health support, call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline