FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Fernando Guzman

February 25, 2018 Telephone: (434) 582-2000

E-mail: fguzman1@liberty.edu
Web site: www.nosuicideyeslife.weebly.com

ALL HANDS-ON BOARD,

SUICIDE PREVENTION IS A TEAM EFFORT
(Flesch-Kincaid grade level: 8.9)

(New Orleans, LA) The New Orleans Suicide Prevention consortium is on a mission to

coordinate an all hands effort to reduce the number of young adults’ suicides in New Orleans.

An “All Hands-On Board” seminar is taking place March 2-3, 2018 at the Morial Convention

Center. There is no admission fee for the seminar.

“All Hands-On Board” is an initiative to bring together many entities. Those entities include

government, private, medical, education, social, and families to tackle the issue of suicide.

Registration is free. This two-day seminar is the kick-off event to reduce the number of suicides

in New Orleans. Suicide is the number two cause of death among people between the ages of

15-34.1 This seminar will focus primarily on this age group. However, many of the ideas

produced from the seminar will help everyone.

The Surgeon General’s strategy states, “Suicide prevention is not exclusively a mental health

issue. It is a health issue that must be addressed at many levels by different groups working

together in a coordinated and synergistic way. Government…; health care systems …; family

members … – all have a role to play in suicide prevention.”2 This is the main idea behind the

seminar.

Suicide is preventable. We are not doing enough to stop it. Young adults are lost for lack of

hope. Suicide is not the answer. There is hope. We will discuss warning signs and risk factors.

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The seminar includes panel experts who provide the latest studies. They will explain what

causes someone to contemplate and choose suicide. Current insurance costs will be explained by

representatives from the industry. Hogan, et al describe, ”There are almost 500,000 emergency

department (ED) visits annually as a result of intentional self-harm. Costs of ED visits and

hospitalizations associated with self-injury among young adults ages 15-24 in 2010 were

estimated at $2.6 billion.”3

Friends and family members will hear from others who have experienced a suicide. These

stories will highlight common trends. Best practices by panel members will help those facing

similar situations. Medical experts will explain the procedures followed when someone is

brought in for observation and/or treatment. Law enforcement representatives will be on hand to

explain their role in a suicide situation.

The seminar will be broadcast by the local public access channel and public radio station. A

live feed through the internet will carry the general sessions. Those in attendance will participate

in break-out sessions. Break-out sessions are based on the different areas represented. Other

presentations will include the following: 1) The latest suicide data. 2) Information on means

safety. 3) The most successful and least expensive prevention initiatives. 4) Policy changes

regarding access to lethal means. 5) Introduction of public service announcement to start airing

on local radio stations.

The goal of this seminar will be to connect all participants into a suicide prevention network.

This suicide prevention network will provide future guidance and recommendations. We will

make New Orleans the leader in suicide prevention.

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 For more information on the “All Hands-On Board” seminar or on the “All Hands-On Board”

initiative, contact Fernando Guzman at (434) 582-2000.

“All Hands-On Board” is a non-profit initiative in collaboration with River Oaks Hospital to help
reduce the number of suicides among young adults in the New Orleans area. For more
information about “All Hands-On Board”, please visit www.nosuicideyeslife.weebly.com or call
(434) 582-2000.

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