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According to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention a national poll conducted in 2015 found that almost 50 percent of American respondents identified barriers that stopped them from trying to help someone at risk for suicide. These included the fear that they would say or do something to make things worse rather than better, and not knowing how to find help for a person in crisis. More recently, a public perception poll conducted in 2018 by the Action Alliance and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, found that nearly 80 percent of Americans are interested in learning how they might be able to play a role in helping someone who may be suicidal.
There are many organizations at national, state and local levels that are attempting to help people understand that they may be able to fill that role and what they can do to help someone at risk for suicide. One resource available right here in Princeton and surrounding counties is the NCI Cares program administered by the Bureau, Putnam and Marshall County Health Departments. NCI Cares delivers helpful and hopeful messages about mental health issues and the stigma that often surrounds them.
NCI Cares also offers information about local resources to help persons facing mental health issues from medical needs, to counseling, to community support, to healthy living, to transportation and other resources. NCI Cares also offers information to friends, family and community members about Mental Health First Aid and other types of support and intervention.
The Mental Health First Aid program is supported by a federal grant and provides Mental Health First Aid training in Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, Henry, Stark, Lee and LaSalle Counties without cost.
