Education & Awareness

Ongoing Education & Training

Recently, the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation partnered with Postvention Consulting, LLC to host a training for support group facilitators. Amanda W., the facilitator of the Four County Suicide Grief Support Group was among those in the State chosen to attend.

The training is based on Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s closed-group model. This model  emphasizes creating a nonjudgmental, confidential environment where participants feel heard and respected. Facilitators were guided on how to encourage sharing without pressure, manage group dynamics, and respond to intense emotions or silence in a supportive way.

We appreciate Amanda’s commitment to supporting the loved ones left behind after a death by suicide.

Group of people who completed a suicide support group facilitator training
Amanda (back row, 4th from left) completed a specialized facilitator training.

Annual Cookie Night 2026

Each year members of the Four County LOSS Team bakes cookies for local law enforcement. The team gets together boxes the cookies and delivers them to local law enforcement agencies. This is the LOSS Teams way of thanking law enforcement for activating the team in the event of a suicide.  The team is grateful that area law enforcement calls the team to respond and support the loved ones left behind.

Members of the Four County LOSS Team packing up cookies.
LOSS Team members laughing and smiling
LOSS Team members tagging the cookie boxes
2 LOSS Team members opening cookies to divide
LOSS Team member waving and another laughing
LOSS Team member showing an empty container
2 LOSS Team members smiling about all the cookies being boxed.
2 LOSS Team members smiling
LOSS Team member showing an empty box
LOSS Team packing up cookies
LOSS Team laughing
Group picture of LOSS Team members holding empty cookie containers
Some members of the Four County LOSS Team celebrating another successful cookie night!

Did You Know?

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24.

Sextortion has become an ever-growing concern. It has been identified as a direct cause of over 30 deaths by suicide in teen males.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a free service called “Take It Down.”  This service helps victims remove & stop online sharing of nude, or sexually explicit content taken while under 18 years old.

For more information, click here: Take It Down

Words Matter: The Language we use can help reduce the stigma of suicide.

 What To Say  vs  What Not to Say

Died by suicide                                                  instead of              Committed suicide

Suicide attempt                                                instead of              Failed or successful attempt

Disclosed thoughts of suicide                        instead of              Threatened suicide

Died as the result of self-inflicted injury      instead of              Took their own life

The Truth About “That doesn’t happen here.”

Suicide in Rural Communities

In the past two decades, suicide rates have been consistently higher in rural America than in urban America. Rural residents also continue to be at a higher risk for suicide than urban residents.

Suicide rates almost doubled between 2000-2020 in rural areas.

Rural residents also have 1.5x higher rate of emergency department visits for nonfatal self-harm than urban residents.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call 988 for immediate connection to a trained crisis counselor and resources.

CDC: Suicide Rates in Rural America